Michael Jackson tops Forbes list of top-ranking dead celebrities after earning £75 million in one year

Jackson in 2004

Despite a string of successful albums and songs that have become ingrained in modern culture, Michael Jackson was almost £260 million in debt when he passed away in 2009.

However, the King of Pop has made more than enough to pay off this debt in the six years since his death, earning £653m.

He emerged as the top earning deceased famous figure after making £75m in the last year, according to Forbes.

This figure is double the amount amassed by Elvis Presley, who earned £36m due to sales of Graceland tickets. Presley is followed by Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic, who earned £26 million, and Bob Marley, who came in at number four with £14 million.

Josh Rubenstein, National Chair of Trusts and Estates at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, said the death of a performer is often the point at which their personal wealth soars.

“Once they’re dead and there can’t be any more [work], all of the sudden everybody comes in and says, ‘Oh, we’ve got to get this guy.’”