Michael Jackson Tops ‘Forbes’ List of Highest Paid Dead Celebrities … Again

Michael Jackson Tops 'Forbes' List of Highest Paid Dead Celebrities ... Again

For the second year in a row, Michael Jackson topped the annual Forbes list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities by earning $170 million from sales of his music and his stake in the Sony/ATV catalog.

He also topped the last year by raking in $275 million.


His ex-wife’s father, Elvis Presley, placed a distant second with $55 million in earnings. Lisa Marie Presley’s father died in 1977.


Also on the list were:

Actress Marilyn Monroe, $27 million.


Cartoonist Charles Schulz, $25 million.

Beatle John Lennon tied for fifth on the list with Elizabeth Taylor. Both earned $12 million .

Scientist Albert Einstein was next with $10 million, followed by Dr. Seuss creator, Theodor Geisel, whose estate received $8 million in earnings .

The only other black American on the list, Jimi Hendrix, was in a four-way tie with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo novelist Stieg Larsson, actor Steve McQueen, and Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, all of whom earned $7 million.

–kathleen cross

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