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.

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.

2022 list

The 2022 list:[1]

J.R.R. Tolkien earned $500 million from the sale of Middle-Earth Enterprises.[1]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited KingdomPneumonia$500 million
2Kobe BryantAthleteUnited StatesHelicopter crash$400 million
3David BowieMusicianUnited KingdomCancer$250 million
4Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited StatesHeart Attack$110 million
5James BrownMusicianHeart failure$100 million
6Michael JacksonMusicianOverdose/Homicide[2]$75 million
7Leonard CohenMusicianCanadaFatal fall$55 million
8Dr. SeussAuthorUnited StatesCancer$32 million
9Jeff PorcaroMusicianHeart attack$25 million
10Charles SchulzCartoonistCancer$24 million
11Juan GabrielMusicianMexicoHeart attack$23 million
12John LennonMusicianUnited KingdomHomicide$16 million
13George HarrisonMusicianCancer$12 million

2021 list

The 2021 list:[3]

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.[3]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Roald DahlAuthorUnited KingdomCancer$513 million
2PrinceMusicianUnited StatesOverdose$120 million
3Michael JacksonOverdose/Homicide[2]$75 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonistCancer$40 million
5Dr. SeussAuthor$35 million
6Bing CrosbyMusicianHeart Attack$33 million
7Elvis Presley$30 million
8Arnold PalmerAthleteHeart Disease$27 million
9Gerry GoffinLyricistNatural Causes$23 million
10Luther VandrossMusicianHeart Attack$21 million
11Bob MarleyJamaicaCancer$16 million
12Juice WrldUnited StatesAccidental Overdose$15 million
13John LennonUnited KingdomHomicide$12 million

2020 list

The 2020 list:[4]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited StatesOverdose/Homicide[2]$48 million
2Dr. SeussAuthorCancer$33 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonist$32.5 million
4Arnold PalmerAthleteHeart disease$25 million
5Elvis PresleyMusicianHeart attack$23 million
6Kobe BryantAthleteHelicopter crash$20 million
7Juice WrldMusicianOverdose$15 million
8Bob MarleyJamaicaCancer$14 million
9John LennonUnited KingdomHomicide$13 million
10PrinceUnited StatesOverdose$10 million
11Freddie MercuryUnited KingdomAIDS$9 million
12George HarrisonCancer$8.5 million
13Marilyn MonroeActorUnited StatesOverdose/Suicide$8 million

2019 list

The 2019 list:[5]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited StatesOverdose/Homicide[2]$60 million
2Elvis PresleyHeart attack$39 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistCancer$38 million
4Arnold PalmerAthleteHeart disease$30 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaicaCancer$20 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$19 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited KingdomHomicide$14 million
8Marilyn MonroeActorUnited StatesOverdose$13 million
9PrinceMusicianUnited States$12 million
10Nipsey HussleHomicide$11 million
11XXXTentacion$10 million
12Whitney HoustonOverdose/Drowning$9.5 million
13George HarrisonUnited KingdomCancer$9 million

2018 list

The 2018 list:[6][7]

Michael Jackson brought in $287 million from the sale of his estate's stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony.[8]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$400 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$40 million
3Arnold PalmerAthlete Heart disease$35 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$34 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$23 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$16 million
7Hugh HefnerPersonality Sepsis$15 million
8Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide$14 million
9PrinceMusician Overdose$13 million
10John LennonUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
11XXXTentacionUnited States$11 million
12Muhammad AliAthlete Septic shock$8 million
13Bettie PageModel Heart attack$7 million

2017 list

The 2017 list:[9][10]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$75 million
2Arnold PalmerAthlete Heart disease$40 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$38 million
4Elvis PresleyMusician Heart attack$35 million
5Bob MarleyJamaica Cancer$23 million
6Tom PettyUnited States Overdose$20 million
7Prince$18 million
8Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$16 million
9John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
10Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$10 million
11David BowieMusicianUnited Kingdom Cancer$9.5 million
12Elizabeth TaylorActor Heart failure$8 million
13Bettie PageModelUnited States Heart attack$7.5 million

2016 list

The 2016 list:[11]

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 Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$825 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$48 million
3Arnold PalmerAthlete Heart disease$40 million
4Elvis PresleyMusician Heart attack$27 million
5Prince Overdose$25 million
6Bob MarleyJamaica Cancer$21 million
7Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States$20 million
8John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
9Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$11.5 million
10Bettie PageModelUnited States Heart attack$11 million
11David BowieMusicianUnited Kingdom Cancer$10.5 million
12Steve McQueenActorUnited States Heart attack$9 million
13Elizabeth TaylorUnited Kingdom Heart failure$8 million

2015 list

The 2015 list:[12]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$115 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$55 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$40 million
4Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$21 million
5Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom Heart failure$20 million
6Marilyn MonroeUnited States Overdose/Suicide$17 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$11 million
9Bettie PageModel United States Heart attack$10 million
10Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$9.5 million
11Steve McQueenActor Heart attack$9 million
12Paul Walker Car crash$8.5 million
James Dean

2014 list

The 2014 list:[13]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$140 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$55 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$40 million
4Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom Heart failure$25 million
Paul WalkerUnited States Car crash
6Marilyn Monroe Overdose/Suicide$17 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$11 million
9Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer$9 million
Bruce LeeActor Cerebral edema
Steve McQueen Cancer
Bettie PageModel Heart attack
13James DeanActor Car crash$7 million

2013 list

The 2013 list:[14]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$160 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$55 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$37 million
4Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom Heart failure$25 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica Cancer$17 million
6Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States Overdose/Suicide$15 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$10 million
Bettie PageModelUnited States Heart attack
10Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$9 million
Steve McQueenActor Heart attack
12Bruce Lee Cerebral edema$7 million

2012 list

Elizabeth Taylor earned $219 million in 2012.

The 2012 list:[15]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elizabeth TaylorActorUnited Kingdom Heart failure$210 million
2Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$145 million
3Elvis Presley Heart attack$55 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$37 million
5Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica$17 million
6John LennonUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
7Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States Overdose/Suicide$10 million
Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm
9Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer$9 million
10Steve McQueenActor Heart attack$8 million
Bettie PageModel
12Richard RodgersComposer Cancer$6 million
13George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$5.5 million

2011 list

The 2011 list:[16]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$170 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$55 million
3Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide$27 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$25 million
5John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$12 million
Elizabeth TaylorActor Heart failure
7Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$10 million
8Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer$9 million
9Jimi HendrixMusician Overdose$7 million
Stieg LarssonAuthorSweden Heart attack
Steve McQueenActorUnited States
Richard RodgersComposer Cancer
13George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$6 million
Bettie PageModelUnited States Heart attack
Andy WarholArtist Arrhythmia

2010 list

The 2010 list:[17]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Michael JacksonMusicianUnited States Overdose/Homicide[2]$275 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$60 million
3J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$50 million
4Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States Cancer$33 million
5John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$17 million
6Stieg LarssonAuthorSweden Heart attack$15 million
7Dr. SeussUnited States Cancer$11 million
8Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$10 million
9George SteinbrennerBusinesspersonUnited States Heart attack$8 million
10Richard RodgersComposer Cancer$7 million
11Jimi HendrixMusician Overdose$6 million
Steve McQueenActor Heart attack
13Aaron SpellingFilm producer Stroke$5 million

2009 list

The 2009 list:[18][19]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Yves Saint LaurentFashion designerFrance Cancer$350 million
2Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$235 million
Oscar Hammerstein Lyricist
3Michael JacksonMusician Overdose/Homicide[2]$90 million
4Elvis PresleyMusician Heart attack$55 million
5J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$50 million
6Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States Cancer$35 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$15 million
Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer
9Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$10 million
10Michael CrichtonAuthorUnited States Cancer$9 million
11Jimi HendrixMusician Overdose$8 million
Aaron SpellingFilm producer Stroke
13Andy WarholArtist Arrhythmia$6 million

2008 list

Elvis Presley earned $52 million in 2008.

The 2008 list:[20]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$52 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States Cancer$33 million
3Heath LedgerActorAustralia Overdose$20 million
4Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$18 million
5Aaron SpellingFilm producerUnited States Stroke$15 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer$12 million
7John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$9 million
Andy WarholArtistUnited States Arrhythmia
9Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide$6.5 million
10Steve McQueen Heart attack$6 million
11Paul Newman Cancer$5 million
James Dean Car crash
13Marvin GayeMusician Homicide$3.5 million

2007 list

The 2007 list:[21]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$49 million
2John LennonUnited Kingdom Homicide$44 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonistUnited States Cancer$35 million
4George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$22 million
5Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$18 million
6Andy WarholArtistUnited States Arrhythmia$15 million
7Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$13 million
8Tupac ShakurMusician Homicide$9 million
9Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide$7 million
10Steve McQueen Heart attack$6 million
11James BrownMusician Heart failure$5 million
12Bob MarleyJamaica Cancer$4 million
13James DeanActorUnited States Car crash$3.5 million

2006 list

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

The 2006 list:[22]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Kurt CobainMusicianUnited States Suicide$50 million
2Elvis Presley Heart attack$42 million
3Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$35 million
4John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$24 million
5Albert EinsteinScientistGermany Aneurysm$20 million
6Andy WarholArtistUnited States Arrhythmia$19 million
7Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$10 million
Ray CharlesMusician Liver failure
9Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide$8 million
10Johnny CashMusician Diabetes$8 million
11J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$7 million
George HarrisonMusician Cancer
Bob MarleyJamaica

2005 list

The 2005 list:[23]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$45 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$35 million
3John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$22 million
4Andy WarholArtistUnited States Arrhythmia$16 million
5Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$10 million
6Marlon BrandoActor Respiratory failure$9 million
7Marilyn Monroe Overdose/Suicide$8 million
J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia
9George HarrisonMusician Cancer$7 million
Johnny CashUnited States Diabetes
Irving BerlinComposer Heart attack
12Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica Cancer$6 million
Ray CharlesUnited States Liver failure

2004 list

The 2004 list:[24]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$40 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$35 million
3J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$23 million
4John LennonMusician Homicide$21 million
5Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer$18 million
6Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide$8 million
7George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom Cancer$7 million
Irving BerlinComposerUnited States Heart attack
Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica Cancer
10Richard RodgersComposerUnited States$6.5 million
11George Gershwin$6 million
Ira Gershwin Lyricist Heart disease
Jimi HendrixMusician Overdose
Alan Jay Lerner Lyricist Cancer
Frederick LoeweComposer Heart attack
Cole Porter Kidney failure
17James DeanActor Car crash$5 million
Dale EarnhardtAuto racer
Jerry GarciaMusician Heart attack
Freddie MercuryUnited Kingdom AIDS
Tupac ShakurUnited States Homicide
Frank Sinatra Heart attack

2003 list

The 2003 list:[25]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$40 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$32 million
3J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$22 million
4John LennonMusician Homicide$19 million
5George Harrison Cancer$16 million
6Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States
7Dale EarnhardtAuto racer Car crash$15 million
8Tupac ShakurMusician Homicide$12 million
9Bob MarleyJamaica Cancer$9 million
10Marilyn MonroeActorUnited States Overdose/Suicide$8 million
11Frank SinatraMusician Heart attack$7 million
12Richard RodgersComposer Cancer
13Oscar HammersteinSongwriter
14Jimi HendrixMusician Overdose
15Cole PorterComposer Kidney failure$6 million
16Irving Berlin Heart attack
17Robert AtkinsDoctorUnited Kingdom Head trauma
18James DeanActorUnited States Car crash$5 million
19Jerry GarciaMusician Heart attack

2002 list

The 2002 list:[26]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$37 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$28 million
3John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide$20 million
Dale EarnhardtAuto racerUnited States Car crash
5Dr. SeussAuthor Cancer$19 million
6George HarrisonMusicianUnited Kingdom$17 million
7J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$12 million
8Bob MarleyMusicianJamaica Cancer$10 million
9Jimi HendrixUnited States Overdose$8 million
10Tupac Shakur Homicide$7 million
Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide
12Jerry GarciaMusician Heart attack$5 million
Robert LudlumAuthor

2001 list

The 2001 list:[27]

Rank Name Career Nation Cause of Death Earnings
1Elvis PresleyMusicianUnited States Heart attack$35 million
2Charles SchulzCartoonist Cancer$20 million
John LennonMusicianUnited Kingdom Homicide
4Dr. SeussAuthorUnited States Cancer$17 million
5Jimi HendrixMusician Overdose$10 million
Bob MarleyJamaica Cancer
7Andy WarholArtistUnited States Arrhythmia$8 million
8J. R. R. TolkienAuthorUnited Kingdom Pneumonia$7 million
9Frank SinatraMusicianUnited States Heart attack$6 million
10Jerry Garcia$5 million
11Keith HaringArtist AIDS$4 million
Marilyn MonroeActor Overdose/Suicide
13James Dean Car crash$3 million

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