According to Forbes, Michael Jackson made more money than any other deceased celebrity in 2009. The late pop singer topped a list of twelve dead earners with $275 million dollars grossed--more than the other eleven combined. Jackson also posted a higher income last year than any living superstar largely due to increased records sales, money from his estate, investments in music from Sony/ATV, and proceeds from last year's movie This Is It. Here's how the other dead celebrities stacked up to Mike:
Forbes Top Earning Dead Celebrities:
1. Michael Jackson - $275 million
2. Elvis Presley - $60 million
3. J. R. R. Tolkein - $50 million
4. Charles Schulz - $33 million
5. John Lennon - $17 million
6. Stieg Larsson - $15 million
7. Dr. Seuss - $11 million
8. Albert Einstein - $10 million
9. George Steinbrenner - $8 million
10. Richard Rogers - $7 million
11. Jimi Hendrix and Steve McQueen - $6 million each
12. Aaron Spelling - $5 million
2. Elvis Presley - $60 million
3. J. R. R. Tolkein - $50 million
4. Charles Schulz - $33 million
5. John Lennon - $17 million
6. Stieg Larsson - $15 million
7. Dr. Seuss - $11 million
8. Albert Einstein - $10 million
9. George Steinbrenner - $8 million
10. Richard Rogers - $7 million
11. Jimi Hendrix and Steve McQueen - $6 million each
12. Aaron Spelling - $5 million
