Michael Jackson had the largest annual gain for an entertainer, living or dead, due to the $750 million sale of his half of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue.
Among the highest-grossing dead musicians are Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, Prince, John Lennon, and David Bowie, all of whom have sold a great deal of albums years and sometimes even decades after their respective deaths.
Topping the list this year is newly dead Elizabeth Taylor at $210 million, beating out the previous years top earner, Michael Jackson, whose estate income fell to a mere $145 million.
1. While much of the full list is made up of musicians, NBA legend Kobe Bryant has pulled in major money since his death in a January 2020 helicopter crash.
Jesus Christ. Death by crucifixion and founder of Christianity.
Currently, Jami Gertz is the richest actor in the world with a net worth of $3 billion.
Bruce Springsteen Tops 2021's (Nearly All-White Male) Highest-Paid Musicians List With $590 Million.
Only one successor member can be appointed to receive the royalties for the deceased writer's musical works. Generally, this is the beneficiary (or one of the beneficiaries) entitled to those Royalties under the will or intestacy rules applicable to the Estate. Need more assistance?
Elvis Presley may have left the building, permanently, but the King of Rock N' Roll is still an economic powerhouse. Forty-five years after his death, Elvis' estate generated $110 million in income.
1. Michael Jackson. Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist.
While a good portion of her net worth is from her music, Rihanna became a billionaire thanks to her fashion and makeup line Fenty. The company is valued at nearly $3 billion, and Rihanna owns half of it. Add that on to her music career, and Rihanna is one of the youngest billionaires in the world.
1. Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan one of the most fearsome conquerors of all time, and by the end of his life the Mongol Empire occupied a vast empire from Central Asia to China.
Reese Witherspoon has been named the wealthiest self-made female actor in the world by Forbes.
Lionel Messi is the world's highest-paid football player in 2023, and has a net worth estimated at $400 million, according to Forbes.
Top 5 richest rappers
Here's where the top five richest rappers stood in 2022, according to a report from former Forbes editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg: Jay-Z: $1.5 billion (October 2022) Diddy: $1 billion (October 2022) Ye: $500 million (October 2022)
Tom Cruise
He is considered one of the best actors of this generation and is the highest paid actor in the world in 2023. The movie Top Gun Maverick starring Tom Cruise made over a billion dollars on the box office taking Cruise's earnings to around a 100 million dollars.
Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death globally. In the map we see death rates from cardiovascular diseases across the world.
Most of us have not made a million before we're 30, but the news that Ed Sheeran is the richest young musician on the planet will come as no surprise.