Michael Jackson Leads Forbes List of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Michael Jackson has come out top in a list of top-earning deceased celebrities according to Forbes in an announcement made Tuesday. The publication gave him the title for the second year in a row following his death.

Jackson died in June 2009 at the age of 50 of a drug overdose, and yet earned an estimated $170 million in the past year, which also makes him the second highest earning pop star of the year period.

The circumstances surrounding Jackson's death is still being determined. A jury is trying to decide if Jackson caused his own death by taking the drug propofol or if his physician Dr. Conrad Murray gave him the lethal dose.

Regardless of the outcome, Jackson's name has steadily been in the media everyday, resulting in increased sales of albums and memorabilia.

Cirque Du Soleil created a musical tribute to the late King-of-Pop called "immortal" that followed closely the tribute shows of Elvis and the Beatles.

Presley was second on the list with $55 million in earnings with help from "Viva Elvis," a musical variety tribute show.

In third place was Marilyn Monroe who died in 1962 at the age of 36. She earned $27 million.

Recently deceased celebrity, Elizabeth Taylor was in fifth place with $12 million with most of those sales coming from her fragrance "White Diamonds." She died in March at 79.

In order to qualify for the list a celebrity had to make $6 million between Oct. 2010 and Oct. 2011.