Michael Jackson makes his debut on the Top-Earning Deceased Celebrities list. Jackson, who passed away earlier this year due to acute Propofol intoxication, placed third. The "Thriller" singer made an enormous amount of money this year due to heavy radio play, royalties from album sales, and from the rights to his name and stock in the Sony music catalog. Ever since his unexpected passing, fans have been selling memorabilia, including a lock of Jackson's hair.
Forbes senior editor Matthew Miller said: "The money might be drying up in Hollywood, but there's still plenty of cash being made in the graveyard. The earning power of dead celebrities is more powerful than ever before."
Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent tops the list this year, knocking "The King" Elvis Presley off his top spot. Saint Laurent passed away in 2008, but he made $350 million from his fashion label and from the sale of his art collection.
The songwriting team Rodgers and Hammerstein came in second this year. The two penned famous popular Broadway musicals, such as "Oklahoma", "South Pacific", and "The Sound of Music."
Here's the list in its entirety:
1. Yves Saint Laurent - $350 million
2. Rodgers and Hammerstein - $235 million
3. Michael Jackson - $90 million
4. Elvis Presley - $55 million
5. J.R.R. Tolkien - $50 million
6. Charles Schultz - $35 million
7. John Lennon - $15 million
8. Dr. Seuss - $15 million
9. Albert Einstein - $10 million
10. Michael Crichton - $9 million