highest-earning dead celebrity

Screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor surpassed Michael Jackson this year on Forbes‘ list of the highest-earning dead celebrities. The actress, who suffered heart failure last March, earned a whopping $210 million; $45 more than the highest paid living celeb, Oprah Winfrey. A chunk of that change — $184 million — came from Taylor’s record-breaking Christie’s auction, which sold off her fine jewelry, costumes, and art work. Her estate also profited from her White Diamonds perfume sales as well as residuals from her films. Without the profits from the one-time auction, the king of pop will ultimately regain his throne. He earned $145 million this year — $90 million more than third place celeb King of Rock & Roll Elvis Presley. Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz and singer Bob Marley round out the top five with $37 and $17 million, respectively. The celebs on the list earned a cumulative $532.5 million.

Here’s the full list:

1. Elizabeth Taylor: $210 million
2. Michael Jackson: $145 million
3. Elvis Presley: $55 million
4. Charles Schulz: $37 million
5. Bob Marley: $17 million
6. John Lennon: $12 million
7. Marilyn Monroe: $10 million
7. Albert Einstein: $10 million
9. Theodor Geisel: $9 million
10. Steve McQueen: $8 million
10. Bettie Page: $8 million

now the good news, Elvis should be back at #1 next year with sales from HITS OF THE 70`s

What do you reckon Liz will spend her money on?

What do you reckon Liz will spend her money on?

more diemonds!

Hard to believe Elvis' estate is still pulling in 50+ million dollars a year more than 35 years after his death... what are they doing with all that money???

What do you reckon Liz will spend her money on?

I am dubious about a lot of these figures and I will tell you why.

Any one have any idea the basis for MJ and Elvis's figures, it cannot be record sales, neither are generation huge amounts these days.
It cannot just be attributed to Cirque du soleil either. And for MJ It cannot be attributed to Sony projects either as they paid a large sum upfront for 10 projects over 10 years giving them 100% of the earnings or so as it was reported at the time. And from the bits I hear it does not seem that Sony got a good deal on this either.

So what are these figures made up of.

One other thing that crosses my mind, seems like Elvis may be generating a lot of revenue for others, ie the City of Memphis, Tupelo, RCA for the pre 1973 catalogue.

Thoughts anyone?

For Elvis, that's easy it's the house and merchandising which we know they do into the ground.

I thought it was (former pop genius) Madonna!

I thought it was (former pop genius) Madonna!

when did she die?

I thought it was (former pop genius) Madonna!

when did she die?

Just after Vogue IIRC.

I'm pretty sure those figures don't include what E.P.E. made during this year's Elvis Week in August or the big Elvis Experience in Brazil just last month. Most likely it's sales from the now ended Viva Elvis in Las Vegas and last year's attendance numbers at Graceland along with merchandise sales.

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

He died!

I'm pretty sure those figures don't include what E.P.E. made during this year's Elvis Week in August or the big Elvis Experience in Brazil just last month. Most likely it's sales from the now ended Viva Elvis in Las Vegas and last year's attendance numbers at Graceland along with merchandise sales.

According to Forbes, the figures were calculated from October 2011 through October 2012.

Brian

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

Courtney Love took all his money.

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

He was on the list because some rights were bought off or something. Anyway, a one-time payment.
Same for Liz Taylor & Michael Jackson.
Elvis is there every year thanks to sales of merchandising, visitors fee for Graceland and royalties on 1973-1977 recordings.

I thought it was (former pop genius) Madonna!

when did she die?

Just after Vogue IIRC.

Only for the uninitiated, "King Volcano".

P.S. Nice login name.

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

He died.

It seems Elvis earns $55 every year. surely it must be higher this year as 75,000 visited Memphis/Graceland just during Elvis Week. I read it boosted the Memphis' economy by some millions so it must have boosted EPE's earnings too.

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

He was on the list because some rights were bought off or something. Anyway, a one-time payment.
Same for Liz Taylor & Michael Jackson.
Elvis is there every year thanks to sales of merchandising, visitors fee for Graceland and royalties on 1973-1977 recordings.

Imagine how much Elvis would earn if the colonel hadny sold the rights to his pre1973 songs to RCA!!!!!

Kurt Cobain used to be on those lists. What happened?

He was on the list because some rights were bought off or something. Anyway, a one-time payment.
Same for Liz Taylor & Michael Jackson.
Elvis is there every year thanks to sales of merchandising, visitors fee for Graceland and royalties on 1973-1977 recordings.

Imagine how much Elvis would earn if the colonel hadny sold the rights to his pre1973 songs to RCA!!!!!

Yeah, bastard Colonel. So many bad decisions you'd almost feel sorry for Elvis. NOT.