Michael Jackson, sadly, has taken the No. 1 spot again. Elizabeth Taylor, who died on March 23, came in at No. 5.
$170 million – Michael Jackson (died 2009)
$55 million – Elvis Presley (died 1977)
$27 million – Marilyn Monroe (died 1962)
$25 million – Charles Schulz (died 2000)
$12 million – John Lennon (died 1980)
$12 million – Elizabeth Taylor (died 2011)
$10 million – Albert Einstein (died 1955)
$9 million – Theodor Geisel (died 1991)
$7 million – Jimi Hendrix (died 1970)
$7 million – Stieg Larsson (died 2004)
$7 million – Steve McQueen (died 1980)
$7 million – Richard Rodgers (died 1979)
$6 million – George Harrison (died 2001)
$6 million – Bettie Page (died 2008)
$6 million – Andy Warhol (died 1987)
Over the past 12 months Jackson’s estate brought in $170 million from sales of his music and his stake in the Sony/ATV catalog, reports Forbes. While that’s a big drop from the $275 million Jackson earned in the previous 12 months, it’s enough to make him the second- highest-earning pop act over the past year, dead or alive, after U2.
There are 15 people on the list for a combined $366 million between October 2010 and October 2011.
Crazy how these dead celebrities will probably make more than me while I’m alive…or dead. Dang.
