Forbes reveal which superstar has made R61-billion since death
The 25th annual Forbes ranking of the highest-paid deceased celebrities has been released.
In 2001, Elvis Presley topped Forbes’ first list tracking the highest-earning celebrity estates, and The King has appeared on every edition of the rankings since, earning over $1.2 billion during that time.
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Yet another member of music royalty has truly broken the paradigm for posthumous earnings, Elvis’s own onetime son-in-law, Michael Jackson.
Even from beyond the grave, Michael Jackson is out here breaking records and telling the haters to 'Beat It'.
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The King of Pop has just been crowned Forbes’ highest-paid dead celebrity of 2025 with a jaw-dropping $105 million in posthumous earnings this year alone.
Jackson is still out-earning most of today’s living pop stars.
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According to Forbes, MJ's estate has generated an estimated $3.5 billion since his death in 2009.
As one estate attorney perfectly put it: “When it comes to estate earnings, it’s MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else.”
The biggest paydays came from unwinding assets (converting assets to cash) that Jackson accumulated during his life.
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Jackson owned his publishing rights and master recordings, and purchased the ATV catalogue for $47,5-million, which is equivalent to approximately $142-million today.
This included nearly 4,000 songs, almost every hit written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. That same catalogue sold for $750-million in 2016.
That’s roughly $1-billion today.
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In a 2024 mega-deal with Sony Music, the estate sold a 50% stake in his master recordings and publishing catalogue for a cool $600-million.
The agreement didn’t just bring in a mountain of cash; it also gave the estate a fatter slice of royalties worldwide.
Even though he faced considerable controversy, the deal solidified his catalogue as one of the most valuable in history.
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The MJ-themed Cirque du Soleil tour in 2012 grossed $160-million, making it the most successful concert tour of that year and earning Jackson more money than any living musician.
The Michael Jackson ONE residency in Las Vegas has officially surpassed 5,000 performances at Mandalay Bay, and it has been extended through 2030.
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Meanwhile, MJ: The Musical is moonwalking across the globe, having grossed nearly $300 million since its 2022 debut.
Soon, his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, is set to portray him in the upcoming biopic Michael, scheduled for release in April 2026.
The millions seem to keep rolling in endlessly.
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Here is the complete list:
- $105-million: Michael Jackson - June 25, 2009 (50) • Cause Of Death: Overdose/Homicide
- $85 Million: Dr. Seuss - September 24, 1991 (87) • Cause Of Death: Cancer
- $81 Million: Richard Wright - September 15, 2008 (65) • Cause Of Death: Cancer
- $81 Million: Syd Barrett - July 7, 2006 (60) • Cause Of Death: Cancer
- $80 Million: The Notorious B.I.G. - March 9, 1997 (24) • Cause Of Death: Homicide
- $21 Million: Miles Davis - September 8, 1991 (65) • Cause Of Death: Stroke
- $17 Million: Elvis Presley - August 16, 1977 (42) • Cause Of Death: Heart Attack
- $14 Million: Jimmy Buffett - September 1, 2023 (76) • Cause Of Death: Skin Cancer
- $13 Million: Bob Marley - May 11, 1981 (36) • Cause Of Death: Cancer
- $12 Million: John Lennon - December 8, 1980 (40) • Cause Of Death: Homicide
- $11 Million: Prince - April 21, 2016 (57) • Cause Of Death: Overdose
- $11 Million: Arnold Palmer - September 25, 2016 (87) • Cause Of Death: Cardiovacular Disease
- $10 Million: Kobe Bryant - January 26, 2020 (41) • Cause of Death: Helicopter Crash
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