Table of Contents
Oct 19, 2024 11:10 AM IST
Michael Jackson died in 2009 but still makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year, more than many top celebs of today.
They say that in death, all things stop. That may not be true for celebrities, though. A list from Forbes, released annually, reveals how much dead celebrities earn each year. And the answer is millions and billions of dollars. Many celebs, mostly actors, singers, writers, and painters, continue to generate royalties from their work even after their demise. The ‘highest-paid’ of them earned $115 million last year and a staggering $2.7 billion since they died in 2009. (Also read: World’s richest celeb made just six films; with net worth still more than Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh, Taylor Swift combined)
World’s highest-paid dead celebrity
The Prince of Pop, Michael Jackson, was one of the biggest names in world music during his peak in the ’80s and ’90s. And even though controversies dulled his stardom to an extent later, even death failed to dim it completely. After his sudden death in 2009, Michal Jackson’s estate has continued to earn money through the royalties of his countless chartbusters. According to Forbes’ list of ‘The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities Of 2023’, Michael Jackson earned $115 million last year through royalties. He beat Elvis Presley ($100 million) and the Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek ($45 million) to top the list.
How Michael Jackson earns money even in death
In fact, Michael Jackson has topped this annual list 11 times in the 15 years since his death. He has consistently been the highest-paid dead celebrity worldwide since 2009. According to Forbes, his estate has earned over $2.7 billion during this period. The bulk of this – a whopping $825 million – came in a single year, 2016. This was largely due to the $750 million sale of his half of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue that year.
All about Michael Jackson
Born in 1958, Michael Jackson first gained fame as part of the Jackson Five, a musical group with his four siblings. In 1971, at 13, he began his solo career but got his true breakthrough with the album Thriller in 1982. Over the next two decades, he was the biggest musical act on the planet. However, the singer lived a troubled life and battled allegations of child abuse till his death.
Catch every big hit,…
See more
