The wealth that some celebrities amass during their lifetimes can be mind-boggling. Ordinary people can only dream of such a fortune. Then of course, there are some famous people who manage to rake in millions even after their deaths.

Forbes magazine, the influential financial publication, has recently released a list of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities during the period October 2013 to October 2014.

They may be long gone from this world, but their fame and wealth continues to grow. That is because their names have become a brand of their own, and their songs, films and photos are still some of the world’s best-selling items.

Another notable fact is that for most of these famous people, their posthumous income has gone to their direct families, asset managers or those who were smart enough to invest in copyrights for the related brands and items.

The Korea Herald Investigative Team looks at the list of celebrities who continue to make a fortune even after their death. 


1. Michael Jackson

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, retained his crown even after his death.

It has been five years since he died in 2009, and has topped this year’s list of the world’s wealthiest dead celebrities earning $140 million during the period. 

He has been steadily making around $100 million annually since his death. This year, his second posthumous album called “Xscape” released in May topped the iTunes chart in 49 countries.

“The Immortal World Tour,” the theatrical production by Cirque du Soleil, a Canadian entertainment company, based on Jackson’s music and life has been one of the main sources of his income in the afterlife.


2. Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, also built his fortune on music. However, Graceland, a mansion that used to be his home in Tennessee is actually more famous than his music now, with more than 500,000 tourists visiting each year. He has earned $55 million from these two income sources over the past year.

In November 2013, Authentic Brands Group, a brand development and licensing company that purchased his intellectual property, said they were planning to increase their income by immortalizing Elvis Presley in hologram form. The industry sources expect his income to increase in the future.


3. Charles Schulz

Charles Schulz, an American cartoonist nicknamed Sparky, is best known for “Peanuts,” the much-loved comic strip featuring the characters Snoopy and the gang. He ranked third with earnings of $40 million.

Not only did his character Snoopy appear in a commercial for MetLife, an insurance company, but also “Peanuts” is being made into a 3-D movie by Fox Studios, and is expected to hit theaters in November 2015. If the movie is a commercial success, then one can expect the cartoonist’s posthumous income to increase next year too.

4. Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor, the diva who represented the last of Hollywood’s glamour era, is keeping her fame in the afterlife. She ranked fourth with $25 million income, mainly thanks to her bestselling perfume line.

She also raked in money from her old movies due to her 10 percent stake. In 2012, she topped Michael Jackson in terms of earnings.


5. Bob Marley

Although he died young, at the age of 36, there are many who remember Bob Marley as one of music’s most influential figures. The number of albums sold since his death in 1981 is more than 75 million.

His earnings over the past year topped $20 million. Two companies named after him ― Marley Beverage Company and House of Marley ― were the main sources of income.

This year, his eldest daughter Cedella has launched Marley Apparel, a men’s clothing line to embody Marley’s signature style from the 60s and 70s.


6. Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe also died young, at the age of 36 in 1962, but remains one of the most talked about celebrities even to this day.

She ranked sixth with $17 million in income.

Authentic Brand Group, which bought Elvis Presley’s intellectual property, is also making money by selling women’s clothing, including underwear, in Monroe’s name after having purchased her intellectual property in 2011.


7. John Lennon

John Lennon, who rose to worldwide fame as a founder member of the English rock band The Beatles, and was shot dead in 1980, continues to live on through his music.

His earnings mainly come from iTunes sales and a Beatles Cirque du Soleil show, and reached $12 million this year.

In 2010, Montblanc, a German manufacturer of luxury goods such as writing instruments and watches, created the John Lennon Special Edition Fountain Pen in honor of the great musical legend.

Besides these seven celebrities, there are several more wealthy dead celebrities, including Albert Einstein with earnings of $11 million, and Bruce Lee, Theodor Geisel, Steve McQueen and Bettie Page who are tied in the ninth place.

James Dean, an actor who died young at the age of 24, came in 13th with $7 million in earnings during the period.

By Korea Herald Investigative Team
(hjlee0301@heraldcorp.com)

Kwon Nam-keun
Hong Seung-wan
Sung Yeon-jin
Bae Ji-sook
Yoon Hyun-jong
Min Sang-seek
Kim Hyun-il
Lee Hee-ju