Some celebrities continue to make millions while resting in their graves. Here is the annual list of 13th highest-earning dead celebrities from 2015, who collectively made $363.5m in the 12 months to October 1, 2015, compiled by Forbes.
- James Dean: $8.5m
James Dean died in a car crash at the age of 24. His role as Jim Stark in Rebel without a Cause earned him eternal fame. His death came one month before the film’s release in 1955. He continues to earn even 60 years later. The use of his iconic image, such as on a Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt earned him $8.5m over the past year.
- Steve McQueen: $9m
King of Cool’s estate made $9m over the past year from the use of McQueen in adverts for Barbour and Tag Heuer, among others. He was once the highest-paid film star in the world.
- Theodor Geisel: $9.5m
Better known as Dr Seuss, Theodor Geisel died in 1991. He continues to generate revenue from book sales and royalties from film adaptations of his tales, such as the 2012 version of The Lorax. He is the man behind Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat.
- Bettie Page: $10m
Sales of Bettie Page-inspired clothing lines, including 50s-style dresses, swimwear and lingerie are still bringing millions of dollars a year to the ultimate pin-up girl who died in 2008
- Paul Walker: $10.5m
The Fast and the Furious actor who died in a car crash two years ago, made $10.5m in the year to October after the seventh instalment of the blockbuster franchise made $1.5bn at the global box office.
- Albert Einstein: $11m
Albert Einstein lived from 1879 to 1955. In 2015 his estate, the rights to which are owned by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, made $11m from sales of merchandise, including mugs, posters and bobble-head dolls.
- John Lennon: $12m
The iconic Beatle made $12m over the past year from continued plays and sales of his music. John Lennon was killed 35 years ago by four bullets in his back.
- Marilyn Monroe: $17m
The most iconic women of the 20th century died in 1962 at the age of 36 from an overdose. She earned $17m in the past year, according to Forbes, from sales of her Macy’s clothing label and lingerie line.
- Elizabeth Taylor: $20m
Four years after her death, Taylor’s several popular perfumes continue to bring in cash. 2012 was the film star’s most lucrative posthumous year, when the auction of her jewellery collection contributed to earnings of $210m. She once famously asked for a dress “the colour of money” when posing for her Life magazine cover in 1948.
- Bob Marley: $21m
“Money can’t buy life.” These were reportedly Bob Marley’s dying words. What he didn’t know was that money can continue after death. The reggae giant died in 1981. He is still earning from music sales. His estate also owns House of Marley, the environmentally-friendly charity-conscious speaker maker, and the Marley Beverage company.
- Charles Schulz: $40m
The creator of the Peanuts comics, Charles Schulz made $40m in the past year from the continuing appeal of Charle Brown and friends. With the release of The Peanuts Movie next year, he could earn even better.
- Elvis Presley: $55m
King of Rock’n’Roll Elvis died in 1977 at the age of 42. The King is still raking in the bucks as fans flock to his former home and resting place, Graceland. He made $55m in the past year, helped by the release of the album Elvis Presley Forever.
- Michael Jackson: $140m
The King of Pop remains the highest-earning dead celebrity on this year’s Forbes list. It was the year that the Thriller star appeared in hologram form at the Billboard Music Awards, while his second posthumous album, Xscape, debuted in second place on the charts. Since Jackon’s death in 2009, his estate has generated more than $1bn.
