Beverly Cleary- 104

Beverley Cleary is one of the most widely-read authors of young fiction in America. Cleary studied for her degree in English and Librarian Science, becoming a children’s librarian. Romantic as she was, she eloped to marry the love of her life. The two stayed together until her husband Clarence passed away in 2004. Her writing career has known great successes, as she wrote many books and created characters that are well loved by children everywhere. Cleary is a recipient of the National Book Award and a Newbery Medal, and she is worth about $20 million.