They are dead, but their legacy lives on as they continue to top the charts of the highest-paid dead celebrities.
As per Forbes, music catalog income as well as estate deals continue to be the top income generator for dead musicians. According to the business magazine, the king of pop music, Michael Jackson, is the highest-earning dead artist in the world.
Of the 13 people featured in the Forbes list, five of them are blacks. Forbes calculated the earnings of the dead artists from sales, streams, licensing deals and other sources between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, as well as estate acquisitions made or announced during the same period.
Michael Jackson: $600 Million
Died: June 25, 2009
In 2023, Michael Jackson earned $115 million thanks in part to the Broadway hit MJ: The Musical, making him the highest-earning dead artist. In 2022, he was the third-highest Black earner, raking in $75 million on the back of the return of the Jackson-themed Cirque de Soleil show in Las Vegas, which was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The king of pop has topped the chart of the highest-paid dead celebrities again this year. In August, a judge ruled that the $600 million catalog sale of his publishing and recorded masters’ rights to Sony could go on despite protestations from Jackson’s mother, Katharine Jackson. The dead artist is also reigning in Germany, thanks to the international touring version of MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical. As per his longtime estate attorney, John Branca, tickets for the Hamburg opening in 2025 are selling out, with the potential to be the show’s largest market.
Also, “additional productions in London, Las Vegas, and the U.S. tour—separate from the Broadway show—pull in $6 million weekly,” according to Forbes.
Prince: $35 million
Died: April 21, 2016
Forbes said that income from his masters, including his Purple Rain album, makes the singer millions annually. He also makes money from his name, image, and likeness as well as from visitors to his Minneapolis compound, Paisley Park.
Bob Marley: $34 million
Died: May 11, 1981
From $16 million in 2023, Bob Marley’s catalog earnings have reached $34 million, making him the third-highest-earning dead black artist. His earnings spiked in 2024 thanks to the release of his biopic Bob Marley: One Love. The Marley family also entered into a joint venture with the cannabis brand Jeeter on a one-of-a-kind cannabis brand this year, according to Forbes.
James Brown: $15 million
Died: December 25, 2006
James Brown continues to generate millions of dollars annually from his music rights.
However, “Primary Wave, which holds Brown’s publishing, masters, and name and likeness rights, is aiming to supercharge earnings with its ownership of his South Carolina mansion. Restoration and archiving of Brown’s possessions in the 60-plus acre property are underway, with the goal of turning the home, and nearby city of Augusta, into a regional tourist attraction on par with Elvis’ Graceland.”
Whitney Houston: $13 million
Died: February 11, 2012
The Whitney Houston estate recently celebrated one of its biggest years thanks to a biopic and several brand collaborations, according to Forbes. The platform wrote last year that the film Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody grossed nearly $13 million worldwide.
Also, MAC Cosmetics released a makeup collection with the Houston estate, which is managed by Pat Houston, her sister-in-law, and Primary Wave.
This year, Forbes wrote that the late artist is winning big in Sin City’s favorite casino game, the slot machine. “Gamblers can try their luck at Whitney-branded slots that play her music and videos, while income is generated through a royalty percentage that increases as more games are played,” the magazine said.
