Michael Jackon has earned an estimated $1 billion since his death in 2009, a study has revealed.
He’s still the King of Pop.
Michael Jackson has earned an estimated $1 billion since his death, according to Forbes.
The superstar passed away in 2009 but has raked in more than $115 million in album and merchandise sales in the last year alone.
“When a composer [or] a performer dies, that’s it,” Josh Rubenstein, National Chair of Trusts and Estates at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, told Forbes.
Other top-earning dead celebrities of 2015 included Elvis Presley at number two with $55 million and “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz at three with $40 million.
Schulz’s millions come thanks to the enduring popularity of his characters, which include Charlie Brown and Snoopy. “The Peanuts Movie” is also set for release on November 6.
Michael Jackson may be gone, but his legacy lives on! The former "Thriller" singer can remembered by his wax figure Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, California and London, England, posing in his iconic dance move.
It is the fourth year in a row that the "Thriller" singer has topped the list.
Reggae legend Bob Marley ($21 million) and Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor ($20 million) also make the top five of the list.
John Lennon was seventh in the list.
Jackson’s fortune has been generated by the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson One,” his Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and ownership of half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.
It is the fourth year in a row that the former Jackson 5 singer has topped the list.
Since his death, Michael Jackson's estate have released two albums of previously unreleased track; 2010’s “Michael” and 2015’s “Xscape,” which topped album charts around the world.
The remaining stars to make the top 13 were Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Paul Walker, Bettie Page, Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisell, Steve McQueen and James Dean.