From Kobe Bryant To Michael Jackson: Forbes Reveals 2022 List Of The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities

For the first time ever, each of the top five people in Forbes 2022 list of highest paid dead celebrities, have made more than $100 million. The 13 departed artists, athletes and entertainers on this year¡¯s list of the top-earning dead celebrities earned a record $1.6 billion, making it a 72% increase over last year¡¯s total. As per Forbes, iIt¡¯s by far the biggest 12-month haul since graveyard earnings were begun tracking in 2001.

Without further ado, let¡¯s list the 13 highest paid dead celebrities revealed by Forbes on October 31st 2022.

1. J.R.R. Tolkien: $500 Million

Died: September 2, 1973 (aged 81)

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When Swedish video game company Embracer announced its acquisition of Middle Earth Enterprises in August, they didn¡¯t disclose the deal price, instead opting to share they¡¯d spent $788 million on six acquisitions including Tolkien.

But one clever hobbit told Forbes that Embracer spent at least $500 million for Middle Earth Enterprises, a number Embracer didn¡¯t refute. After the deal closes, Embracer will share the shire with a multitude of other companies who own other pieces of Tolkien¡¯s intellectual property, including HarperCollins, Amazon, Warner Brothers/New Line, and the Tolkien Estate, in what¡¯s been described as the most complex IP rights split in history, as per Forbes.

Also Read: Forbes' 2022 List Of 100 Richest Indians Is Here

2. Kobe Bryant: $400 Million

Died: January 26, 2020 (aged 41)

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As per Forbes, Kobe Bryant, the late L.A. Lakers legend, had a 7% stake in the BodyArmor energy drink and served on the company¡¯s board prior to his 2020 death. In November 2021, Coca-Cola agreed to buy out the 70% of BodyArmor it didn¡¯t already own for $5.6 billion at an $8 billion valuation. Bryant¡¯s estate received a reported $400 million in proceeds from the sale.

3. David Bowie: $250 Million

Died: January 10, 2016 (aged 69)

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¡°Is there life on Mars?¡± the Thin White Duke famously asked on 1971¡¯s Hunky Dory. The sale of David Bowie¡¯s publishing catalog and masters to Warner Chappell in January generated enough income to make Major Tom jealous, to the tune of $250 million, as per Forbes.

4. Elvis Presley: $110 Million

Died: August 16, 1977 (aged 42)

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Forbes list mentions that the King benefited handsomely from Covid cooped-up tourists ready to treat themselves to a vacation at his Graceland mansion and resort. At least $80 million of Presley¡¯s earnings came from tour tickets, shows, and merch, according to sources close to the estate.

While the estate didn¡¯t make a ton directly off the smash Elvis biopic, but the hit film is expected to lift Presley¡¯s earnings for at least the next 18 months as fans, new and old, look to own their own piece of the King. As per Forbes, even sales of Disney¡¯s Stitch plush animals dressed in Elvis jumpsuits are up from last year.

5. James Brown: $100 Million

Died: December 25, 2006 (aged 73)

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¡°The hardest working man in show business,¡± just keeps working, even though he is dead, the Forbes list mentions. Primary Wave, a New York-based independent music publisher, snapped up the Godfather of Soul¡¯s music rights, real estate, and name and likeness. Brown¡¯s estate will reportedly use some of the proceeds to fund academic scholarships for needy children in perpetuity.

6. Michael Jackson: $75 Million

Died: June 25, 2009 (aged 50)

Redux

With Covid restrictions lifted, the Jackson-themed Cirque de Soleil show in Las Vegas is back in action and raking in money alongside the King of Pop¡¯s Mijac Music catalog, as per Forbes. And there¡¯s a new cash cow in town: MJ The Musical on Broadway, a jukebox retelling of Michael Jackson¡¯s story. By November the musical will have grossed $80 million, according to a Jackson estate source, an impressive feat given the show premiered only nine months ago.

7. Leonard Cohen: $55 Million

Died: November 7, 2016 (aged 82)

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Next on Forbes list is Leonard Cohen. The ¡°Hallelujah¡± crooner¡¯s publishing and masters were snapped up by Hipgnosis, a publicly traded music management and IP firm helmed by Merck Mercuriadis, who has managed acts ranging from Beyonc¨¦ and Elton John to Guns N¡¯ Roses and Morrissey.

Cohen wasn¡¯t overly bothered by money problems while alive: After his manager ¡°misappropriated¡± some $5 million in the mid-2000s, Cohen had lunch with a pal, an industry attorney at L.A.¡¯s Four Seasons. ¡°I¡¯m all worked up asking [Cohen] if he¡¯s angry,¡± recalls the attorney. ¡°He goes: ¡®No, what good would that do?¡¯ The guy was so Zen, it¡¯s incredible.¡±

8. Dr. Seuss: $32 Million

Died: September 24, 1991 (aged 87)

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The people of Whoville lived in a world the size of a speck of dust, Dr. Seuss once wrote, with Horton the elephant graciously carrying their speck on a fluffy dandelion. Those tiny Whos, alongside timeless characters including The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, and The Lorax generated over $16 million in book sales since last November, alongside a Netflix deal and merchandising, as per Forbes.

9. Jeff Porcaro: $25 Million

Died: August 5, 1992 (aged 38)

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The drummer from 80s rock outfit Toto doesn¡¯t have nearly the same name recognition as the rest of the dead celebs, but while living he was an industry legend. Not only did he co-write the platinum-certified song ¡°Africa,¡± Porcaro was the go-to studio drummer for recording bigwig Quincy Jones and kept the beat on the best-selling album of all-time, Michael Jackson¡¯s Thriller. As per Forbes, Porcaro also collaborated with the likes of Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen. His publishing and recording royalties were snapped up by Primary Wave.

Also Read: 4 Indian-Americans Feature In Forbes 400 Rich List 2022

10. Charles Schulz: $24 Million

Died: February 12, 2000 (aged 77)

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As per Forbes, for the first time since 1965, classic holiday specials ¡°It¡¯s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,¡± ¡°A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving¡± and ¡°A Charlie Brown Christmas¡± will not be airing on free broadcast TV after Apple TV snapped up the rights for their paid streaming service (nonsubscribers will be able to watch for free on certain days and PBS will also stream the specials.)

11. Juan Gabriel: $23 Million

Died: August 28, 2016 (aged 66)

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One of the most prolific Mexican composers and singers in history, Juan Gabriel¡¯s penned some 1,800 songs in his lifetime, moving an estimated 60 million albums which earned 2 Latin Grammys. Known for his flamboyant performing style and fashion¡ªthink lots of sequins¡ªhis nickname was "divo of Juarez," a reference to Gabriel¡¯s hometown. In April, Gabriel¡¯s estate struck a deal with Universal Music Group in which the company will assign the singer¡¯s post-2008 catalog to label subsidiary Virgin Music US Latin, while Universal¡¯s publishing arm will oversee the entire catalog, according to Forbes.

12. John Lennon: $16 Million

Died: December 8, 1980 (aged 40)

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In 2022 the ¡°Imagine¡± singer made his usual royalties from his time as a Beatle and his solo work. Additionally, as per Forbes list, an estimated $3.5 million was added to Lennon¡¯s coffers from Beatles music rights secured by Disney for its Peter Jackson-directed Get Back, an epic docuseries rehashing the British group¡¯s infamous final recording sessions.

13. George Harrison: $12 Million

Died: November 29, 2001 (aged 58)

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The ¡°quiet Beatle¡± likewise profited from the Get Back docuseries, adding another $2.5 million to his annual solo and Fab Four royalties, according to Forbes. Harrison¡¯s estate, along with Lennon¡¯s, gets another $2.6 million from the Beatles Cirque de Soleil show.

Also Read: Meet Binod Chaudhary, 'Nepal¡¯s First & Only Billionaire To Feature On Forbes Rich List

How The Earnings Were Calculated?

As per Forbes, this year's dead celebrity ranking includes pre-tax earnings from sales, streams, licensing deals and other sources between November 1, 2021 and October 30, 2022, as well as estate acquisitions made or announced during the same period. We compile our numbers with the help of data from Luminate, IMDbPro, NPD BookScan and interviews with industry insiders. Fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted.

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