Harry Potter breaks sales records as Radcliffe celebrates

London, July 23 (DPA) Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe marked his 18th birthday Monday by taking control of a reported fortune of 20 million pounds ($40.1 million) as publishers confirmed that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has already broken all sales records.

Publishers Bloomsbury in London said J.K. Rowling's seventh and last Harry Potter novel had sold 2.6 million copies in its first 24 hours, overtaking its predecessor, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", which sold 2 million copies during the same period.

Bloomsbury described the publication of the final novel last Friday night as the "most astoundingly successful book launch ever".

Earlier Monday, reports from the US said that an estimated 8.3 million copies were sold there in the first 24 hours of its release, according to publisher Scholastic.

Meanwhile Radcliffe, on turning 18 Monday, gained legal access to the fortune he has made in his seven-year film career as the boy wizard.

"I know I'm in an incredibly fortunate position," Radcliffe said according to a report on the BBC, based on an interview with Australia's Sunday Herald Sun newspaper.

"But I don't plan to be one of those people who suddenly buys themselves a massive sports car collection," he said.

He was more likely to acquire books, CDs and DVDs, said Radcliffe.

His agent and publicist Monday declined to comment on Radcliffe's plans to celebrate, but he had earlier said that he would "definitely have some sort of party".

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