“Becoming Profitable” – Penguin Random House Celebrates 2018 Sales

With 7 million copies of her memoir sold worldwide, Michelle Obama has made it big as an author for Penguin Random House – but PRH has an even bigger author on their list — Dr. Seuss

This week, Penguin Random House parent company Bertelsmann reported its 2018 full year earnings, the last of the big five publishers to so do—and no surprise, the publishers of Michelle Obama enjoyed a pretty good year.

“The hardcover edition of Obama’s memoir, Becoming, sold seven million copies worldwide in 2018, even though the book came out in November,” Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer reports. “But more than Michelle Obama, the company has an even bigger author on the list—Dr. Seuss, who PRH CEO Marcus Dohle said sold 11 million copies last year.”

According to Albanese, revenue at PRH rose 1.9% in 2018 over 2017, while earnings increased 1.3%; total reported revenue was $3.87 billion at current exchange rates.

“In his letter to employees, Markus Dohle said the first two months of 2019 have already put the company on a growth trajectory for the year,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.