10-23-2013, 02:05 PM
Madonna was the top earning celebrity for 2013 at $135 million. Well, living celebrity, that is.
A dead guy surpassed her earnings this year (June 2012 to June 2013).
1. Michael Jackson at $160 million.
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOUQH51G9ucHyDMHL3o5B..._Z_mA_ivCA]](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOUQH51G9ucHyDMHL3o5B1RvkiAMs7PZl8C9uYIm_Z_mA_ivCA)
His estate earned the bulk of its bucks from two Cirque du Soleil shows, his Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and his half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire—which includes the copyright to hits by the Beatles, Lady Gaga, Eminem and Taylor Swift, among others.
The rest of the top 5 dead celebrity cash cows for 2013, according to Forbes
2. Elvis Presley at $55 million.
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRm2Cjril-ksAZSWRmDX-b...E_PKfL7nLg]](https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRm2Cjril-ksAZSWRmDX-bFcpQ_OD-Rr19vcDxi8WnHE_PKfL7nLg)
The money comes selling the rights to use his image, songs, and the Graceland mansion tours.
3. Charles. M. Schulz at $37 million.
![[Image: 1578063051.jpg]](http://www.upress.state.ms.us/images/book-covers/1578063051.jpg)
Charles Schulz’s tender-hearted Peanuts comic-strip reached tens of millions of readers daily in 75 different countries through 21 languages when it ended in 2000. Licensing the characters' images is still big dollars for his estate.
4. Elizabeth Taylor at $35 million.
![[Image: 220px-Elizabeth_Taylor_portrait.jpg]](http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Elizabeth_Taylor_portrait.jpg/220px-Elizabeth_Taylor_portrait.jpg)
Her estate rakes it in from sales of her White Diamonds perfume, plus gains on smart stock and real-estate investments.
5. Bob Marley at $18 million.
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuxfJFdoy3LbuIHY2sHmB...DjdB9pJPAg]](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuxfJFdoy3LbuIHY2sHmB9Icf6fzMP-To9Qf7Yiy4YDjdB9pJPAg)
His estate generates more than he did when he was alive. Recent ventures include the Marley Beverage company (home to the “relaxation drink” known as Marley’s Mellow Mood) and House of Marley (producer of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products). Marley has sold more than 75 million albums in the past two decades.
Marilyn Monroe was #6.
A dead guy surpassed her earnings this year (June 2012 to June 2013).
1. Michael Jackson at $160 million.
His estate earned the bulk of its bucks from two Cirque du Soleil shows, his Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and his half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire—which includes the copyright to hits by the Beatles, Lady Gaga, Eminem and Taylor Swift, among others.
The rest of the top 5 dead celebrity cash cows for 2013, according to Forbes
2. Elvis Presley at $55 million.
The money comes selling the rights to use his image, songs, and the Graceland mansion tours.
3. Charles. M. Schulz at $37 million.
Charles Schulz’s tender-hearted Peanuts comic-strip reached tens of millions of readers daily in 75 different countries through 21 languages when it ended in 2000. Licensing the characters' images is still big dollars for his estate.
4. Elizabeth Taylor at $35 million.
Her estate rakes it in from sales of her White Diamonds perfume, plus gains on smart stock and real-estate investments.
5. Bob Marley at $18 million.
His estate generates more than he did when he was alive. Recent ventures include the Marley Beverage company (home to the “relaxation drink” known as Marley’s Mellow Mood) and House of Marley (producer of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products). Marley has sold more than 75 million albums in the past two decades.
Marilyn Monroe was #6.