King of Pop Dominates Posthumous Earnings Once Again
More than a decade after his passing, Michael Jackson continues to reign supreme — not just as the King of Pop, but also as the highest-earning deceased celebrity of 2025, according to Forbes. The late superstar topped the annual ranking with an astounding $105 million in pre-tax earnings, cementing his place as one of the most lucrative musical estates in history.
Forbes’ yearly list tracks the earnings of deceased public figures from October 2023 to October 2024, and this year’s compilation featured 13 celebrities, with musicians dominating the top ranks. Notably, The Notorious B.I.G. and Miles Davis made their debut on the list, reflecting the booming market for catalog sales and streaming rights.
Despite these new entrants, Jackson’s financial empire remains unmatched. Since his death on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication, the pop icon’s estate has generated a staggering $3.5 billion in total earnings. His posthumous success has been fueled by an expansive $600 million deal with Sony, granting the company a 50% stake in his master recordings and publishing rights, alongside enhanced royalty agreements on his remaining catalog.
Catalog Sales and Legacy Shows Drive Revenue
In addition to music rights, the continued success of “MJ: The Musical” on Broadway and the Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas residency dedicated to his life and music have kept Jackson’s brand thriving. “When it comes to estate earnings, it’s MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else,” one estate attorney told Forbes.
Following Jackson, Dr. Seuss ranked second with $85 million, largely due to ongoing book sales and new licensing deals with Netflix. The estates of Pink Floyd co-founders Richard Wright and Syd Barrett shared third place, each earning $81 million after Sony’s $400 million catalog acquisition.
The Notorious B.I.G. earned fifth place with $80 million, while jazz legend Miles Davis followed with $21 million after his music rights were acquired by Primary Wave Music and Reservoir Media. Perennial favorites like Elvis Presley ($17 million) and Jimmy Buffett ($14 million) also continued to feature, proving the timeless value of cultural icons.
