Michael Jackson Tops the List of Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities in 2024

Every year around Halloween, Forbes shares its list of the highest-paid dead celebrities. It’s always a bit surprising to see Michael Jackson on this list, but he has been a regular at the top for many years.

In 2024, Michael Jackson is again ranked number one. This is mainly because his music catalog was sold to Sony for an incredible $600 million. On top of that, MJ The Musical—currently running in Germany, London, Broadway, and across the U.S.—also adds to his massive earnings.

Here’s the top 10 from Forbes’ list:

1. Michael Jackson – $600 Million
2. Freddie Mercury – $250 Million
3. Seuss – $75 Million
4. Elvis Presley – $50 Million
5. Ric Ocasek – $45 Million
6. Prince – $35 Million
7. Bob Marley – $34 Million
8. Charles M. Schulz – $30 Million
9. Matthew Perry – $18 Million
10. John Lennon – $17 Million

(Source: Forbes)