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Sixteen years after his death, Michael Jackson continues to reign as the highest-earning deceased celebrity, generating $105 million in 2025, according to Forbes\u2019 latest ranking<\/a>.<\/p>\n The King of Pop\u2019s estate benefits primarily from his publishing rights and master recordings, as well as the ATV catalog that includes many classic Beatles songs, Parade<\/a> said.<\/p>\n Jackson\u2019s legacy also remains visible through entertainment ventures like the Broadway production \u201cMJ: The Musical\u201d and Cirque du Soleil\u2019s \u201cMichael Jackson ONE.\u201d<\/p>\n Jackson\u2019s business dealings with Sony have shaped his posthumous earnings, Parade noted. He sold half of his ATV Music Publishing catalog to Sony in 1995, with his remaining stake sold to the company in 2016 for approximately $750 million. CBS<\/a> reported at the time that \u201cthe agreement for Jackson\u2019s half-share of the Sony\/ATV Music Publishing catalog will give the company sole ownership of works by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and other hit-making musicians, including Eminem and Taylor Swift.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Jackson\u2019s original master recordings and personally written songs were excluded from the deal.<\/p>\n \u201cThe power of \u2018Thriller.\u2019 \u2018Off The Wall,\u2019 \u2018Bad,\u2019 and \u2018Dangerous\u2019) compels people across generational, cultural and social divides to continue to groove to Michael Jackson\u2019s music,\u201d Malcolm Abram, a music and entertainment writer for cleveland.com said.<\/p>\n Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) ranks second on the 2025 list with $87 million. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Pink Floyd co-founders Richard Wright and Syd Barrett tie for third and fourth, each generating $81 million. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The Notorious B.I.G. claims fifth place, with earnings from his music catalog and merchandise.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Jazz legend Miles Davis holds the sixth position with $21 million<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Elvis Presley follows at seventh place with $17 million<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Jimmy Buffett ($14 million), Bob Marley ($13 million), and John Lennon ($12 million) complete the top ten. Prince and Arnold Palmer (each with $11 million) and Kobe Bryant ($10 million) follow closely behind.<\/p>\n Over the past quarter-century, Michael Jackson has been the top-earning deceased celebrity, amassing $3.5 billion since his death, according to Forbes. Elvis Presley ranks second with $1.2 billion during that period.<\/p>\n This story was written with the assistance of AI.<\/i><\/p>\nOther top selling dead celebs<\/h3>\n
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