Top 15 Highest Earning Deceased Celebrities

Here is a list of fifteen of the top earning deceased celebrities of all time.

I'm sure that Michael Jackson will eventually make this list in the number one spot but his demise was too recent to be included on this list.

1) Elvis Presley

He earned the right to be called King of Rock and Roll. Elvis died in 1977 of a massive heart attack but his estate still continues to earn huge amounts of money. On the thirtieth anniversary of his death the estate brought in 52 million dollars in merchandise sales, a Sirius Radio show, and various other money making ventures.

2) Kurt Cobain

The late singer who committed suicide continues to rake in large amounts of money from royalties. It is rumored that his estate is making 50 million a year.

3) Charles M Schultz

Mr Schultz passed away in 2000 but his estate continues to make huge amount of money off his Peanut cartoons and Warner Bros studios. It is estimated the the estate earns approximately 33 million dollars a year. The Peanut cartoons were released on DVD and Charlie Brown was featured in a movie which all aided in the estate of the late Mr Schultz making millions.

4) Heath Ledger

After his death the revenue continued to accumulate at 20 million dollars with movie royalties and merchandising.

5) Albert Einstein

It is estimated that Mr Einsteins estate continues to earn approximately 20 million a year.

6) Aaron Spelling

Mr Spelling passed away in 2006 but his estate continues to earn around 15 million a year due to DVD sales and syndicated reruns.

6) Dr Seuss author Theodore Geisel
The late authors estate continues to bring in approximately 12 million a year off the various books and movie deals. Horton Hears A Who was a new release that was a box office blockbuster.

8) John Lennon

Mr Lennon's estate continues to earn approximately 9 million a year off of royalties and merchandising. The estate oversees donating the money to various charities that are normally anti war in nature. Andi W

9) Andy Warhol

Mr Warhol has been gone for two decades but his estate continues to bring in around 9 million a year in merchandising and licenses.

10) Marilyn Monroe

Her estate normally earns between 6 million and 7 million per year off merchandising.

11) Steve McQueen

This deceased actor has been gone since 1980 but his estate continues to earn 6 million a year in licensing.

12) Paul Newman

His estate earns approximately 5 million per year from his movie rights and his food line "Newman's Own".
All of the money made is donated to charity. This is also what Mr Newman did when alive.

13) James Dean

This young actor has been gone since 1955 but his estate continues to earn 5 million a year off various merchandising sales such as utilizing his name in a clothing line and for Converse shoes.

14) Marvin Gaye

Since this singers murder in 1984 his estate continues to make over 3 million a year off music royalties and releases of his old songs.

15) Johnny Cash

Various sources cite that Mr Cash's estate earns between 3 million to 8 million per year.

Sources:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Forbes/TopEarningDeadCelebrities.aspx

http://www.topix.com/music/grunge/2009/10/top-earning-dead-celebrities-forbes

http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/27/top-dead-celebrity-biz-media-deadcelebs08-cz_ph_1027celeb.html

http://www.infoplease.com/toptens/deadcelebrities.html