Legends live longer. Even after death, these celebrities continue to earn millions. There has been an undefeated leader for years.
Even after death, these celebrities and legends earn more than many mere mortals ever earn in a lifetime. Here is the Forbes ranking for 2022 with the 13 dead top earners. The status is October 31, 2022.
Editorial team finanzen.net
14th place: The ranking
Although most of them have been dead for many decades, stars like Elvis Presley and James Brown still earn millions from the afterlife through their immortal art. A new Forbes list lists 13 deceased stars who earned the most in 2022. The status is October 31, 2022.
Source: Forbes, Image: el lobo / Shutterstock.com
13th place: George Harrison
At the top of the ranking is George Harrison with income of around $12 million. John Lennon’s former Beatles colleague benefited from the “Get Back” documentary series. In addition to the usual music income, the Beatles made millions more through the Beatles Cirque de Soleil show. The musician, who died of cancer in 2001, is in 13th place in the ranking.
Source: Forbes, Image: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com
12th place: John Lennon
In addition to its usual income, the former Beatles singer’s estate has posthumously earned several million US dollars through a sale of music rights to Disney for the production of the documentary series “Get Back”. The musician, who was shot on December 8, 1980, is in twelfth place in the rankings with $16 million.
Source: Forbes, Image: catwalker / Shutterstock.com
11th place: Juan Gabriel
One of the most important Mexican singer-songwriters, Gabriel has sold an estimated 60 million albums. In April last year, Universal Music Group secured the rights to the artist’s musical work. Gabriel earned $23 million posthumously.
Source: Forbes, Image: Photos593 / Shutterstock.com
10th place: Charles Schulz
The creator of Snoopy and the Peanuts comics is ranked tenth with posthumous earnings of $24 million in 2022. Apple has secured the rights to Charlie Brown’s holiday classics for its streaming service Apple TV+, giving Schulz’s estate a large increase in income.
Source: Forbes, symbolic image: Jorg Hackemann / Shutterstock.com
9th place: Jeff Porcaro
The drummer of the rock band Toto, who died at the early age of 38, posthumously earned $25 million in 2022, putting him in ninth place. Although the name is less recognizable than the others in the ranking, songs he co-wrote, such as “Africa”, are known worldwide. Porcaro also worked on Michael Jackson’s album “Thriller”, the best-selling album of all time. The rights to his publications were also bought out by Primary Wave. Porcaro was considered a legend in the music industry.
Source: Forbes, Image: Blueee77 / Shutterstock.com
8th place: Dr. Seuss
The creator of popular children’s books such as “The Puss in the Hat” and “The Grinch” earned over $16 million in revenue from sales of his books in 2022. There is also income from a Netflix production and fan articles. In total, Forbes estimates revenue at $32 million.
Source: Forbes, Image: catwalker / Shutterstock.com
7th place: Leonard Cohen
The Canadian singer-songwriter, who died in 2016 and best known for his song “Hallelujah,” had earnings of $55 million in 2022, according to Forbes. The investment company Hipgnosis secured a share of the rights to Cohen’s songs and texts at the beginning of 2022.
Source: Forbes, Image: Route66 / Shutterstock.com
6th place: Michael Jackson
The King of Pop is in sixth place in the ranking. With the end of the COVID restrictions, Jackson fans can once again attend the many musicals and shows about Michael Jackson that are available nationwide in the USA. In particular, the Cirque de Soleil show in Las Vegas and MJ: The Musical on Broadway are two popular performances that generate decent revenue. As of November 2022, the musical is expected to have grossed up to $80 million, according to a source from Jackson’s estate. In 2022, Forbes estimates Jackson’s earnings at $75 million.
Source: Forbes, Image: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
5th place: James Brown
The music label Primary Wave has secured the rights to the music, property and name of the soul legend for around 90 million US dollars. According to Forbes, Brown’s descendants have announced that they will donate part of the proceeds to scholarships for needy children. Brown, who died at the age of 73, is said to have earned a total of around $100 million in 2022.
Source: Forbes, Image: miqu77 / Shutterstock.com
4th place: Elvis Presley
The “King” also still earns a lot from the afterlife. His Graceland estate in Memphis remains a popular attraction for Elvis fans. The musician has earned at least $80 million from tours, shows and fan articles. The film biography about his life released last year was also intended to increase renewed interest in the musician, who died of a heart attack in 1977 at the age of 42. The musician is said to have earned a total of $110 million in 2022.
Source: Forbes, Image: catwalker / Shutterstock.com
3rd place: David Bowie
The sale of Bowie’s releases to the US music publisher Warner Chapell in January 2022 brought in around $250 million for the British pop musician’s descendants. The pop icon died of cancer in January 2016.
Source: Forbes, Image: RALPH GATTI/AFP/Getty Images
2nd place: Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter accident in early 2020, owned a share of the BodyArmor energy drink in addition to his basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers. In November 2021, the beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola, which already owned 30 percent of the shares, bought the remaining 70 percent of the shares. According to Forbes, Bryant’s descendants received $400 million.
Source: Forbes, Image: Christian Petersen / Staff/Getty Images
1st place: JRR Tolkien
The British writer is known worldwide for his novels and their film adaptations. Even posthumously, his works continue to generate high income. With the takeover of Middle Earth Enterprises in August 2022 by the Swedish video game manufacturer Embracer for at least $500 million, Tolkien is in first place in this ranking, according to Forbes. They now share the rights with a number of other companies such as HaperCollins, Amazon and Warner Brothers/New Line in what has been described as the most complex rights split in history. Tolkien died of lung disease in 1973.
Source: Forbes, Image: Warner Brothers