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

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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.

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

2021 list[]

The 2021 list:[1]

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.[1]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1 Roald Dahl Author United Kingdom Cancer $513 million
2 Prince Musician United States Overdose $120 million
3 Michael Jackson Musician United States Homicide[2] $75 million
4 Charles Schulz Cartoonist United States Cancer $40 million
5 Dr. Seuss Author United States Cancer $35 million
6 Bing Crosby Musician United States Cancer $33 million
7 Elvis Presley Musician United States Heart Attack $30 million
8 Arnold Palmer Golfer United States Heart Disease $27 million
9 Gerry Goffin Lyricist United States Natural Causes $23 million
10 Luther Vandross Musician United States Stroke $21 million
11 Bob Marley Musician Jamaica Cancer $16 million
12 Juice Wrld Musician United States Overdose $15 million
13 John Lennon Musician United Kingdom Homicide $12 million

2020 list[]

The 2020 list:[3]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1 Michael Jackson Musician United States Homicide[2] $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:[4]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1 Michael Jackson Musician United States Homicide[2] $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 Drowning $9.5 million
13 George Harrison Musician United Kingdom Cancer $9 million

2018 list[]

The 2018 list:[5][6]

Michael Jackson brought in $287 million from the sale of his estate's stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony.[7]

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[]

The 2017 list:[8][9]

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:[10]

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:[11]

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:[12]

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 Paul Walker Actor United States $25 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:[13]

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 $17 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

2012 list[]

Elizabeth Taylor earned $219 million in 2012.

The 2012 list:[14]

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:[15]

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:[16]

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
11 Steve McQueen Actor United States $6 million
13 Aaron Spelling Film producer United States $5 million

2009 list[]

The 2009 list:[17][18]

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[]

Elvis Presley earned $52 million in 2008.

The 2008 list:[19]

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:[20]

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[]

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

The 2006 list:[21]

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:[22]

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:[23]

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:[24]

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:[25]

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:[26]

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[]

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