Celebrities live and die like everyone else, but for some, the money continues to flow long after they are gone. Forbes recently released its list of the highest paid dead celebrities for 2025, and once again, the King of Pop is in the number one position.
According to Forbes, Jackson’s estate has generated $3.5 billion since his death in 2009. In the past 12 months alone, it earned $105 million, placing him far ahead of anyone else on the list. One estate lawyer told Forbes, “When it comes to estate earnings, it’s MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else.”
Most of his revenue comes from valuable assets, including master recordings and publishing rights, which he sold a 50 percent stake in for $600 million in 2024.
This year marks his 13th appearance on the list since it began in 2001, which is more than Elvis Presley.
The list also includes The Notorious B.I.G., Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, and Prince.
