The late American singer, Michael Jackson, is named the highest-paid dead celebrity for 2025 by Forbes.
His King of Pop album has accumulated $105 million in pre-tax earnings over the last year, while there’s a steady flow of income from the estate’s music, live show franchises, licensing deals, and catalog sales.
The figure keeps Jackson ahead of other posthumous earnings leaders, as his estate sold a 50 per cent stake in Jackson’s master recordings and publishing to Sony Music for roughly $600 million, a deal that reshaped the way the catalogue will generate revenue going forward.
According to Forbes and reporting partners, Jackson’s estate has pulled in roughly $3.5 billion since his death in 2009, making him by far the most lucrative posthumous music brand on the planet.
The estate’s income streams include the long-running Las Vegas residency and touring productions inspired by his work, as well as Broadway and international stage shows that continue to draw audiences.
