TORONTO — Michael Jackson is the top-earning dead celebrity, according to a new list compiled by Forbes magazine.
The King of Pop, who died in June 2009 of a drug overdose, is estimated to have earned $160 million in the last year.
This is more than Forbes‘ top-earning living celebrity, Madonna, made in the same period.
Jackson’s estate has a Montreal-based company to thank for most of its fortune. Forbes said most of the revenue came from two Cirque du Soleil shows — Immortal and One.
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He also earns royalties from his music and his share of the lucrative Sony/ATV catalogue, which includes songs by The Beatles, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.
Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, is in second place on the list with earnings of $55 million, followed by Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz with $37 million. He died in 2000 of colon cancer.
The rest of the Top 5 consists of Elizabeth Taylor ($25 million), who died in 2011, and reggae singer Bob Marley ($18 million), who succumbed to cancer in 1981.
Marilyn Monroe, dead since 1962, made $15 million last year, according to Forbes.
She’s followed by John Lennon ($12 million), Albert Einstein ($10 million), actress Bettie Page ($10 million), Dr. Seuss author Theodor Geisel ($9 million), actor Steve McQueen ($9 million), martial artist Bruce Lee ($7 million), and singer Jenni Rivera ($7 million).
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