Late American music legend, Michael Jackson, has once again proven his lasting influence as he tops Forbes’ 2025 list of highest-paid deceased celebrities.
According to Forbes, the “King of Pop” earned a massive $105 million over the past year, making him the highest-earning late icon by a wide margin.
Most of Jackson’s income came from the 2024 sale of a 50% stake in his master recordings and publishing catalog to Sony Music for an incredible $600 million.
Other late music stars on Forbes’ list include Prince, John Lennon, and Bob Marley.
Musicians dominated the rankings, taking ten of the top thirteen spots and collectively earning $541 million in the past year.
Since his death in 2009, Michael Jackson’s estate has generated an astonishing $3.5 billion, cementing his legacy as the most successful posthumous celebrity of all time.
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