Michael Jackson tops Forbes’ list of top-earning dead celebrities

Since Michael Jackson died in 2009, he has reigned as the top-earning dead celebrity. In the past year, his estate is not raking in as much as it did right after he died, but it was still enough to stay at the top of Forbes Magazine’s list of top-earning celebrities. Oddly enough, one of the trends picked up in the list is that most of the top-earning dead musicians have a Cirque du Soleil show.

According to Forbes’ list, Jackson’s estate brought in $170 million in the last 12 months, a big drop from the $275 million it made in the first 12 months after he died. While his music is still constantly selling, his Cirque show, Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour should help boost the estate’s revenue in the next 12 months. The show is touring the world starting next month and every time the show is performed, the estate receives royalties from the songs performed.

The King of Rock, Elvis Presley, follows the King of Pop with $55 million, Reuters notes. The estate of Presley, who died in 1977, also reaps the rewards of a Cirque show called Viva Elvis. It also makes money from tourists who visit Graceland and royalties from Presley’s catalog full of essential rock songs like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog.”

Actress Marilyn Monroe, who died in 1963, comes in third with $27 million. Her estate was recently bought by Authentic Brands Management, which has used her image for fragrances and advertisements.

Peanuts creator Charles Schulz died in 2000, but his characters are still wildly popular and thanks to advertisements, Hallmark cards and Warner Bros.’ releases of the television shows, his estate made $25 million.

Tying at number five is Beatle John Lennon and actress Elizabeth Taylor, who died in March, both with $12 million. Lennon and George Harrison both benefit from the Beatles’ Cirque show Love, which plays in Las Vegas. Harrison is in 13th place with $6 million.

The estate of Jimi Hendrix has made $12 million. Even though the guitarist died in 1970, the estate continues to release unreleased tracks and complete live shows that fans still scoop up.

Novelist Stieg Larsson’s estate made $7 million. That number should get a boost after David Fincher’s remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo is released.

Even Albert Einstein’s estate made the list with $10 million. Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel also made the list with $9 million.