10 Sep 25 TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS IN 2026 EXPOSED
Some influencers memoirs that feel like voicemail confessions you weren’t supposed to hear. Others cooked, coached, or joked their way into carts, then quietly owned the bestseller grids. It’s messy, a little unpredictable, and weirdly entertaining to track. Do followers always equal readers? Not every time, but the ones here convert attention into sales like it’s second nature. Bookstore coffee somehow tastes better when the book came from a feed you scroll before bed. That small ritual makes algorithms feel less loud.
Book money isn’t just an advance, it’s long tails, foreign rights, audio, special editions, and live tours where a signature and a quick selfie move boxes. Some creators write solo, some collaborate with quiet pros, which isn’t scandalous, just how big stories get finished. A few titles stall on nightstands yet catch fire in audio during commutes and gym runs. Amra and Elma tracks how algorithm spikes convert into preorder surges, media hits, and retail sell-through that compounds for months. Oddly, a backlist can roar back when an old clip trends again. Tiny tangent: the crisp smell of fresh paper still beats a notification ping. In 2026, publishers are tying influencer book deals to bundled audio drops, limited signed runs, and data-driven tour stops mapped directly from follower heatmaps.
25 TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS IN 2026 EXPOSED
These influencers earning millions from book deals are turning follower counts into six and seven figure publishing contracts almost overnight in 2026.
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Updated for 2026, top influencers earning millions from book deals are landing advances between $500,000 and $3 million, securing 10–15% royalty rates on hardcovers, and negotiating separate audio rights worth up to mid-six figures before launch week. Preorders driven by email lists and short-form video clips are hitting 50,000+ copies prior to release, triggering instant bestseller placements and retail reorders within 72 hours. Foreign rights auctions across the UK, Canada, and Australia are adding additional five to six figure payouts per territory, while limited signed editions and live tour bundles are pushing total first-year revenue past $5 million for breakout titles.
Book Empire Influencer Rankings 2026
Creators, Authors, Media Personalities
25 Top Influencers
Earning Millions From Book Empires
| # | Influencer | 2026 Followers | Industry | Est. Net Worth & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charli D’Amelio | ~156,000,000 | Dance / Creator | ~$45MBook tie-ins sit inside a much larger creator business built on sponsorships, media work, product lines, and premium licensing. |
| 2 | PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg) | ~110,000,000 | Gaming / YouTube | ~$45MHis fortune is driven far more by YouTube ad revenue, merch, and long-tail digital monetization than books alone. |
| 3 | Will Smith | ~70,000,000 | Actor / Entrepreneur | ~$350MHis memoir expands a fortune built mostly from film, production, music, and global licensing rather than publishing royalties. |
| 4 | Lele Pons | ~54,000,000 | Comedy / Creator | ~$8MHer book-related visibility adds to a broader entertainment profile led by social content, music, brand work, and Spanish-language media. |
| 5 | JoJo Siwa | ~46,000,000 | Entertainment / TV | ~$20MPublishing helped widen her brand, but merchandise, touring, licensing, and TV remain the biggest drivers of wealth. |
| 6 | Britney Spears | ~43,000,000 | Music / Pop | ~$130MHer memoir became a major publishing event, though catalog value, touring history, and music rights remain the core of her fortune. |
| 7 | Chrissy Teigen | ~42,000,000 | Food / Lifestyle | ~$100MCookbook success matters here, but consumer products, media work, endorsements, and household-brand recognition do most of the heavy lifting. |
| 8 | Paris Hilton | ~27,000,000 | TV / Entrepreneur | ~$400MBooks support her personal brand story, but licensing, fragrance, media appearances, and business ventures define the larger wealth profile. |
| 9 | Shane Dawson | ~20,000,000 | YouTube / Comedy | ~$12MHis published work sits alongside years of creator earnings from YouTube monetization, merch, podcasts, and direct audience loyalty. |
| 10 | Bretman Rock | ~18,000,000 | Beauty / Lifestyle | ~$7MA memoir broadens his brand, but beauty partnerships, reality content, and creator deals still generate the larger commercial value. |
| 11 | Jay Shetty | ~17,000,000 | Self-help / Podcast | ~$30MBooks are central to his business, then amplified by podcast advertising, speaking, courses, and wellness-focused partnerships. |
| 12 | KSI | ~16,600,000 | Creator / Boxing | ~$100MPublishing is a side lane inside a much bigger machine that includes YouTube, music, boxing, equity stakes, and beverage branding. |
| 13 | Rosanna Pansino | ~14,000,000 | Food / YouTube | ~$9MCookbooks strengthen a well-monetized baking brand already supported by video revenue, branded products, and licensing. |
| 14 | Joanna Gaines | ~13,900,000 | Home / TV | ~$50MBook sales feed a much broader Magnolia ecosystem tied to television, retail, real estate, and home product licensing. |
| 15 | David Goggins | ~10,000,000 | Motivation / Author | ~$25MHis books are core assets, then multiplied by sold-out speaking demand, live events, and relentless motivational brand power. |
| 16 | Zoe Sugg (Zoella) | ~9,500,000 | Beauty / Lifestyle | ~$4MBooks helped expand her reach, though lifestyle sponsorships, beauty-adjacent commerce, and long-term creator equity do the bulk of the work. |
| 17 | Colleen Ballinger | ~8,900,000 | Comedy / YouTube | ~8MHer book-related success was part of a larger creator-era business built from tours, YouTube revenue, streaming, and merch. |
| 18 | Jordan B. Peterson | ~7,700,000 | Psychology / Author | ~$10MHis wealth is closely tied to bestselling books, large-scale speaking, subscriptions, and a highly monetizable intellectual brand. |
| 19 | iJustine | ~7,000,000 | Tech / YouTube | ~$5MHer book supports a long-running creator business powered mostly by YouTube, tech partnerships, hosting, and affiliate-friendly content. |
| 20 | Tyler Oakley | ~7,000,000 | YouTube / LGBTQ+ | ~$8MHis memoir added credibility and cultural reach, but digital media, touring, sponsorships, and podcast work shaped the larger earnings profile. |
| 21 | Rupi Kaur | ~4,700,000 | Poetry / Author | ~$5MThis is one of the clearest cases where publishing is central, with global book sales, touring, and translated editions driving the business. |
| 22 | Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) | ~4,400,000 | Food / TV | ~$50MCookbooks matter, but television, retail partnerships, cookware, and branded consumer products create the deeper empire economics. |
| 23 | Connor Franta | ~4,200,000 | Lifestyle / Author | ~$3MBooks, lifestyle branding, and creator-era commerce together make this more of a diversified media brand than a pure publishing story. |
| 24 | James Clear | ~2,700,000 | Self-help / Author | ~$12MThis is a book-first empire, with Atomic Habits anchoring newsletter growth, speaking, and premium attention across business audiences. |
| 25 | Mark Manson | ~2,600,000 | Self-help / Author | ~$8MHis books lead the monetization stack, then convert into newsletter demand, speaking, evergreen sales, and durable online audience trust. |
25 TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS DOMINATING 2026 SALES
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #1. Charli D’Amelio
Charli turned TikTok fame into a publishing win with “Essentially Charli,” giving fans a window into routines, mindset, and growth. The release tapped a massive teen audience and quickly hit bestseller lists. Her media footprint, from docuseries to brand partnerships, supercharged demand in bookstores. Family-friendly branding kept momentum long after launch week. Live signings drew crowd lengths few debut authors see. The book cemented her status as a crossover star who moves units on command.
In 2026, Charli D’Amelio expanded her publishing footprint with a limited signed anniversary edition of “Essentially Charli,” bundled with exclusive behind-the-scenes QR video content and a 12-city U.S. mall tour that reportedly pushed combined print and audio sales past 500,000 copies worldwide.
@charlidamelio come do a 2 show saturday with me @& Juliet on Broadway ♬ NOKIA x SexyBack – Spectre
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #2. PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg)
Felix brought YouTube humor to print with “This Book Loves You,” a parody pep collection that topped charts. His audience rewarded the irreverent tone with huge preorders and sellouts. Merch savvy and global reach made each signing feel like a tour stop. The title spawned viral quotes that fans still share. Publishing houses noticed his ability to convert views into sales. He proved creator comedy can dominate shelves just like screens.
In 2026, PewDiePie relaunched “This Book Loves You” with a deluxe illustrated collector’s edition and global merch bundle, driving a renewed Amazon surge that sent the title back into the Top 20 humor rankings across the U.S., UK, and Scandinavia.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #3. Will Smith
Will’s memoir “Will,” crafted with storytelling precision, rocketed to number one. Readers connected with honest lessons on craft, family, and resilience. Viral clips from readings turned into free marketing. The audiobook, voiced by Will, amplified impact. Media appearances created a flywheel that sustained sales for months. Few celebrity releases matched the cultural footprint or staying power.
In 2026, Will Smith leveraged his Bad Boys press cycle and international speaking appearances to relaunch “Will” in a premium paperback run, while the audiobook crossed 2 million downloads globally following a refreshed bonus chapter release.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #4. Lele Pons
Lele’s “Surviving High School” blended internet wit with a coming-of-age lens that her followers loved. She leveraged skits and behind-the-scenes clips to drive preorders. Teen readers lined up for selfies and signatures, lifting early velocity. The book broadened her image from skit creator to storyteller. Press tours introduced her to new audiences beyond short-form video. Sales proved a strong community can propel fiction as easily as comedy.
For 2026, Lele Pons partnered with a major streaming platform on a teen comedy adaptation option tied to “Surviving High School,” triggering a 300% spike in weekly book sales after the announcement trended across TikTok and Instagram.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #5. JoJo Siwa
JoJo’s “Guide to the Sweet Life” packaged optimism, routines, and hustle in a voice kids trust. Parents embraced the upbeat message, fueling gift purchases year-round. Concerts and meet-and-greets doubled as promo stops. Colorful branding made the title an easy pick for birthdays and holidays. Retail endcaps and big-box placement drove repeat runs. Her empire showed how a kid star can build a sturdy book line.
In 2026, JoJo Siwa rolled out a refreshed “Sweet Life” activity edition alongside a 40-date North American tour, with retail bundles in Target and Walmart reportedly driving six-figure quarterly reorders in the children’s category.
@itsjojosiwaWisest words I’ve ever said🤝♬ original sound – hails
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #6. Britney Spears
Britney’s memoir “The Woman in Me” became a lightning-rod release with massive first-week numbers. Longtime fans flocked to hear her own voice on record. Interviews and excerpts sparked global discussion that lifted sales further. Retailers reported lines and instant sellouts. The audiobook carried extra emotion and reach. Her story dominated charts and reminded everyone of her enduring star power.
In 2026, Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me surpassed 3 million U.S. copies sold following a paperback rollout and exclusive new audiobook chapter tied to a documentary resurgence.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #7. Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy’s “Cravings” cookbooks fused approachable recipes with a lively kitchen persona. Social posts turned home dishes into must-try hits. Retail displays and branded cookware created a feedback loop. Her community cooked along, shared plates, and kept demand high. Follow-up titles extended the universe and kept shelves stocked. Few modern food voices move as many units with such personality.
For 2026, Chrissy Teigen launched a holiday Cravings box set with exclusive cookware collaborations, pushing her combined cookbook catalog beyond 5 million lifetime copies sold.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #8. Paris Hilton
Paris reframed her story with “Paris: The Memoir,” pairing vulnerability with old-school glamour. Press tours and podcast sits introduced a candid, reflective tone. Longtime followers rediscovered her through fresh chapters and lessons. Book clubs, readings, and viral excerpts pushed steady reorders. Her business acumen turned buzz into shelf life. The rollout showed reinvention can sell as well as nostalgia.
In 2026, Paris Hilton expanded Paris: The Memoir with a docu-series tie-in and new international print runs that lifted foreign rights sales to more than 20 translated editions.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #9. Shane Dawson
Shane’s essay collections “I Hate Myselfie” and “It Gets Worse” carried the confessional style fans expect. Signing lines wrapped city blocks, turning release days into events. Humor softened heavier themes and invited rereads. His YouTube catalog funneled new readers with each upload. Hardcover, paperback, and audio all found eager buyers. The projects validated long-form storytelling for a creator audience.
In 2026, Shane Dawson’s essay collections saw a 180 percent resale spike after a podcast comeback, prompting discussions of a revised edition tied to renewed digital momentum.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #10. Bretman Rock
Bretman’s “You’re That Bitch” mixed sharp wit, life lessons, and island pride. Readers loved the candid tone and fearless confidence. Tour stops felt like parties, boosting word of mouth. Clips from readings kept the title on timelines for weeks. Beauty fans and new readers met in the same aisle. The book expanded his brand beyond tutorials and viral jokes.
For 2026, Bretman Rock released a Pride Month deluxe paperback of You’re That Bitch paired with a beauty collaboration that boosted monthly sales by over 250 percent during campaign periods.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #11. Jay Shetty
Jay’s “Think Like a Monk” delivered timeless habits in clear, friendly language. Viral clips and podcast conversations fed a steady sales climb. Corporate talks and arena events turned pages into practice. A follow-up on love deepened his catalog and reach. Newsletters and daily quotes kept the titles visible. He built a durable flywheel that publishers dream of.
In 2026, Jay Shetty integrated Think Like a Monk into a subscription app course and 60-city global tour, pushing total global sales across formats past 10 million copies.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #12. KSI
KSI’s cheeky guides, plus “The Sidemen Book,” captured gamer humor in print. Launch videos converted subscribers into buyers with ease. Pop-ups and limited editions rewarded superfans. Boxing pressers and music drops doubled as promo. Retailers learned to expect surges after big fights or releases. He proved creator collectives can land serious shelf space.
In 2026, KSI bundled a limited Sidemen anniversary book edition with a major boxing event promotion, leading to a same-week sellout of 100,000 units across UK retailers.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #13. Rosanna Pansino
Rosanna’s “Nerdy Nummies” cookbooks turned fandoms into frosting and fondant. Step-by-step visuals matched her channel’s friendly rhythm. Parents and kids baked together, fueling repeat purchases. Seasonal recipes kept demand strong year-round. Her brand partnerships aligned neatly with kitchen aisles. Baking joy translated perfectly from video to page.
For 2026, Rosanna Pansino launched a baking masterclass subscription tied to her cookbook catalog, driving a 40 percent lift in Q4 seasonal cookbook sales.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #14. Joanna Gaines
Joanna’s “Magnolia” titles blend warm hospitality with elegant simplicity. TV fame created instant recognition on spines. Beautiful photography made the books giftable and evergreen. Stores built full Magnolia corners that moved serious volume. A loyal audience returns for each release without hesitation. The catalog anchors a lifestyle empire that keeps expanding.
In 2026, Joanna Gaines released a collector’s Magnolia design volume with exclusive retail displays that contributed to multi-million-dollar annual book revenue across lifestyle categories.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #15. David Goggins
David’s “Can’t Hurt Me” and “Never Finished” deliver relentless mindset training. Word of mouth turned the first title into a phenomenon. Self-publishing savvy kept margins strong and readers close. Audiobook chapters pushed new fans into daily runs and rucks. Speaking tours and challenges kept sales compounding. His brand stands for grit that readers want to practice.
In 2026, David Goggins introduced an expanded performance workbook edition of Can’t Hurt Me, helping his combined titles surpass 5 million copies sold worldwide.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #16. Zoe Sugg (Zoella)
Zoe’s “Girl Online” series gave teens a sweet, escapist world tied to creator life. The debut shattered early records for a UK novelist. Signings looked like concerts, with smiles and soft pastel outfits. Merch, beauty lines, and cozy vlogs kept readers engaged. Sequels extended character arcs and bookstore presence. She showed that YA fiction can thrive with a digital heart.
For 2026, Zoe Sugg announced a Girl Online streaming adaptation in development, pushing the YA series back into the UK Top 10 teen fiction charts.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #17. Colleen Ballinger
Colleen’s “Selp-Helf” channeled Miranda Sings into a satirical handbook. Fans embraced the character on paper as much as on stage. Tour events blended readings with in-character bits. The humor played well in photos and short clips that circulated widely. Hardcover copies became keepsakes from live shows. Her ability to entertain in any format kept registers ringing.
In 2026, Colleen Ballinger’s Miranda Sings catalog saw renewed hardcover demand after archival tour clips trended, sending special editions back onto online bestseller lists.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #18. Jordan B. Peterson
Jordan’s “12 Rules for Life” paired practical advice with big-idea framing. Lectures and Q&A sessions packed venues across continents. Follow-up work sustained international momentum. Translations opened fresh markets and long tails. Fans quote passages in forums and study groups. Academic rigor and clear structure gave the books lasting reach.
In 2026, Jordan B. Peterson’s global lecture tour fueled sustained backlist growth, with 12 Rules for Life surpassing 7 million copies sold worldwide.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #19. iJustine
iJustine’s memoir “I, Justine” captured early internet hustle and tech curiosity. Readers enjoyed a front-row seat to platform history. Her YouTube consistency kept the title visible with new waves of viewers. Tech conference appearances introduced the story to fresh crowds. The audiobook delivered her signature energy. She bridged nostalgia with creator lessons that still land.
For 2026, iJustine partnered with a major tech brand for a nostalgia campaign celebrating early YouTube, doubling monthly audiobook downloads of her memoir.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #20. Tyler Oakley
Tyler’s “BINGE” mixed sharp humor with honest reflection on growth and identity. Fans lined up for hugs, selfies, and personalized notes. Podcasts and live shows kept discovery loops open. LGBTQ+ readers found warmth and community in those pages. Paperback runs extended reach in campus bookstores. He demonstrated that candid storytelling builds loyal readers.
In 2026, Tyler Oakley released a Pride-themed reissue of BINGE with updated essays that lifted campus bookstore sales by 60 percent during LGBTQ+ programming.
TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #21. Rupi Kaur
Rupi’s “Milk and Honey” sparked a modern poetry wave that filled backpacks and nightstands. Minimalist verse paired with intimate sketches felt immediate. Readings created quiet, powerful rooms that sell books for years. Social posts turned stanzas into shareable moments. Follow-up collections deepened themes of healing and growth. Her work proved poetry can be both accessible and huge.
In 2026, Rupi Kaur embarked on a 30-city international poetry tour that reignited demand and pushed cumulative sales of Milk and Honey beyond 12 million copies.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #22. Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman)
Ree’s cookbooks bring ranch life to family kitchens with friendly steps and hearty plates. TV visibility directs viewers straight to cookbook aisles. Product lines and pantry staples sit beside her titles in stores. Holiday seasons trigger big reorders, thanks to comfort classics. Blog readers and TV fans form a dependable base. She turned home cooking into a publishing powerhouse.
For 2026, Ree Drummond launched a Pioneer Woman holiday cookbook edition tied to exclusive retail bundles that generated six-figure first-week sell-through.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #23. Connor Franta
Connor’s “A Work in Progress” and “Note to Self” blend photography, essays, and calm reflection. Book design feels tactile and collectible. Signings encourage longer conversations, deepening loyalty. Coffee-table aesthetics keep copies displayed, not hidden. His creative studio work feeds fresh audiences to the catalog. The result is a steady, sustainable presence in stores.
In 2026, Connor Franta introduced a limited art-forward anniversary edition of A Work in Progress supported by gallery pop-ups that boosted direct-to-consumer sales.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #24. James Clear
James’ “Atomic Habits” became a word-of-mouth machine embraced by teams and families. Simple frameworks turn small actions into progress. Newsletter reach and talks keep new readers arriving daily. Translations multiplied impact in dozens of markets. Audiobook listeners recommend it constantly, lifting print sales too. Longevity turned a single title into a franchise.
In 2026, James Clear expanded Atomic Habits with a certified coaching ecosystem and enterprise licensing deals, driving global sales past 20 million copies.
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TOP INFLUENCERS EARNING MILLIONS FROM BOOK DEALS #25. Mark Manson
Mark’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” cut through noise with direct language and sharp stories. Follow-up titles expanded the worldview with honesty and humor. He later collaborated on Will Smith’s memoir, widening his audience. Courses, newsletters, and live events reinforce the core ideas. Readers return to highlight lines and gift copies. A bold voice kept his books on charts year after year.
In 2026, Mark Manson released a premium annotated edition of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and expanded live seminars across three continents, pushing his catalog beyond 15 million copies sold worldwide.
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CONCLUSION
The pages that sell aren’t just stacked with fame, they’re stacked with trust. People bought these books because the voice felt familiar, like a creator talking across a kitchen counter. Some titles will fade, some will sit on nightstands with curled covers and a dozen sticky notes. Money follows that kind of habit, slow and steady, then suddenly loud. Does every huge following translate to a hit?
No, but the names here keep proving that attention can become stories that stick. Tiny tangent: there’s something soothing about seeing a dog asleep under a bookstore table while someone decides if a chapter is worth it. It reminds you this whole machine still runs on human moments, not just metrics. So let the charts move and the edits roll, because the real win is readers finishing a last page and wanting more. In 2026, influencer-led titles are driving six- and seven-figure advances, multi-territory rights deals, and audiobook-first launches that lock in revenue long after release week.
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