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.
2020 list
The 2020 list:[1]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Cardiac Arrest | $48 million |
2 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $33 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $32.5 million |
4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart Disease | $25 million |
5 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart Attack | $23 million |
6 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | United States | Helicopter Crash | $20 million |
7 | Juice Wrld | Musician | United States | Overdose | $15 million |
8 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $14 million |
9 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $13 million |
10 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $10 million |
11 | Freddie Mercury | Musician | United Kingdom | AIDS | $9 million |
12 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $8.5 million |
13 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
2019 list
The 2019 list:[2]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Cardiac Arrest | $60 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $39 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $38 million |
4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $30 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $20 million |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $19 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $14 million |
8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $13 million |
9 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $12 million |
10 | Nipsey Hussle | Musician | United States | Homicide | $11 million |
11 | XXXTentacion | Musician | United States | Homicide | $10 million |
12 | Whitney Houston | Musician | United States | Overdose | $9.5 million |
13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $9 million |
2018 list
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $400 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $40 million |
3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | $35 million |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $34 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $23 million |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $16 million |
7 | Hugh Hefner | Personality | United States | $15 million |
8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $14 million |
9 | Prince | Musician | United States | $13 million |
10 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
11 | XXXTentacion | Musician | United States | $11 million |
12 | Muhammad Ali | Athlete | United States | $8 million |
13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $7 million |
2017 list
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $75 million |
2 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | $40 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $38 million |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $35 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $23 million |
6 | Tom Petty | Musician | United States | $20 million |
7 | Prince | Musician | United States | $18 million |
8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $16 million |
9 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
10 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $10 million |
11 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | $9.5 million |
12 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $8 million |
13 | Bettie Page | Model | United 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $825 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $48 million |
3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | $40 million |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $27 million |
5 | Prince | Musician | United States | $25 million |
6 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $21 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $20 million |
8 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $11.5 million |
10 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $11 million |
11 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | $10.5 million |
12 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $9 million |
13 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $8 million |
2015 list
The 2015 list:[9]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $115 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $55 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $40 million |
4 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $21 million |
5 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $20 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $17 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $11 million |
9 | Paul Walker | Actor | United States | $8.5 million |
10 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $10 million |
11 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $9.5 million |
12 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $9 million |
13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $8.5 million |
2014 list
The 2014 list:[10]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $140 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $55 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $40 million |
4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $25 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $20 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $17 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $11 million |
9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $9 million |
10 | Bruce Lee | Actor | United States | $9 million |
11 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $9 million |
12 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $9 million |
13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $7 million |
2013 list
The 2013 list:[11]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $160 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $55 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $37 million |
4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $25 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $18 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $15 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $10 million |
8 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $10 million |
10 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $9 million |
10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $9 million |
12 | Bruce Lee | Actor | United States | $7 million |
12 | Jenni Rivera | Musician | United States | $7 million |
2012 list
The 2012 list:[12]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $210 million |
2 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $145 million |
3 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $55 million |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $37 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $17 million |
6 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
7 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $10 million |
7 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $10 million |
9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $9 million |
10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $8 million |
10 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $8 million |
12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $6 million |
13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $5.5 million |
2011 list
The 2011 list:[13]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $170 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $55 million |
3 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $27 million |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $25 million |
5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $12 million |
5 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | $12 million |
7 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $10 million |
8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $9 million |
9 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $7 million |
9 | Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | $7 million |
9 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $7 million |
9 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $7 million |
13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $6 million |
13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | $6 million |
13 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $6 million |
2010 list
The 2010 list:[14]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $275 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $60 million |
3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $50 million |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $33 million |
5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $17 million |
6 | Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | $15 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $11 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $10 million |
9 | George Steinbrenner | Businessperson | United States | $8 million |
10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $7 million |
11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $6 million |
12 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $6 million |
13 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | $5 million |
2009 list
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yves Saint Laurent | Fashion designer | France | $350 million |
2 | Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein | Composer/Songwriter | United States | $235 million |
3 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | $90 million |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $55 million |
5 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $50 million |
6 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $35 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $15 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $15 million |
9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $10 million |
10 | Michael Crichton | Author | United States | $9 million |
11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $8 million |
11 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | $8 million |
13 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $6 million |
2008 list
The 2008 list:[17]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $52 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $33 million |
3 | Heath Ledger | Actor | Australia | $20 million |
4 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $18 million |
5 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | $15 million |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $12 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $9 million |
8 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $9 million |
9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $6.5 million |
10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $6 million |
11 | Paul Newman | Actor | United States | $5 million |
12 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $5 million |
13 | Marvin Gaye | Musician | United States | $3.5 million |
2007 list
The 2007 list:[18]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $49 million |
2 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $44 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $35 million |
4 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $22 million |
5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $18 million |
6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $15 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $13 million |
8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | $9 million |
9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $7 million |
10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | $6 million |
11 | James Brown | Musician | United States | $5 million |
12 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $4 million |
13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $3.5 million |
2006 list
The 2006 list:[19]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kurt Cobain | Musician | United States | $50 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $42 million |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $35 million |
4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $24 million |
5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | $20 million |
6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $19 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $10 million |
8 | Ray Charles | Musician | United States | $10 million |
9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $8 million |
10 | Johnny Cash | Musician | United States | $8 million |
11 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $7 million |
12 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $7 million |
13 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $7 million |
2005 list
The 2005 list:[20]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $45 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $35 million |
3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $22 million |
4 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $16 million |
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $10 million |
6 | Marlon Brando | Actor | United States | $9 million |
7 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $8 million |
8 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $8 million |
9 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $7 million |
10 | Johnny Cash | Musician | United States | $7 million |
11 | Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | $7 million |
12 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $6 million |
13 | Ray Charles | Musician | United States | $6 million |
2004 list
The 2004 list:[21]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $40 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $35 million |
3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $23 million |
4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $21 million |
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $18 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $8 million |
7 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $7 million |
8 | Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | $7 million |
9 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $7 million |
10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $6.5 million |
11 | George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin | Composer/Lyricist | United States | $6 million |
12 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $6 million |
13 | Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe | Lyricist/Composer | United States | $6 million |
14 | Cole Porter | Composer | United States | $6 million |
15 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $5 million |
16 | Dale Earnhardt | Auto racing | United States | $5 million |
17 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | $5 million |
18 | Freddie Mercury | Musician | United Kingdom | $5 million |
19 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | $5 million |
20 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | $5 million |
2003 list
The 2003 list:[22]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $40 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $32 million |
3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $22 million |
4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $19 million |
5 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $16 million |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $16 million |
7 | Dale Earnhardt | Auto racing | United States | $15 million |
8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | $12 million |
9 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $9 million |
10 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $8 million |
11 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | $7 million |
12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $7 million |
13 | Oscar Hammerstein | Songwriter | United States | $7 million |
14 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $7 million |
15 | Cole Porter | Composer | United States | $6 million |
16 | Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | $6 million |
17 | Robert Atkins | Doctor | United Kingdom | $6 million |
18 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $5 million |
19 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | $5 million |
2002 list
The 2002 list:[23]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $37 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $28 million |
3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $20 million |
4 | Dale Earnhardt | Auto racing | United States | $20 million |
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $19 million |
6 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $17 million |
7 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $12 million |
8 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $10 million |
9 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $8 million |
10 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | $7 million |
11 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $7 million |
12 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | $5 million |
13 | Robert Ludlum | Author | United States | $5 million |
2001 list
The 2001 list:[24]
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | $35 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $20 million |
3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | $20 million |
4 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $17 million |
5 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | $10 million |
6 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $10 million |
7 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | $8 million |
8 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | $7 million |
9 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | $6 million |
10 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | $5 million |
11 | Keith Haring | Artist | United States | $4 million |
12 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | $4 million |
13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | $3 million |
References
- Berg, Madeline (November 13, 2019). "The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities Of 2020". Forbes. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- Greenburg, Zack (October 30, 2019). "The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities Of 2019". Forbes. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Greenburg, Zack O'Malley; Robehmed, Natalie (October 31, 2017). "The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities of 2018". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Murray, Tom (November 1, 2018). "The 12 highest-paid dead celebrities of 2018". Insider. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- "Michael Jackson tops 2018's highest earning dead celebrities list". The Independent. November 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 30, 2017). "The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2017". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Espinoza, Joshua (October 30, 2017). "Here Are the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2017". Complex. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 14, 2016). "Michael Jackson's Earnings: $825 Million In 2016". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 27, 2015). "The 13 Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2015". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 15, 2014). "Michael Jackson Tops Forbes' List of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities With $140 Million Haul". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 23, 2013). "Michael Jackson Leads Our List of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 24, 2012). "Elizabeth Taylor Tops 2012 List of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 25, 2011). "The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Rose, Lacey; Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 25, 2010). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 27, 2009). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Leonard, Tom (October 29, 2009). "Forbes magazine: Yves Saint Laurent is highest earning dead celebrity". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Hoy, Peter (October 27, 2008). "In Pictures: Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Goldman, Lea (October 29, 2007). "In Pictures: Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Rose, Lacey (October 24, 2006). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Hoffmann, Leah (October 27, 2005). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- DiCarlo, Lisa (October 26, 2004). "Reaping Millions After Death". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- DiCarlo, Lisa (October 24, 2003). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Schiffman, Betsy (July 12, 2002). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Fong, Mei (February 28, 2001). "Earnings From The Crypt". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
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