Is J. D. Salinger A-List?
NoD
No — J. D. Salinger is currently ranked D tier — a minor public figure with limited fame outside a small audience.
Reached A-list in 1951
'Catcher in the Rye' Success
Lost A-list status in 1965
Dropped to B tier — Last Published Work
Ranking Timeline
1940C$0.005M
Early Short Story Publications
Begins publishing short stories, gaining early recognition.
1948B▲$0.01M+$0.005M
'Bananafish' Publication
Publishes 'A Perfect Day for Bananafish' in The New Yorker.
1951A▲$0.5M+$0.49M
'Catcher in the Rye' Success
Publishes 'The Catcher in the Rye', becoming a cultural phenomenon.
1965B▼$3M+$2.5M
Last Published Work
Publishes his last new work, 'Hapworth 16, 1924'.
2010D▼▼$4M+$1M
Death, Continued Reclusiveness
Dies having lived a reclusive life, maintaining his enigmatic status.
Last updated: February 23, 2026