Forbes has published its list of highest-earning dead celebrities, with ‘King of Pop’, Michael Jackson topping for the eighth year in a row.
The late Jackson is on top with $48 million in earnings in 2020. 70% of Jackson’s earnings were accounted from Mijac Music catalogue, which includes tunes by Elvis and Aretha Franklin, and a long-term deal with Sony.
However, there are newcomers to the list with rapper Juice WRLD and NBA star Kobe Bryant.
Below is the list, which according to Forbes measures pre-tax income from October 1, 2019, through to October 1, 2020.
1: Michael Jackson The musician who died of homicide on June 25, 2009, aged 50 raked in $48 million in 2020.
2: Dr. Seuss / Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel The American author succumbed to cancer on September 24, 1991, at the age of 87. He earned $33 million in 2020 after selling nearly 6 million books in the United States this year.
3: Charles Schulz Schulz was an American cartoonist who died of cancer on February 12, 2000, aged 77. He made $32.5 million. UCC student who sold ‘pure water’ in ‘aboboya’ to fund himself graduates as best student in Faculty of Law The Schulz estate brought in more than $110 million in revenue. Part of that is said to have come from Apple TV+.
4: Arnold Palmer He was an American professional golfer who died of heart disease on September 25, 2016. He earned $25million.
5: Elvis Presley Presley was an entertainer who died of a heart attack on August 16, 1977, aged 42. He made $23million in 2020
6: Kobe Bryant The American basketball player who died on January 26, 2020, aged 41.
7: Juice WRLD The Rapper died on December 8, 2019, and made $15million in 2020.
8: Bob Marley Marley succumbed to cancer on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36 but made $14million in 2020. His music streams soared this year accumulating more than a billion spins globally. House of Marley, his line of speakers, turntables and headphones, and sales of T-shirts and lighters adorned with his likeness also added more than $3 million to his coffers.
