More than 15 years after his death, pop legend Michael Jackson continues to dominate even in the afterlife, earning an estimated $105 million over the past year, according to Forbes.
Forbes estimates that Jackson’s estate has generated $3.5 billion since his death in 2009, largely thanks to significant catalog sales and his enduring global brand.
“When it comes to estate gains,” one prominent real estate attorney told Forbes, “it’s MJ, then a big cannon, and then everyone else.”
Most of Jackson’s posthumous fortune comes from the liquidation of assets he acquired during his lifetime. Most notably, his purchase of ATV’s music catalog in 1985 for $47.5 million, which included nearly 4,000 songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, paid off when the estate sold its stake to Sony in 2016 for $750 million.
In 2024, the estate closed another deal, selling a 50% stake in Jackson’s own publishing and master recordings to Sony for $600 million, a move opposed by his mother, Katherine Jackson, who claimed it was against her son’s wishes.
Beyond asset sales, Jackson’s name continues to generate millions through entertainment ventures. His 2009 concert film This Is It grossed $267 million worldwide, while his Cirque du Soleil and MJ: The Musical shows have collectively earned nearly $300 million in ticket sales.
Musicians continue to dominate the list of top-earning dead celebrities, with icons like Prince, John Lennon and Bob Marley also generating millions from royalties and catalog sales. Together, the 13 countries with the highest income collected $541 million before taxes and fees.
Forbes notes that several newcomers joined the list after selling music rights to investment groups, despite a slowdown in the once-booming music catalog market.
Still, few stars maintain the kind of lasting global appeal that Jackson has achieved. His estate remains a model of posthumous brand success, combining music, merchandising and licensing to ensure that, even in death, the King of Pop remains one of the most profitable names in entertainment.
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