Late American music legend, Michael Jackson, has once again claimed the top spot as the highest-paid deceased celebrity for 2025.
The “King of Pop” led Forbes’ recently released annual ranking of top-earning late celebrities, raking in an estimated $105 million over the past year—surpassing all other departed stars by a significant margin.
According to Forbes, a major portion of Jackson’s earnings came from the 2024 sale of a 50 percent stake in his master recordings and publishing catalog to Sony Music, a deal reportedly worth $600 million.
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Musicians continued to dominate the list, taking ten of the top thirteen positions. Among them were iconic figures such as Prince, John Lennon, and Bob Marley. Together, these late artists collectively earned $541 million in the past year.
Since his passing in 2009, Jackson’s estate has amassed an astonishing $3.5 billion, cementing his status as the most financially successful celebrity after death.
