The legendary American musician, Michael Jackson, widely known as the "King of Pop," has claimed the title of the highest-earning deceased celebrity in the world for the year 2023.
According to Forbes magazine's annual list released on Tuesday, Michael Jackson secured the top spot with an estimated $115 million in earnings. This marks his return to the top position, a position he hasn't held for the past four years.
Coming in second place is Michael Jackson's late father-in-law, Elvis Presley, with an estimated net worth of $100 million. The list of the top 13 deceased celebrities also includes iconic names like Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, Prince, and John Lennon.
Collectively, the deceased celebrities on the list earned an approximate $470 million in the previous year, which is a significant 70 percent decrease compared to 2022. Their rankings were determined based on pretax sales and licensing earnings, reflecting their income from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.
Here's the full list of top earners:
1. US singer, Michael Jackson – $115 million
2. US singer and actor, Elvis Presley – $100 million
3. US keyboardist, Ray Manzarek – $45 million
4. US cartoonist, Dr. Seuss – $40 million
5. US cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz – $30 million
6. US singer, Prince – $30 million
7. US singer, Whitney Houston – $30 million
8. British singer, John Lennon – $22 million
9. Jamaican singer, Bob Marley – $16 million
10. US singer, Bing Crosby – $14 million
11. British singer, George Harrison – $14 million
12. US golfer, Arnold Palmer – $10 million
13. US singer, Marilyn Monroe – $10 million
