Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid dead celebrities

This is a list of the highest-paid dead celebrities in the world as ranked by Forbes magazine since October of 2001.

Michael Jackson, earned $825 million in 2016, the highest earnings for a celebrity dead or alive in a year. He has consistently topped the list since his death in 2009.

2020 list

The 2020 list:[1]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited StatesCardiac Arrest$48 million
2Dr. SeussAuthorUnited StatesCancer$33 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited StatesCancer$32.5 million
4Arnold PalmerAthleteUnited StatesHeart Disease$25 million
5Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited StatesHeart Attack$23 million
6Kobe BryantAthleteUnited StatesHelicopter Crash$20 million
7Juice WrldMusicianUnited StatesOverdose$15 million
8Bob MarleyMusicianJamaicaCancer$14 million
9John LennonMusicianUnited KingdomHomicide$13 million
10PrinceMusicianUnited StatesOverdose$10 million
11Freddie MercuryMusicianUnited KingdomAIDS$9 million
12George HarrisonMusicianUnited KingdomCancer$8.5 million
13Marilyn MonroeActorUnited StatesOverdose$8 million

2019 list

The 2019 list:[2]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited StatesCardiac Arrest$60 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited StatesHeart attack$39 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited StatesCancer$38 million
4Arnold PalmerAthleteUnited StatesHeart disease$30 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaicaCancer$20 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited StatesCancer$19 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited KingdomHomicide$14 million
8Marilyn MonroeActorUnited StatesOverdose$13 million
9PrinceMusicianUnited StatesOverdose$12 million
10Nipsey HussleMusicianUnited StatesHomicide$11 million
11XXXTentacionMusicianUnited StatesHomicide$10 million
12Whitney HoustonMusicianUnited StatesOverdose$9.5 million
13George HarrisonMusicianUnited KingdomCancer$9 million

2018 list

The 2018 list:[3][4]

Michael Jackson brought in $287 million from the sale of his estate's stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony.[5]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$400 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$40 million
3Arnold PalmerAthleteUnited States$35 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$34 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$23 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$16 million
7Hugh HefnerPersonalityUnited States$15 million
8Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$14 million
9PrinceMusicianUnited States$13 million
10John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
11XXXTentacionMusicianUnited States$11 million
12Muhammad AliAthleteUnited States$8 million
13Bettie PageModelUnited States$7 million

2017 list

The 2017 list:[6][7]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$75 million
2Arnold PalmerAthleteUnited States$40 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$38 million
4Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$35 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$23 million
6Tom PettyMusicianUnited States$20 million
7PrinceMusicianUnited States$18 million
8Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$16 million
9John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
10Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$10 million
11David BowieMusicianUnited Kingdom$9.5 million
12Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$8 million
13Bettie PageModelUnited States$7.5 million

2016 list

The 2016 list:[8]

Michael Jackson had the largest annual gain for an entertainer, living or dead, due to the $750 million sale of his half of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue.

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$825 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$48 million
3Arnold PalmerAthleteUnited States$40 million
4Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$27 million
5PrinceMusicianUnited States$25 million
6Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$21 million
7Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$20 million
8John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
9Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$11.5 million
10Bettie PageModelUnited States$11 million
11David BowieMusicianUnited Kingdom$10.5 million
12Steve McQueenActorUnited States$9 million
13Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$8 million

2015 list

The 2015 list:[9]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$115 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$55 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$40 million
4Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$21 million
5Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$20 million
6Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$17 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$11 million
9Paul WalkerActorUnited States$8.5 million
10Bettie PageModelUnited States$10 million
11Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$9.5 million
12Steve McQueenActorUnited States$9 million
13James DeanActorUnited States$8.5 million

2014 list

The 2014 list:[10]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$140 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$55 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$40 million
4Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$25 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$20 million
6Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$17 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$11 million
9Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$9 million
10Bruce LeeActorUnited States$9 million
11Steve McQueenActorUnited States$9 million
12Bettie PageModelUnited States$9 million
13James DeanActorUnited States$7 million

2013 list

The 2013 list:[11]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$160 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$55 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$37 million
4Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$25 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$18 million
6Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$15 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$10 million
8Bettie PageModelUnited States$10 million
10Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$9 million
10Steve McQueenActorUnited States$9 million
12Bruce LeeActorUnited States$7 million
12Jenni RiveraMusicianUnited States$7 million

2012 list

Elizabeth Taylor earned $219 million in 2012.

The 2012 list:[12]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$210 million
2Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$145 million
3Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$55 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$37 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$17 million
6John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
7Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$10 million
7Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$10 million
9Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$9 million
10Steve McQueenActorUnited States$8 million
10Bettie PageModelUnited States$8 million
12Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$6 million
13George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$5.5 million

2011 list

The 2011 list:[13]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$170 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$55 million
3Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$27 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$25 million
5John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$12 million
5Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom$12 million
7Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$10 million
8Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$9 million
9Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$7 million
9Stieg LarssonAuthorSweden$7 million
9Steve McQueenActorUnited States$7 million
9Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$7 million
13George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$6 million
13Bettie PageModelUnited States$6 million
13Andy WarholArtistUnited States$6 million

2010 list

The 2010 list:[14]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$275 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$60 million
3J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$50 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$33 million
5John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$17 million
6Stieg LarssonAuthorSweden$15 million
7Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$11 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$10 million
9George SteinbrennerBusinesspersonUnited States$8 million
10Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$7 million
11Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$6 million
12Steve McQueenActorUnited States$6 million
13Aaron SpellingFilm producerUnited States$5 million

2009 list

The 2009 list:[15][16]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Yves Saint LaurentFashion designerFrance$350 million
2Richard Rodgers and Oscar HammersteinComposer/SongwriterUnited States$235 million
3Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States$90 million
4Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$55 million
5J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$50 million
6Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$35 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$15 million
7Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$15 million
9Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$10 million
10Michael CrichtonAuthorUnited States$9 million
11Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$8 million
11Aaron SpellingFilm producerUnited States$8 million
13Andy WarholArtistUnited States$6 million

2008 list

Elvis Presley earned $52 million in 2008.

The 2008 list:[17]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$52 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$33 million
3Heath LedgerActorAustralia$20 million
4Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$18 million
5Aaron SpellingFilm producerUnited States$15 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$12 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$9 million
8Andy WarholArtistUnited States$9 million
9Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$6.5 million
10Steve McQueenActorUnited States$6 million
11Paul NewmanActorUnited States$5 million
12James DeanActorUnited States$5 million
13Marvin GayeMusicianUnited States$3.5 million

2007 list

The 2007 list:[18]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$49 million
2John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$44 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$35 million
4George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$22 million
5Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$18 million
6Andy WarholArtistUnited States$15 million
7Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$13 million
8Tupac ShakurMusicianUnited States$9 million
9Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$7 million
10Steve McQueenActorUnited States$6 million
11James BrownMusicianUnited States$5 million
12Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$4 million
13James DeanActorUnited States$3.5 million

2006 list

Kurt Cobain earned $50 million in 2006, after the sale of the Nirvana song catalogue.

The 2006 list:[19]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Kurt CobainMusicianUnited States$50 million
2Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$42 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$35 million
4John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$24 million
5Albert EinsteinScientistGermany$20 million
6Andy WarholArtistUnited States$19 million
7Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$10 million
8Ray CharlesMusicianUnited States$10 million
9Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$8 million
10Johnny CashMusicianUnited States$8 million
11J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$7 million
12George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$7 million
13Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$7 million

2005 list

The 2005 list:[20]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$45 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$35 million
3John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$22 million
4Andy WarholArtistUnited States$16 million
5Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$10 million
6Marlon BrandoActorUnited States$9 million
7Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$8 million
8J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$8 million
9George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$7 million
10Johnny CashMusicianUnited States$7 million
11Irving BerlinComposerUnited States$7 million
12Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$6 million
13Ray CharlesMusicianUnited States$6 million

2004 list

The 2004 list:[21]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$40 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$35 million
3J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$23 million
4John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$21 million
5Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$18 million
6Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$8 million
7George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$7 million
8Irving BerlinComposerUnited States$7 million
9Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$7 million
10Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$6.5 million
11George Gershwin and Ira GershwinComposer/LyricistUnited States$6 million
12Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$6 million
13Alan Lerner and Frederick LoeweLyricist/ComposerUnited States$6 million
14Cole PorterComposerUnited States$6 million
15James DeanActorUnited States$5 million
16Dale EarnhardtAuto racingUnited States$5 million
17Jerry GarciaMusicianUnited States$5 million
18Freddie MercuryMusicianUnited Kingdom$5 million
19Tupac ShakurMusicianUnited States$5 million
20Frank SinatraMusicianUnited States$5 million

2003 list

The 2003 list:[22]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$40 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$32 million
3J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$22 million
4John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$19 million
5George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$16 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$16 million
7Dale EarnhardtAuto racingUnited States$15 million
8Tupac ShakurMusicianUnited States$12 million
9Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$9 million
10Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$8 million
11Frank SinatraMusicianUnited States$7 million
12Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$7 million
13Oscar HammersteinSongwriterUnited States$7 million
14Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$7 million
15Cole PorterComposerUnited States$6 million
16Irving BerlinComposerUnited States$6 million
17Robert AtkinsDoctorUnited Kingdom$6 million
18James DeanActorUnited States$5 million
19Jerry GarciaMusicianUnited States$5 million

2002 list

The 2002 list:[23]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$37 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$28 million
3John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$20 million
4Dale EarnhardtAuto racingUnited States$20 million
5Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$19 million
6George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$17 million
7J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$12 million
8Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$10 million
9Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$8 million
10Tupac ShakurMusicianUnited States$7 million
11Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$7 million
12Jerry GarciaMusicianUnited States$5 million
13Robert LudlumAuthorUnited States$5 million

2001 list

The 2001 list:[24]

Rank Name Career Nation Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States$35 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States$20 million
3John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom$20 million
4Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$17 million
5Jimi HendrixMusicianUnited States$10 million
6Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$10 million
7Andy WarholArtistUnited States$8 million
8J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom$7 million
9Frank SinatraMusicianUnited States$6 million
10Jerry GarciaMusicianUnited States$5 million
11Keith HaringArtistUnited States$4 million
12Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States$4 million
13James DeanActorUnited States$3 million

References

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  4. Murray, Tom (November 1, 2018). "The 12 highest-paid dead celebrities of 2018". Insider. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  5. "Michael Jackson tops 2018's highest earning dead celebrities list". The Independent. November 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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  7. Espinoza, Joshua (October 30, 2017). "Here Are the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2017". Complex. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  8. Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 14, 2016). "Michael Jackson's Earnings: $825 Million In 2016". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  9. Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 27, 2015). "The 13 Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2015". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  10. Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 15, 2014). "Michael Jackson Tops Forbes' List of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities With $140 Million Haul". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
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  12. Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 24, 2012). "Elizabeth Taylor Tops 2012 List of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  13. Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 25, 2011). "The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  14. Rose, Lacey; Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 25, 2010). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  15. Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 27, 2009). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  16. Leonard, Tom (October 29, 2009). "Forbes magazine: Yves Saint Laurent is highest earning dead celebrity". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  17. Hoy, Peter (October 27, 2008). "In Pictures: Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  18. Goldman, Lea (October 29, 2007). "In Pictures: Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
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