Celebrities who continue to earn millions even after death (13 photos)
This will sound a little cynical, but these stars have achieved such fame that they have turned from people into brands. A lot of time has passed since their death, but they, or rather their names, continue to earn millions. And every year Forbes publishes a ranking of celebrities who receive the highest income even after death. Let's see the TOP 13 stars with the most profitable legacies.
13th place. Marilyn Monroe 
Income: $10 million
Where does the money come from? Even after death, the star continues to earn money from souvenirs, and income also comes from a joint NFT collection with Zeblocks, a line of false eyelashes and nails from KISS, as well as a line of underwear Fleur du Mal.
12th place. Arnold Palmer 
Income: $10 million
Where does the money come from? The professional golfer shares 11th place with the legendary actress and continues to receive income from sales of his signature drink based on lemonade and Arnold Palmer iced tea, which is still being updated with new flavors.
11th place. George Harrison 
Revenue: $14 million
Where does the money come from? The guitarist continues to receive income from his years of musical work, and also receives interest from the Cirque du Soleil show, which is based on the work of The Beatles.
10th place. Bing Crosby 
Revenue: $14 million
Where does the money come from? American music doesn't come down to Frank Sinatra alone. Crosby's music is still used today, for which he receives interest. In addition, not so long ago his posthumous album “Bing Crosby’s Christmas Gems” was released on streaming platforms, which is already gaining and will continue to gain popularity in the upcoming winter holidays.
9th place. Bob Marley 
Revenue: $16 million
Where does the money come from? Firstly, income continues to come from music, and secondly, from the use of the brand (the image of Bob Marley), which appears on headphones, audio speakers and other products. And also in 2024, a film about the life and work of the musician “Bob Marley: One Love” will be released.
8th place. John Lennon 
Revenue: $22 million
Where does the money come from? In addition to stable royalties, Lennon's income is supplemented in the same way as George Harrison's. Most recently, fans were introduced to The Beatles' latest collaboration, "Now and Then", which is based on a John Lennon demo.
7th place. Whitney Houston 
Revenue: $30 million
Where does the money come from? A significant portion of the income came from the film “Whitney Houston. Dance with Me (2022), which grossed $60 million worldwide. The rest of the income came from royalties from collaborations with brands, including Primary Wave, which released a line of signature makeup products.
6th place. Prince 
Revenue: $30 million
Where does the money come from? Much like other musicians, the majority of their income comes from royalties, name and image royalties, and posthumously released music.
5th place. Charles Schultz 
Revenue: $30 million
Where does the money come from? The legacy of the American artist, the creator of Snoopy, continues to develop thanks to his collaboration with Apple, which produces cartoons based on his comic strip “Snoopy.” Royalties also come from the sale of branded goods with comic book characters (watches, dishes, etc.).
4th place. Theodor Seuss (Dr. Seuss) 
Revenue: $40 million
Where does the money come from? The books of the American writer are still popular among young audiences, which brings him the main income; the rest comes from licensing the characters he created such as the Grinch, the Cat in the Hat and the Lorax.
3rd place. Ray Manzarek 
Income: 45million dollars
Where does the money come from? One of the founders and keyboardist of The Doors this year received a very large fee for selling his rights to the music publishing company Primary Wave through his representative.
2nd place. Elvis Presley 
Revenue: $100 million
Where does the money come from? The Presley Family Foundation generates a variety of income, including the sale of memorabilia and tickets to visit Graceland.
1 place. Michael Jackson 
Revenue: $100 million
Where does the money come from? Michael reached the top of the Forbes list thanks to his income from the Broadway musical “MJ the Musical,” and he also receives regular income from the Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson ONE.”
