Michael Jackson has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes’ 2025 list of the highest-paid dead celebrities, with $105 million in annual earnings and an estate valued at $3.5 billion.
Sixteen years after his death, the King of Pop continues to dominate both the music and business worlds, outpacing other late legends like Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, and The Notorious B.I.G.
This marks Jackson’s third consecutive year at number one and his 13th year as the highest-paid deceased musician. Although authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Roald Dahl briefly overtook him in 2021 and 2022, Jackson’s empire remains unmatched.
Forbes attributed his ongoing financial success to catalog sales, global licensing deals, and entertainment projects that keep his brand thriving.
The singer’s publishing catalog, once including rights to The Beatles’ songs, remains one of his most valuable assets. In 2017, Sony acquired Jackson’s share in the ATV catalog for $750 million. In 2024, his estate sold another 50 percent of his remaining music assets for $600 million, according to Forbes.
His posthumous ventures have also been highly profitable. The 2009 concert film *This Is It* grossed $267 million, while the Cirque du Soleil tour *Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour* made $160 million in 2012. His Las Vegas residency *Michael Jackson ONE* and Broadway’s *MJ: The Musical* have together earned about $300 million in ticket sales.
A biopic titled *Michael*, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, is set for release in 2026, expected to add even more value to his estate.
Other names on the 2025 Forbes list include Dr. Seuss with $85 million, Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright and Syd Barrett with $81 million each, and The Notorious B.I.G. with $80 million. Elvis Presley, Miles Davis, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, and John Lennon also made the top ten.
