One Piece, written by Eiichiro Oda, is a phenomenon that has long outgrown the boundaries of the manga industry. With its history spanning nearly three decades, this manga has broken records that once seemed impossible. Currently, One Piece stands as the best-selling manga of all time, having sold over 570 million copies worldwide.

However, as the manga gets closer to its highly anticipated conclusion, fans often wonder just how high Oda can climb on the list of best-selling fiction authors of all time. While the Straw Hat Pirates have conquered the Grand Line, there are two literary mountains that even the Pirate King might never scale. And they are William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie.

The Only 2 Giants Eiichiro Oda Can’t Surpass

Nami from One Piece Water Seven | Credit: Toei Animation

When looking at the all-time best-selling fiction authors, the top two spots belong to William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie. These two names sit in a league of their own, with sales figures that are difficult for any modern author to replicate.

William Shakespeare has estimated sales between 2 billion and 4 billion copies. His works have been in print for centuries, studied in schools globally, and translated into almost every language spoken on Earth.

Agatha Christie, the “Queen of Crime,” holds the second spot with similar estimates of 2 billion to 4 billion copies sold. Her detective novels, particularly those featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, have remained consistent bestsellers for nearly a hundred years.

The gap between these two giants and Eiichiro Oda is massive. One Piece has an impressive circulation of over 570 million copies, beating even Batman; however, to catch up to Christie or Shakespeare, Oda would need to sell another 1.5 billion volumes.

Being the third or fourth best-selling author in human history, right below Shakespeare and Christie, is still an achievement that no other manga artist may ever reach. Oda has essentially doubled the sales of his nearest rival, Dragon Ball, in the medium. It is safe to say that we may never see another manga dominate the global market quite like One Piece has.

One Piece Sales May Soon Surpass J. K. Rowling & Harold Robbins

While the top two spots are likely out of reach, Eiichiro Oda is currently in a strong position to overtake other literary legends. Sitting just above him on the all-time list are J.K. Rowling and Harold Robbins.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novel series has sold approximately 600 million copies. Harold Robbins has estimated sales of around 750 million. Oda is currently hovering near the 580 million mark. With One Piece now in its Final Saga, it is experiencing a surge in attention that could push it past these milestones.

The mystery of “what is the One Piece?” has kept fans hooked for 28 years. There is no shortage of theories about what one piece is. As Oda begins to answer the core questions of the Void Century and the treasure itself, veteran fans and new readers are rushing to catch up.

Furthermore, the franchise is expanding its reach to a younger demographic who may have been intimidated by the anime’s 1,100+ episode count. The upcoming The One Piece remake by Wit Studio is a strategic move to fix this entry barrier.

By retelling the East Blue saga with modern animation and faster pacing, the remake will likely bring in a wave of new readers who will eventually buy the manga volumes.

If the Final Saga maintains this level of hype, it is very possible that Oda will surpass J.K. Rowling before the manga concludes. Beating Harold Robbins will be a tougher challenge, requiring the series to sell another 170 million copies. However, considering the global growth of the manga market and the enduring legacy of the Straw Hats, Oda becoming the third best-selling author of all time is a very real possibility.

TITLEOne PieceAUTHOREiichiro OdaPUBLISHERShueishaTOTAL CHAPTERS1172RATING ON MAL9.22/10

Do you think one day Eiichiro Oda will surpass even William Shakespeare? Tell us in the comments.

The latest chapters of One Piece are available to read on Viz Media.
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