The work of these deceased stars made them immortal. These dead celebrities made the most money in 2020, according to Forbes.
Some of them may have been dead for many decades, but their charisma is unbroken. A fact that can still be observed in monetary terms: Stars like Elvis Presley or John Lennon rake in millions from the afterlife through their immortal art. A new "Forbes" list lists 13 deceased stars who made the most money in 2020. Eight of them made their living (mainly) with music.
A sex symbol and a "queen"
According to this, 8 million US dollars was earned in 2020 in the name of the sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, who died in 1962 – this puts Norma Jeane Mortenson in 13th place. One place above is the Beatles guitarist George Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001. According to Forbes, his descendants received $ 8.5 million.
Another British musician is in eleventh place: Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 of complications from his AIDS illness, made around 9 million dollars in 2020. Prince, who died in 2016, holds tenth place with exactly 10 million dollars.
The second Beatle in the list
John Lennon has been dead for almost exactly 40 years. The unforgettable Beatles singer, who was murdered in 1980, still comes in at $ 13 million in 2020 that was earned in his name – ninth place. One million more and eighth place goes to reggae star Bob Marley, who died of cancer in 1981.
It was only around a year ago, on December 8, 2019, that rapper Jarad Higgings, better known as Juice WRLD, died. The album "Legends Never Die" was released posthumously, generating $ 15 million as a result and through further sales. He ends up in seventh place.
Last respects for Kobe Bryant
The accidental death of basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter in January this year not only brought deep sadness to the sports world. After the helicopter crash, in which a total of nine people died, fans bought jerseys and other merchandise from the deceased as a final tribute. And his biography has also been sold more than 300,000 times worldwide. Sixth place and $ 20 million, according to Forbes.
Fifth place goes to a man who cannot be missing from such a list. Elvis Presley, who died of a heart attack in 1977, "earned" $ 23 million in 2020 from his eternally relevant music. A surprise is in fourth place. According to Forbes, US golfer Arnold Palmer, who also died of a heart attack in 2016, earned $ 25 million.
The three "top earners"
In 2000 the comic artist Charles M. Schulz died after suffering from cancer. The creator of Charlie Brown and Co. ranks third with $ 32.5 million, just behind another cartoonist. Theodor Seuss Geisel, called Dr. Seuss, died in 1991, but in 2020 six million of his books were sold in the USA alone – meaning 33 million dollars and second place behind …
How could it be otherwise: Michael Jackson. The "King of Pop" made a whopping 48 million dollars from the afterlife. Jackson's music remains unprecedentedly successful, even the reveal documentary "Leaving Neverland" from 2019 could not change that.