From Michael Jackson to Elvis Presley: the 7 highest-paid dead celebrities and who actually gets the money

LEAVE A COMMENT Some entertainers aren't just famous enough to leave an indelible legacy behind — many also leave a consistent fountain of money, with some continuing to make billions even after their death.

Since 2001, Forbes has published an annual list featuring the highest-earning celebrity estates. Michael Jackson has consistently topped the list since his 2009 death, with his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley's father Elvis Presley appearing in every one of the 25 rankings.

Despite the decades that have passed since their deaths, the likes of the King of Rock and the King of Pop continue to mint money across various different categories, from catalog sales, to licensing deals, movie releases, and more.

Musicians consistently top the list, given the likelihood of artists receiving a higher percentage of residual profits from their music, and some like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury have made one-off appearances on the list after the sale of their catalogs. Others enter the ranks because of the branded physical products they have made famous, like Arnold Palmer's eponymous drink or Jimmy Buffett and Margaritaville, which has everything from a Times Square restaurant to a retirement community with its name on them.

But it's not heirs like Elvis' granddaughter Riley Keough or the "Thriller" singer's kids Prince, Paris and Bigi raking in the money; while they certainly have their fair share of profit, private equity has a huge stake in artists' likeness. Companies like Authentic Brands Groups own the rights to names like Elvis himself, as well as Muhammad Ali and Marilyn Monroe, plus current legends like David Beckham and Shaquille O'Neal.

The King of Pop is not only consistently one of the highest-earning dead celebrities, but he blows his counterparts out of the water. His estate broke the record for all-time annual earnings in 2016 with a whopping $825 million, largely driven by the sale of his half of the Sony/ATV music publishing catalog. To date, he has earned $3.5 billion since his death.

Since Forbes began tracking estate earnings, Elvis, who died August 1977 when he was 42, has earned approximately $1 billion, consistently generating $30 million to $110 million annually through Graceland tourism, merchandising, and the 2022 Baz Luhrmann biopic. His family owns 15% of Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) — his granddaughter Riley is the sole trustee of her mother Lisa Marie’s estate, which inherited EPE — with Authentic Brands Group owning the remaining portion. Graceland, the Tennessee home Elvis bought for $100,000 in 1957 when he was 22 years old, reportedly generates over $10 million annually from its tours, and a Presley executive told Rolling Stone in 2020 that the estate is worth upwards of $500 million.

Dr. Seuss has appeared on the list every year, earning an estimated posthumous gross of $600 million. In 2025, he was the top-selling children and young adult author in the U.S., beating out billionaire Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, and brings in $30 million to $85 million per year from book sales as well as the licensing of characters like The Cat In The Hat and the Grinch, and deals with Netflix and Warner Bros.

Prince has made an estimated $350 million since his 2016 death, appearing on the list nine times. He ranked runner-up in 2021 behind author Roald Dahl when he earned $120 million — a surge driven by three of his six siblings, who sold their individual inheritance stakes (roughly 43% to 50% of the total estate). However, much of his fortune has been moored by legal battles since the “Purple Rain” singer didn’t leave a will.

The “One Love” singer has made an estimated $350 million since his 1981 death, appearing on the list 19 times and earning $15 to $35 million annually. The majority of his masters are owned by Universal Music Group, but beyond steady music streaming revenues, his estate has built an extensive business out of licensing his name, image and likeness to a range of products, from apparel to cannabis. 

The late Beatles singer has made an estimated $300 million since his 1980 death, appearing on the list every single year and earning $12 million to $22 million annually. Even though the Beatles’ catalog is owned by Sony, each member (or their estate) still receives nearly $6 million per year in name, image and likeness earnings. Lennon’s former partner Yoko Ono owns the rights to his solo music.

The Some Like It Hot actress has made an estimated $200 million since her 1962 death, appearing on the list 17 times while earning $8 million to $17 million annually. Authentic Brands Group acquired the rights to her brand in 2011, and her likeness generates a steady income through extensive licensing deals, apparel lines, and image rights.

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