Forbes has just released their list of the top earning dead celebrities, and it comes as no surprise to find Michael Jackson sitting comfortably on top.

The 2015 list has some new names this year (who knew Paul Walker was more popular than Kurt Cobain??), and if you've ever wondered where the money goes for the Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein estates, I did a little sleuthing for you.

Jackson, who died in 2009, has made more than $115-million in the last year thanks to his Vegas Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson One,” the Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.

Coming in at number two is Elvis Presley, who has earned $55-million, followed by “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz ($50-mil), Bob Marley($21-mil) and Elizabeth Taylor ($20-mil).

The Top Earning Dead Celebrities

  1. Michael Jackson -- I still believe Michael has killed because he was worth more dead than alive. When Jackson died from a drug overdose in 2009, he didn't have much value to marketers. Numerous scandals had eroded his reputation. While his three children get the majority of his estate's profits, his former corporate handlers aren't going to go broke any time soon.
  2. Elvis Presley -- Lisa Marie will never have to work again, even though she sold the rights to his name over to corporate entities years ago.
  3. Charles M. Schulz -- Charlie Brown may have been a lovable loser, but Charles Schulz drove a hard bargain when selling the copyright to his characters. Now his kids reap the benefit. This fall, a new movie featuring the beloved Peanuts characters is sure to boost his profile.
  4. Bob Marley -- I guess the legalization of pot in three states has upped the ultimate stoner's profile a bit. Marley's multiple children and plentiful wives get the residuals.
  5. Elizabeth Taylor -- Once the most beautiful woman on earth, she, like Charles Schulz drove a hard bargain on releasing her rights.
  6. Marilyn Monroe ($17 mil) -- Marilyn was an orphan, and childless, so who benefits from her wealthy estate? Why her psychiatrist and her acting coach, of course. 
  7. John Lennon ($12 mil) -- Sean and Yoko live comfortably. Julian? Not so much. 
  8. Albert Einstein ($11 mil) -- The rights to his likeness is owned by an Israeli university, and his granddaughter died before getting a share of his estate.
  9. Paul Walker ($9 mil) -- The Fast and the Furious star is new to this year's list. His wife and children get all the money.
  10. Bettie Page ($10 mil) -- The 1950s pinup and one of the first Playboy Playmates bequeathed most of her estate to family members, most of whom keep a low profile.

Bubbling just under the Top Ten are the estates of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Suess), Steve McQueen, and James Dean. Also in the Top 20 are long time top ten occupant Frank Sinatra, Joan Rovers and Kurt Cobain, whose estate benefited from a new documentary this year.

 

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