Unaware how popular her novel would become, Austen decided to sell the copyright for 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥� to Whitehall publisher Thomas Egerton. She asked for 拢150 but eventually settled for 拢110. According to estimates, Egerton later made about 拢450 from just the first two editions of 鈥淧ride and Prejudice.鈥� The novel would go on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide and inspire hundreds of literary, film, television, and theater adaptations. If Jane Austen had had copyright her estate would today be worth billions.
