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

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

Source: Wikipedia

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

Michael Jackson earned $825 million in 2016, the highest earnings for a celebrity dead or alive in any year. Since his death in mid-2009, he has topped the list every year except for 2009, 2012, and 2021–22.

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

2025 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/manslaughter</td><td>$105 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$85 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Richard Wright</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$81 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Syd Barrett</td><td>Musician</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$81 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>The Notorious B.I.G.</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$80 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Miles Davis</td><td>Musician</td><td>Stroke</td><td>$21 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart Attack</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Jimmy Buffett</td><td>Musician</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$13 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Prince</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Helicopter Crash</td><td>$10 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2024 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$600 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Freddie Mercury</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia resulting from HIV/AIDS</td><td>$250 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$75 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ric Ocasek</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$45 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Prince</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$34 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>United States</td><td>$30 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Matthew Perry</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$18 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>James Brown</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Whitney Houston</td><td>Musician</td><td>Drowning</td><td>$13 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2023 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$115 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$100 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Ray Manzarek</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$45 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>$30 million</td></tr><tr><td>Prince</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td></tr><tr><td>Whitney Houston</td><td>Drowning</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$22 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Bing Crosby</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>George Harrison</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td></tr></tbody></table>

2022 list

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

J.R.R. Tolkien earned $500 million from the sale of Middle-Earth Enterprises.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$500 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Athlete</td><td>United States</td><td>Helicopter crash</td><td>$400 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>David Bowie</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$250 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$110 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>James Brown</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$100 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$75 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Leonard Cohen</td><td>Canada</td><td>Fatal fall</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$32 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Jeff Porcaro</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$24 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Juan Gabriel</td><td>Musician</td><td>Mexico</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$12 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2021 list

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

Netflix announced the acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company, which manages the rights to Roald Dahl's stories and characters, for a fee of $684 million (£500m). Dahl's heirs held at least a 75% stake before the company was acquired.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Roald Dahl</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$513 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Prince</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$120 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$75 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Bing Crosby</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$33 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>$30 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$27 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Gerry Goffin</td><td>Lyricist</td><td>Natural causes</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Luther Vandross</td><td>Musician</td><td>Stroke</td><td>$21 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Juice Wrld</td><td>United States</td><td>Accidental overdose</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2020 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$48 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$33 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>$32.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Helicopter crash</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Juice Wrld</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$13 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Prince</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Freddie Mercury</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia resulting from HIV/AIDS</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$8.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2019 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$60 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$39 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$38 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$30 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>$19 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$13 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Prince</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Nipsey Hussle</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>XXXTentacion</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Whitney Houston</td><td>Drowning</td><td>$9.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2018 list

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

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$400 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$34 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Hugh Hefner</td><td>Personality</td><td>Sepsis</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$14 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Prince</td><td>Musician</td><td>$13 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>XXXTentacion</td><td>United States</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Muhammad Ali</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Septic shock</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$7 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2017 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$75 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$38 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Tom Petty</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Prince</td><td>$18 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>David Bowie</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>Actor</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$7.5 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2016 list

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

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.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$825 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$48 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Arnold Palmer</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Heart disease</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$27 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Prince</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$21 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$11.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>David Bowie</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$10.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$8 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2015 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$115 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>$21 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>Actor</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Actor</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Paul Walker</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$8.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>James Dean</td></tr></tbody></table>

2014 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$140 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>Actor</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>Paul Walker</td><td>United States</td><td>Car crash</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>Bruce Lee</td><td>Actor</td><td>Cerebral edema</td></tr><tr><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>James Dean</td><td>Actor</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$7 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2013 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$160 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$37 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>Actor</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Actor</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Bruce Lee</td><td>Cerebral edema</td><td>$7 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2012 list

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

Elizabeth Taylor earned $219 million in 2012.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>Actor</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$210 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$145 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$37 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Actor</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Richard Rodgers</td><td>Composer</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$5.5 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2011 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$170 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$27 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$25 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>Elizabeth Taylor</td><td>Actor</td><td>Heart failure</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>Stieg Larsson</td><td>Author</td><td>Sweden</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td></tr><tr><td>Richard Rodgers</td><td>Composer</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>Bettie Page</td><td>Model</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>Arrhythmia</td></tr></tbody></table>

2010 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$275 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$60 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$33 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Stieg Larsson</td><td>Author</td><td>Sweden</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$11 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>George Steinbrenner</td><td>Businessperson</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Richard Rodgers</td><td>Composer</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Actor</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Aaron Spelling</td><td>Film producer</td><td>Stroke</td><td>$5 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2009 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Yves Saint Laurent</td><td>Fashion designer</td><td>France</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$350 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Richard Rodgers</td><td>Composer</td><td>United States</td><td>$235 million</td></tr><tr><td>Oscar Hammerstein</td><td>Lyricist</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Michael Jackson</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose/homicide</td><td>$90 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$55 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Michael Crichton</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>Aaron Spelling</td><td>Film producer</td><td>Stroke</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>Arrhythmia</td><td>$6 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2008 list

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

Elvis Presley earned $52 million in 2008.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$52 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$33 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Heath Ledger</td><td>Actor</td><td>Australia</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$18 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Aaron Spelling</td><td>Film producer</td><td>United States</td><td>Stroke</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>United States</td><td>Arrhythmia</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$6.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Paul Newman</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>James Dean</td><td>Car crash</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Marvin Gaye</td><td>Musician</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$3.5 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2007 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$49 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$44 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$22 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$18 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>United States</td><td>Arrhythmia</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$13 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Tupac Shakur</td><td>Musician</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Steve McQueen</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>James Brown</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart failure</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$4 million</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>James Dean</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$3.5 million</td></tr></tbody></table>

2006 list

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

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Kurt Cobain</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Suicide</td><td>$50 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$42 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$24 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Albert Einstein</td><td>Scientist</td><td>Germany</td><td>Aneurysm</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>United States</td><td>Arrhythmia</td><td>$19 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>Ray Charles</td><td>Musician</td><td>Liver failure</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>Johnny Cash</td><td>Musician</td><td>Diabetes</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td></tr></tbody></table>

2005 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$45 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$22 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>United States</td><td>Arrhythmia</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Marlon Brando</td><td>Actor</td><td>Respiratory failure</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>Johnny Cash</td><td>United States</td><td>Diabetes</td></tr><tr><td>Irving Berlin</td><td>Composer</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>Ray Charles</td><td>United States</td><td>Liver failure</td></tr></tbody></table>

2004 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$23 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$21 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$18 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>Irving Berlin</td><td>Composer</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Richard Rodgers</td><td>Composer</td><td>United States</td><td>$6.5 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>George Gershwin</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>Ira Gershwin</td><td>Lyricist</td><td>Heart disease</td></tr><tr><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td></tr><tr><td>Alan Jay Lerner</td><td>Lyricist</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>Frederick Loewe</td><td>Composer</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>Cole Porter</td><td>Kidney failure</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>James Dean</td><td>Actor</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>Dale Earnhardt</td><td>Athlete</td></tr><tr><td>Jerry Garcia</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>Freddie Mercury</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia resulting from HIV/AIDS</td></tr><tr><td>Tupac Shakur</td><td>United States</td><td>Homicide</td></tr><tr><td>Frank Sinatra</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr></tbody></table>

2003 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$40 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$32 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$22 million</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$19 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$16 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Dale Earnhardt</td><td>Athlete</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$15 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Tupac Shakur</td><td>Musician</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$9 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Frank Sinatra</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Richard Rodgers</td><td>Composer</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Oscar Hammerstein</td><td>Songwriter</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Cole Porter</td><td>Composer</td><td>Kidney failure</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Irving Berlin</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Robert Atkins</td><td>Doctor</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Head trauma</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>James Dean</td><td>Actor</td><td>United States</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Jerry Garcia</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td></tr></tbody></table>

2002 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$37 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$28 million</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>Dale Earnhardt</td><td>Athlete</td><td>United States</td><td>Car crash</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$19 million</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>George Harrison</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$12 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Musician</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>United States</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Tupac Shakur</td><td>Homicide</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Jerry Garcia</td><td>Musician</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>Robert Ludlum</td><td>Author</td></tr></tbody></table>

2001 list

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Career</th><th>Nation</th><th>Cause of Death</th><th>Earnings</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Elvis Presley</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$35 million</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Charles Schulz</td><td>Cartoonist</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$20 million</td></tr><tr><td>John Lennon</td><td>Musician</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Homicide</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Dr. Seuss</td><td>Author</td><td>United States</td><td>Cancer</td><td>$17 million</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Jimi Hendrix</td><td>Musician</td><td>Overdose</td><td>$10 million</td></tr><tr><td>Bob Marley</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>Cancer</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Andy Warhol</td><td>Artist</td><td>United States</td><td>Arrhythmia</td><td>$8 million</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>J. R. R. Tolkien</td><td>Author</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Pneumonia</td><td>$7 million</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Frank Sinatra</td><td>Musician</td><td>United States</td><td>Heart attack</td><td>$6 million</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Jerry Garcia</td><td>$5 million</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Keith Haring</td><td>Artist</td><td>Complications from HIV/AIDS</td><td>$4 million</td></tr><tr><td>Marilyn Monroe</td><td>Actor</td><td>Overdose</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>James Dean</td><td>Car crash</td><td>$3 million</td></tr></tbody></table>