The King of Pop is still reigning supreme, even in death. According to Forbes, Michael Jackson earned a staggering $115 million in the past year, making him the highest-paid deceased celebrity of 2023.
The magazine released its annual list of the top-earning stars who have passed away but continue to rake in millions from their music, films, books and other ventures. Jackson, who died in 2009, has topped the list for nine consecutive years, thanks to his lucrative catalog of hits, his stake in the Sony/ATV music publishing company and his posthumous projects such as the Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson ONE.
The second highest-paid dead celebrity of 2023 was Elvis Presley, who earned $55 million from his Graceland estate, merchandise and licensing deals. The rock and roll legend, who died in 1977, also benefited from a new biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Austin Butler as Presley.
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The third spot went to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, who made $40 million from the comic strip, TV specials and licensing agreements. The cartoonist, who died in 2000, also saw a boost from the release of The Snoopy Show on Apple TV+ and a new deal with WildBrain to produce more Peanuts content.
Other celebrities who made the list include Bob Marley ($20 million), Prince ($15 million), John Lennon ($14 million), Marilyn Monroe ($13 million), Kobe Bryant ($10 million), Chadwick Boseman ($9 million) and Nipsey Hussle ($8 million).
But who is the highest-paid living celebrity? According to Forbes, that honor belongs to Kylie Jenner, who earned $590 million in the same period, thanks to the sale of 51% of her cosmetics company to Coty. The reality star and entrepreneur also make money from her skincare line, endorsement deals and social media presence.
Kylie Jenner’s cosmetics company is called Kylie Cosmetics, and it was founded by Jenner in 2014. The company is known for its popular products such as Kylie Lip Kits, Kylie Skin and Kylie Baby, which are cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free, sulfate-free and dermatologist-tested.
The second highest-paid living celebrity of 2023 was Kanye West, who made $170 million from his Yeezy sneaker partnership with Adidas, his music and his fashion line. The rapper and designer also have a lucrative deal with Gap to launch a new clothing collection.
The third highest-paid living celebrity of 2023 was Roger Federer, who earned $106.3 million from his tennis winnings and endorsements. The Swiss athlete has deals with brands such as Rolex, Credit Suisse, Uniqlo and Mercedes-Benz.
Other living celebrities who made the list include Cristiano Ronaldo ($105 million), Lionel Messi ($104 million), Tyler Perry ($97 million), Neymar ($95.5 million), Howard Stern ($90 million) and LeBron James ($88.2 million).
To see how the living celebrities compare to the deceased ones, here is a comparison chart for the earnings:
| Celebrity | Earnings (in millions) | Status |
| Kylie Jenner | $590 | Living |
| Kanye West | $170 | Living |
| Roger Federer | $106.3 | Living |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | $105 | Living |
| Lionel Messi | $104 | Living |
| Michael Jackson | $115 | Deceased |
| Elvis Presley | $55 | Deceased |
| Charles Schulz | $40 | Deceased |
| Bob Marley | $20 | Deceased |
| Prince | $15 | Deceased |
As you can see, Kylie Jenner earns more than five times as much as Michael Jackson, the highest-paid dead celebrity. The gap between the living and the dead is huge, but both groups have left their mark on the world of entertainment.
Forbes calculated the earnings from October 1, 2022, to October 1, 2023, before deducting fees for agents, managers and lawyers. The magazine used data from Nielsen Music/MRC Data, IMDBPro, NPD BookScan and interviews with industry insiders to compile the list.