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When I shuffle off my mortal coil, I doubt there will be anything left behind that could generate any sort of income.

For the select few, however, it takes more than the Grim Reaper to put a dent in their earning capacity.

Every year, Forbes takes a break from their usual ‘Rich List’ of living people to look into those who have managed to rake it in, long after they’ve kicked the bucket.

Some methodology before we dive in:

Our annual list of the top-earning dead celebrities measures pretax income from October 1, 2019 through October 1, 2020. We compile our numbers with the help of data from MRC Data, IMDbPro, NPD BookScan and interviews with industry insiders. Fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted.

On to the top five departed folks earning more than most of us will see in a lifetime.

1. Michael Jackson – $48 million

Image: John Weber

• Died: June 25, 2009 (50)
• Cause: Overdose/Homicide

Despite the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland that painted Jackson in damning light, he’s still raking it in. Jackson’s Mijac Music catalogue, which includes tunes by Aretha Franklin and Elvis, and a long-term deal with Sony, account for more than 70% of his earnings.

2. Dr. Seuss – $33 million

Image: John Weber

• Died: September 24, 1991 (87)
• Cause: Cancer

Thanks to a series of film and television deals, the Seuss empire is still going strong.

Books are still his biggest source of income. He sold nearly six million in the United States this year.

3. Charles Schulz – $32,5 million

Image: John Weber

• Died: February 12, 2000 (77)
• Cause: Cancer

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang aren’t going anywhere. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the Schulz estate brought a cool $110 million in total revenue. Classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas and a new series Snoopy in Space contributed heavily.

4. Arnold Palmer – $25 million

Image: John Weber

• Died: September 25, 2016 (87)
• Cause: Heart Disease

The deal that the golfer made with Arizona Beverages for his namesake lemonade-iced tea still brings in millions, bolstered by the hundreds of retailers that sell Arnold Palmer-branded merchandise throughout Asia.

5. Elvis Presley – $23 million

Image: John Weber

• Died: August 16, 1977 (42)
• Cause: Heart Attack

Graceland, visited by countless tourists each year, took a bit of a knock during the pandemic. It usually accounts for more than $10 million of Presley’s earnings. He still has his music.

Cool, that’s a wrap.

A’ thank you very much.

[source:forbes]