Eight years after his untimely death, Michael Jackson tops Forbes’ 2016 Highest-Paid Dead Celebrity list, earning a whopping $825 million dollars this year.
The King of Pop sits at the top by a significant margin, earning over $700 million more than any other celebrity on the list.
According to Forbes, Jackson’s estate owes a large bulk of its net worth to his investment in the Beatles catalog. Sony paid Jackson $115 million to partake in a 50/50 ownership deal in 1995, and in March, Jackson’s estate sold its remaining half to the entertainment conglomerate for $750 million.
Jackson originally purchased the Fab 4 canon in 1985 for $47.5 million. In 2016, the purchase would amount to $140 million.
Other notable Black celebrities included in the top ten include Prince, whose estate earned $25 million in 2016, followed by Bob Marley at $21 million.
See the top ten earners below:
Michael Jackson (d. 2009) — $825 million
Source: Paul Natkin / Getty
Charles Schulz (d. 2000) — $48 million
Source: CBS Photo Archive / Getty
Arnold Palmer (d. 2016) — $40 million
Source: Chris Trotman / Getty
Elvis Presley (d. 1977) — $27 million
Source: Smith Collection/Gado / Getty
Prince (d. 2016) — $25 million
Source: Jonathan Daniel / Getty
Bob Marley (d. 1981) — $21 million
Source: Richard E. Aaron / Getty
Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel (d. 1991) — $20 million
Source: Gene Lester / Getty
John Lennon (d. 1980) — $12 million
Source: Keystone-France / Getty
Albert Einstein (d. 1955) — $11.5 million
Source: Universal History Archive / Getty
Bettie Page (d. 2008) — $11 million
Source: Weegee (Arthur Fellig)/International Center of Photography / Getty
SOURCE: Forbes | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
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The King Of Pop Tops Highest-Paid Dead Celebrity List With $825 Million was originally published on newsone.com
