If you make it big in Hollywood – you don’t just disappear after you die – if anything it makes you more famous and more successful. Celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and James Dean became such icons after they died that they actually carried on earning money even after their demise. But who are the top earning dead celebrities? In this list we will run down who has left behind the biggest career and who is still earning the cash.
1. Michael Jackson – Died: June 25, 2009 (Age 50) – Overdose
Jackson is worth $170 million even in death and has assured that his children will be financially secure for the rest of their lives. The hugely popular singer (in the years prior to his death) had struggled with publicity and turning around his public image but since his demise his earnings have rocketed. The singer had a film released documenting the preparations for his final tour and he had a greatest hits album released shortly after his passing. Much of the other money comes from royalties and his publishing company Mijac.
2. Elvis Presley – Died: August 16, 1977 (Age 42) – Heart Attack
Elvis, when at the height of his career was the original man of Rock and Roll. His fame was on the scale of the likes of The Beatles. Upon his death he has since made around $55 million and continues to make money even today, almost half a century after his passing. Most of his earnings come from Graceland admission and merchandising, as well as the Cirque du Soliel show that is now staged in Las Vegas. There are also royalties to his songs and films works too.
3. Marilyn Monroe – Died August 5, 1962 (Age 36) – Overdose
Marilyn Monroe is the ultimate fallen angel – and one of Hollywood’s saddest stories of loss. Being only 36 upon her passing, one would expect her earnings in death to have been limited – and yet the mystery surrounding her persona has kept the interest alive (she’s made upards of $27 million since death). Since death she has also co-starred in perfume advertisements and even in films (thanks to modern technology). It is suggested the next stop for her image is a line of “Marilyn Monroe Cafes” which take you back to the old vintage times.
4. Charles Schulz – Died: February 12, 200 (Age 77) Colon Cancer
Charles Schulz, the animator and cartoonist responsible for Snoopy – was estimated to have made $25 million since his death in 2000. The characters he created of course all have merchandising agreements on them and this where a lot of that money has emerged from.
5. John Lennon – Died: December 8, 1980 (Age 40) Murdered
John Lennon was of course, one ¼ of the famous band The Beatles and after his untimely death in 1980 in New York the World went into shock. It is obvious where his huge “after death” fortune has come from, with credentials under his belt like “World’s biggest Boy Band” but Lennon’s $12 million is also contributed too by the Cirque du Soliel in Las Vegas (who created a show using The Beatles songs). He can also thank iTunes for his high number – as since they started selling The Beatles, over 1.6 million albums were sold in the UK alone.
Thanks to http://bingo.ladbrokes.com/ who put together this post.
