Creating manga is not an easy task. This work demands not only continuous hours of effort but often also leads to burnout. Additionally, a mangaka must possess essential skills to create a compelling manga.
Over the decades, the manga industry has garnered increasing attention both domestically and internationally. This interest has also ensured significant earnings for many mangakas.
When Yen Press attended New York Comic Con this autumn, the publisher shared insights on how a manga artist can earn money. It turns out that manga artists are paid based on a per-volume sales model. Initially, a manga creator typically earns an average of $88 per printed volume, although this amount can vary depending on experience.
While some new artists may earn less, established professional manga artists can earn substantial amounts depending on the success of their works. This payment standard is relatively consistent across the industry, but the key factor that distinguishes different manga artists in terms of earnings is the sales volume.
Eiichiro Oda of One Piece Tops the List of Richest Mangaka
According to data shared by Kadokawa and Yen Press, the average royalty for manga artists is 10% for each volume sold. This means that a manga volume priced at $4 in Japan yields approximately $0.40 for the creator.
For example, if a million copies of a manga volume are sold, the creator would earn nearly $327,000 (over 8 billion VND). Because of this, many manga communities have calculated which artists have the most profitable sales.
It’s no surprise that Eiichiro Oda tops the list. The creator of One Piece has sold at least 515 million volumes of the manga, resulting in him earning 206 million dollars (over 5000 billion VND) to date. This figure does not include special licensing agreements or other revenue streams from Oda’s sales, anime licensing, or film production.
As the list continues, the creators of Doraemon and Golgo 13, Fujiko F. Fujio and Takao Saito, respectively, have similar earnings when it comes to royalties. This group of mangakas has earned at least 120 million dollars (about 3000 billion VND) solely from sales.
Following them are Akira Toriyama and Gosho Aoyama. With earnings of 118 million dollars (nearly 3000 billion VND), Toriyama has a number of successful titles contributing to his royalties; Dragon Ball alone has sold the most with 260 million copies, while other titles like Dr. Slump and Sand Land also contribute significantly. Meanwhile, Aoyama’s Detective Conan and Yaiba have helped this mangaka become wealthy.
Below is the top 10 richest mangaka:
1. Oda Eiichiro
2. Fujiko F. Fujio
3. Saito Takao
4. Akira Toriyama
5. Gosho Aoyama
6. Inoue Takehiko
7. Masashi Kishimoto
8. Takahashi Rumiko
9. Mitsuru Adachi
10. Osamu Tezuka
Top Manga Creators Earning the Most Beyond Publishing
Looking at this data, it’s evident that the most successful manga creators are earning vast amounts in royalties, but the wealth of these individuals far exceeds just their sales figures. For creators like Oda, it can be said that income is not only a matter of sales for them. The value of their intellectual property is enormous, and sales figures continue to rise as anime adaptations gain global popularity.
In Oda’s case, his royalties do not only help him become one of the highest earners in the manga community; his various projects contribute to increasing his overall asset value. Valued at over 200 million dollars, Oda is heavily involved in licensing for One Piece. From Netflix’s live-action adaptation to various events and merchandise collaborations with Universal Studios, all these interactions bring Oda significant financial gains.
When discussing overall asset value, royalties from manga do not solely determine who earns more. Rumiko Takahashi is reported to have earnings of up to 70 million dollars, though her manga royalties are not the highest. The fame from awards and successful anime adaptations has generated substantial income for her.
While the success stories continue with creators like Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan) and Tite Kubo (Bleach), the landscape of the manga industry is still evolving. The sales of manga are crucial to success, but the industry is just the beginning. Established titles can earn significant amounts through licensing, and newer figures like Takeru Hokazono from Kagurabachi are also beginning to make their mark.
