How Michael Jackson is Earning Millions in 2025 Despite Dying in 2009

Michael Jackson has once again cemented his status as the highest-earning deceased celebrity. The King of Pop, who died over sixteen years ago in June 2009, topped Forbes' annual ranking for 2025.

The pop star’s estate brought in a staggering $105 million (Ksh 13,571,250,000) over the measured period.

The methodology for this ranking tracks pre-tax earnings from sales, streams, and licensing deals between 1st October 2024 and 30th September 2025.

The King of Posthumous Pop

Jackson’s continued commercial success has broken the historical paradigm for posthumous earnings. Since he died in 2009, his estate has amassed an astonishing $3.5 billion. This figure sets him far ahead of other late stars.

An expert estate lawyer highlighted this dominance to Forbes, explaining the vast difference in financial performance:

"When it comes to estate earnings, it’s MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else."

This phenomenal success has continued largely unaffected by the sexual abuse allegations that surfaced during his lifetime and the subsequent 2019 Finding Neverland documentary.

The $105 Million Empire

Music remains the core of Jackson’s massive business. A major contributor to recent success was the sale of a 50% stake in his master recording catalog and publishing rights to Sony in 2024. This deal was valued at $600 million.

As part of the 2024 sale, the Jackson estate negotiated a larger share of worldwide royalties on the remaining music rights.

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This ensures he maintains one of the highest-earning music catalogs globally.

Beyond the music, theatrical productions generate significant revenue. The successful Broadway show, MJ: The Musical, which debuted in 2022, has spawned several international productions.

The Cirque du Soleil show, Michael Jackson ONE, has held a residency in Las Vegas since 2013.

That residency recently surpassed 5,000 performances at Mandalay Bay and was extended until 2030. Looking ahead, the much-anticipated movie biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar, is set to premiere in April 2026.

Musicians Dominate the Afterlife Earnings

The 2025 list features a total of 13 deceased celebrities. The artists collectively earned $541 million combined before taxes and fees.

Reflecting the profitability of music rights, musicians accounted for ten of the top thirteen earners this year. Master recordings and publishing rights continue to generate millions annually for icons like Prince and Bob Marley.

Several newcomers found their way onto the ranking this year by selling their residual income rights to third parties.

The Full List of Highest-Earning Dead Celebrities, 2025

. The Forbes list tracks the stars whose legacies generate the most income.

Rank Name Earnings (USD) Cause of Death

#1 Michael Jackson $105 Million Overdose/Homicide

#2 Dr. Seuss $85 Million Cancer

#3 & #4 Richard Wright, Syd Barrett $81 Million (Each) Cancer

#5 The Notorious B.I.G. $80 Million Homicide

#6 Miles Davis $21 Million Stroke

#7 Elvis Presley $17 Million Heart Attack

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#8 Jimmy Buffett $14 Million Skin Cancer

#9 Bob Marley $13 Million Cancer

#10 John Lennon $12 Million Homicide

#11 Prince $11 Million Overdose

#12 Arnold Palmer $11 Million Cardiovascular Disease

#13 Kobe Bryant $10 Million Helicopter Crash

Other estates earn through licensing physical products. For example, Arnold Palmer’s signature iced tea and lemonade drink sells an estimated $200 million worth of product each year.

Kobe Bryant’s performance footwear, sold via a long-term agreement with Nike, nearly quadrupled its revenue in the past year alone.

The ongoing financial success of these estates demonstrates that for some icons, the road of the afterlife remains paved with gold.