The Sun sold more than 3.25 million copies of its new Sunday title yesterday, Rupert Murdoch said today.
The media tycoon made the announcement on Twitter a day after the much-anticipated new edition hit newsstands for the first time.
The News International boss wrote: "Amazing! The Sun confirmed sale of 3,260,000 copies yesterday.
“Thanks all readers and advertisers. Sorry if sold out - more next time.”
The sales are likely to be unwelcome to its rival publications, which include the Sunday Mirror and People.
But a spokesman for Trinity Mirror, which publishes both titles, refused to comment on whether it would lead to their prices being brought down. He said he did not have figures available for how many copies they each sold yesterday.
Mr Murdoch previously said he would be "very happy" if the Sun sold more than two million copies.
The new edition, which replaces the News of the World, was launched with a pledge of "trust" and "decency" following the damaging phone-hacking scandal. It promised readers it would remain "fearless, outspoken, mischievous and fun".
The newspaper claimed it would hold all journalists to account and said it had appointed a readers’ champion to deal with errors and feedback from the public.
A spokeswoman for News International said the figure quoted by Mr Murdoch on Twitter came from “unaudited estimates” from projected sales.
PA