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.
2022 list
The 2022 list:
J.R.R. Tolkien earned $500 million from the sale of Middle-Earth Enterprises.
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $500 million |
2 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | United States | Helicopter crash | $400 million |
3 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $250 million |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $110 million |
5 | James Brown | Musician | Heart failure | $100 million | |
6 | Michael Jackson | Musician | Overdose/Homicide | $75 million | |
7 | Leonard Cohen | Musician | Canada | Fatal fall | $55 million |
8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $32 million |
9 | Jeff Porcaro | Musician | Heart attack | $25 million | |
10 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $24 million | |
11 | Juan Gabriel | Musician | Mexico | Heart attack | $23 million |
12 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $16 million |
13 | George Harrison | Musician | Cancer | $12 million |
2021 list
The 2021 list:
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.
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Roald Dahl | Author | United Kingdom | Cancer | $513 million |
2 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $120 million |
3 | Michael Jackson | Overdose/Homicide | $75 million | ||
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $40 million | |
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | $35 million | ||
6 | Bing Crosby | Musician | Heart Attack | $33 million | |
7 | Elvis Presley | $30 million | |||
8 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart Disease | $27 million | |
9 | Gerry Goffin | Lyricist | Natural Causes | $23 million | |
10 | Luther Vandross | Musician | Heart Attack | $21 million | |
11 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $16 million | |
12 | Juice Wrld | United States | Accidental Overdose | $15 million | |
13 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
2020 list
The 2020 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $48 million |
2 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $33 million | |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | $32.5 million | ||
4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $25 million | |
5 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $23 million | |
6 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | Helicopter crash | $20 million | |
7 | Juice Wrld | Musician | Overdose | $15 million | |
8 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $14 million | |
9 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $13 million | |
10 | Prince | United States | Overdose | $10 million | |
11 | Freddie Mercury | United Kingdom | AIDS | $9 million | |
12 | George Harrison | Cancer | $8.5 million | ||
13 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose/Suicide | $8 million |
2019 list
The 2019 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $60 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $39 million | ||
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $38 million | |
4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $30 million | |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $20 million |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $19 million | |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $14 million |
8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $13 million |
9 | Prince | Musician | United States | $12 million | |
10 | Nipsey Hussle | Homicide | $11 million | ||
11 | XXXTentacion | $10 million | |||
12 | Whitney Houston | Overdose/Drowning | $9.5 million | ||
13 | George Harrison | United Kingdom | Cancer | $9 million |
2018 list
The 2018 list:
Michael Jackson brought in $287 million from the sale of his estate's stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony.
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $400 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $40 million | ||
3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $35 million | |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $34 million | |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $23 million | |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $16 million | |
7 | Hugh Hefner | Personality | Sepsis | $15 million | |
8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | $14 million | |
9 | Prince | Musician | Overdose | $13 million | |
10 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million | |
11 | XXXTentacion | United States | $11 million | ||
12 | Muhammad Ali | Athlete | Septic shock | $8 million | |
13 | Bettie Page | Model | Heart attack | $7 million |
2017 list
The 2017 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $75 million |
2 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $40 million | |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $38 million | |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $35 million | |
5 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $23 million | |
6 | Tom Petty | United States | Overdose | $20 million | |
7 | Prince | $18 million | |||
8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $16 million | |
9 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
10 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
11 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $9.5 million |
12 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | Heart failure | $8 million | |
13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $7.5 million |
2016 list
The 2016 list:
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $825 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $48 million | |
3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $40 million | |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $27 million | |
5 | Prince | Overdose | $25 million | ||
6 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $21 million | |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $20 million | |
8 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $11.5 million |
10 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $11 million |
11 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $10.5 million |
12 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $9 million |
13 | Elizabeth Taylor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $8 million |
2015 list
The 2015 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $115 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $40 million | |
4 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $21 million | |
5 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $20 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | United States | Overdose/Suicide | $17 million | |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $11 million |
9 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $10 million |
10 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $9.5 million | |
11 | Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | $9 million | |
12 | Paul Walker | Car crash | $8.5 million | ||
James Dean |
2014 list
The 2014 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $140 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $40 million | |
4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $25 million |
Paul Walker | United States | Car crash | |||
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Overdose/Suicide | $17 million | ||
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $11 million |
9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
Bruce Lee | Actor | Cerebral edema | |||
Steve McQueen | Cancer | ||||
Bettie Page | Model | Heart attack | |||
13 | James Dean | Actor | Car crash | $7 million |
2013 list
The 2013 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $160 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $37 million | |
4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $25 million |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $17 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose/Suicide | $15 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | ||
10 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $9 million | |
Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | |||
12 | Bruce Lee | Cerebral edema | $7 million |
2012 list
The 2012 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $210 million |
2 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $145 million |
3 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $37 million | |
5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $17 million | |
6 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million | |
7 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose/Suicide | $10 million |
Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | ||
9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | $8 million | |
Bettie Page | Model | ||||
12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | $6 million | |
13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $5.5 million |
2011 list
The 2011 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $170 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
3 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | $27 million | |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $25 million | |
5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | Heart failure | |||
7 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
9 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $7 million | |
Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | Heart attack | ||
Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | |||
Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | |||
13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $6 million | |
Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | ||
Andy Warhol | Artist | Arrhythmia |
2010 list
The 2010 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/Homicide | $275 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $60 million | ||
3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $50 million |
4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $33 million |
5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $17 million |
6 | Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | Heart attack | $15 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | United States | Cancer | $11 million | |
8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
9 | George Steinbrenner | Businessperson | United States | Heart attack | $8 million |
10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | $7 million | |
11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $6 million | |
Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | |||
13 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | Stroke | $5 million |
2009 list
The 2009 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yves Saint Laurent | Fashion designer | France | Cancer | $350 million |
2 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $235 million | |
Oscar Hammerstein | Lyricist | ||||
3 | Michael Jackson | Musician | Overdose/Homicide | $90 million | |
4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $55 million | |
5 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $50 million |
6 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $15 million |
Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | ||
9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
10 | Michael Crichton | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $8 million | |
Aaron Spelling | Film producer | Stroke | |||
13 | Andy Warhol | Artist | Arrhythmia | $6 million |
2008 list
The 2008 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $52 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $33 million |
3 | Heath Ledger | Actor | Australia | Overdose | $20 million |
4 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $18 million |
5 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | Stroke | $15 million |
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $12 million |
7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $9 million |
Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | ||
9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | $6.5 million | |
10 | Steve McQueen | Heart attack | $6 million | ||
11 | Paul Newman | Cancer | $5 million | ||
James Dean | Car crash | ||||
13 | Marvin Gaye | Musician | Homicide | $3.5 million |
2007 list
The 2007 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $49 million |
2 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $44 million | |
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
4 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $22 million | |
5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $18 million |
6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $15 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $13 million | |
8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | Homicide | $9 million | |
9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | $7 million | |
10 | Steve McQueen | Heart attack | $6 million | ||
11 | James Brown | Musician | Heart failure | $5 million | |
12 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $4 million | |
13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $3.5 million |
2006 list
The 2006 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kurt Cobain | Musician | United States | Suicide | $50 million |
2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $42 million | ||
3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $35 million | |
4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $24 million |
5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $20 million |
6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $19 million |
7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $10 million | |
Ray Charles | Musician | Liver failure | |||
9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | $8 million | |
10 | Johnny Cash | Musician | Diabetes | $8 million | |
11 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $7 million |
George Harrison | Musician | Cancer | |||
Bob Marley | Jamaica |
2005 list
The 2005 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $45 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $35 million | |
3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $22 million |
4 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $16 million |
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $10 million | |
6 | Marlon Brando | Actor | Respiratory failure | $9 million | |
7 | Marilyn Monroe | Overdose/Suicide | $8 million | ||
J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | ||
9 | George Harrison | Musician | Cancer | $7 million | |
Johnny Cash | United States | Diabetes | |||
Irving Berlin | Composer | Heart attack | |||
12 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $6 million |
Ray Charles | United States | Liver failure |
2004 list
The 2004 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $35 million | |
3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $23 million |
4 | John Lennon | Musician | Homicide | $21 million | |
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $18 million |
6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | $8 million | |
7 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $7 million |
Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | Heart attack | ||
Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | ||
10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $6.5 million | |
11 | George Gershwin | $6 million | |||
Ira Gershwin | Lyricist | Heart disease | |||
Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | |||
Alan Jay Lerner | Lyricist | Cancer | |||
Frederick Loewe | Composer | Heart attack | |||
Cole Porter | Kidney failure | ||||
17 | James Dean | Actor | Car crash | $5 million | |
Dale Earnhardt | Auto racer | ||||
Jerry Garcia | Musician | Heart attack | |||
Freddie Mercury | United Kingdom | AIDS | |||
Tupac Shakur | United States | Homicide | |||
Frank Sinatra | Heart attack |
2003 list
The 2003 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $32 million | |
3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $22 million |
4 | John Lennon | Musician | Homicide | $19 million | |
5 | George Harrison | Cancer | $16 million | ||
6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | ||
7 | Dale Earnhardt | Auto racer | Car crash | $15 million | |
8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | Homicide | $12 million | |
9 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $9 million | |
10 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose/Suicide | $8 million |
11 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | Heart attack | $7 million | |
12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | ||
13 | Oscar Hammerstein | Songwriter | |||
14 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | ||
15 | Cole Porter | Composer | Kidney failure | $6 million | |
16 | Irving Berlin | Heart attack | |||
17 | Robert Atkins | Doctor | United Kingdom | Head trauma | |
18 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $5 million |
19 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | Heart attack |
2002 list
The 2002 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $37 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $28 million | |
3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $20 million |
Dale Earnhardt | Auto racer | United States | Car crash | ||
5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $19 million | |
6 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $17 million | |
7 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $12 million |
8 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $10 million |
9 | Jimi Hendrix | United States | Overdose | $8 million | |
10 | Tupac Shakur | Homicide | $7 million | ||
Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | |||
12 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | Heart attack | $5 million | |
Robert Ludlum | Author |
2001 list
The 2001 list:
Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $35 million |
2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $20 million | |
John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | ||
4 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $17 million |
5 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $10 million | |
Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | |||
7 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $8 million |
8 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $7 million |
9 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
10 | Jerry Garcia | $5 million | |||
11 | Keith Haring | Artist | AIDS | $4 million | |
Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose/Suicide | |||
13 | James Dean | Car crash | $3 million |