“When a composer [or] a performer dies, that’s it,” Josh Rubenstein, National Chair of Trusts and Estates at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, told Forbes.
“It’s no more ... once they’re dead and there can’t be any more [work], all of the sudden everybody comes in and says, ‘Oh, we’ve got to get this guy.’ ”
Other top-earning dead celebrities of 2015 included Elvis Presley at number two with $55 million and “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz at three with $40 million.
Schulz’s millions come thanks to the enduring popularity of his characters, which include Charlie Brown and Snoopy. “The Peanuts Movie” is also set for release on November 6.
Reggae legend Bob Marley ($21 million) and Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor ($20 million) also make the top five of the list.
Jackson’s fortune has been generated by the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson One,” his Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and ownership of half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.
It is the fourth year in a row that the former Jackson 5 singer has topped the list.
Since his death, the star`s estate have released two albums of previously unreleased track; 2010’s “Michael” and 2015’s “Xscape,” which topped album charts around the world.
The remaining stars to make the top 13 were Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Paul Walker, Bettie Page, Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisell, Steve McQueen and James Dean.
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