Although they're dead, these famous personalities are still earning much more money than most of the living.
The following deceased celebrities are still reaping the rewards of their talents. Money continues to flow into their bank accounts as consumers continue to purchase products branded with their name.
Forbes Magazine compiled a list of the top-earning dead celebrities, most of whom made their claim to fame in the music industry.
1. Elvis Presley, musician
Earnings: $49 million
2. John Lenon, musician
Earnings: $44 million
3. Charles M. Schulz, cartoonist
Earnings: $35 million
4. George Harrison, musician
Earnings: $22 million
5. Albert Einstein, scientist
Earnings: $18 million
6. Andy Warhol, artist
Earnings: $15 million
7. Dr. Seuss, author
Earnings: $13 million
8. Tupac Shakur, musician
Earnings: $9 million
9. Marilyn Monroe, actress
Earnings: $7 million
10. Steve Mcqueen, actor
Earnings: $6 million
11. James Brown, musician
Earnings: $5 million
12. Bob Marley, musician
Earnings: $4 million
13. James Dean, actor
Earnings: $3.5 million
Post-Mortem Moneymakers
Highest Earning Dead Celebs
Trend Themes
1. Post-mortem Earnings - Deceased celebrities are still earning millions, creating opportunities to capitalize on celebrity estates and estates disputes.
2. Branded Merchandise - People are still buying products branded with deceased celebrity names, indicating that there is a market for branded merchandise beyond a celebrity’s lifetime.
3. Legacy Preservation - Dead celebrities remind us of their achievements and continue to inspire us beyond their lifetime; providing opportunities to honor their legacies through innovative preservation techniques.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment Industry - Post-mortem earnings phenomenon has significant implications for the entertainment industry from an intellectual property perspective.
2. Fashion Industry - Trend in branded merchandise offers opportunities to include posthumous celebrity collections for fashion brands.
3. Legal Industry - Legacy preservation opportunities and estate disputes resulting from post-mortem earnings may create new practice areas in law that require thoughtful analysis.