Forbes’ 2025 list of the highest-paid dead celebrities highlights a lineup of music legends who continue to dominate the entertainment industry from beyond the grave. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the ranking, which features icons like The Notorious B.I.G., Prince, Miles Davis, Jimmy Buffett, and Michael Jackson. While all of them continue to generate massive earnings for their estates, it’s Jackson who stands far above the rest with staggering posthumous revenue that continues to redefine the business of legacy management.
The Forbes list began in 2001, when Elvis Presley ranked as the top-earning deceased celebrity—a position he maintained for many years. Over the last quarter century, Presley’s estate has earned over $1.2 billion. However, his former son-in-law, Michael Jackson, has completely rewritten the rules of posthumous success. Since his death in 2009, Jackson’s estate has brought in an extraordinary $3.5 billion, earning $105 million in the past year alone and placing him once again at the top of the list.
Much of Jackson’s afterlife fortune stems from his savvy business decisions while alive. His most notable investment came in 1985, when he bought the ATV catalog for $47.5 million (roughly $142 million today), securing ownership of almost every Beatles song written by Lennon and McCartney. That move paid off handsomely when his estate sold its stake to Sony in 2016 for $750 million (around $1 billion today). Even more recently, in 2024, a 50% share of Jackson’s own publishing rights and master recordings was sold to Sony for $600 million, though the decision sparked controversy within his family, with his mother, Katherine, opposing the deal in court.
Beyond these lucrative deals, Jackson’s brand continues to thrive through various entertainment ventures. His 2009 concert documentary This Is It grossed $267 million worldwide, and the Cirque du Soleil production Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour earned $160 million in 2012, becoming the year’s highest-grossing concert tour. These projects, combined with the long-running Las Vegas show Michael Jackson ONE and the Broadway hit MJ: The Musical, have generated nearly $300 million in ticket sales, with global productions expanding the legend’s reach even further.
Even as controversies surrounding Jackson’s personal life persist, they’ve had little effect on his posthumous financial success. His image, music, and influence continue to generate enormous sums annually, setting a standard unmatched by any other celebrity estate. As Forbes notes, when it comes to earnings after death, there’s Michael Jackson—then a massive gap—before anyone else even comes close.
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