Michael Jackson, Prince and David Bowie rank among highest-earning dead celebrities

John Lennon, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley also appear on the Forbes list

Michael Jackson has comfortably topped Forbes‘ annual list of the highest-earning dead celebrities.

The King of Pop’s estate raked in an estimated $825 million (£675 million) before tax between October 2015 and October 2016, more than any other dead entertainer has earned in a single year before.

This massive figure includes a $750 million (£615 million) payout that Jackson’s estate received for the sale of his half of the Sony/ATV music publishing catalogue, which includes a substantial library of Beatles songs.

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Meanwhile, Elvis Presley places fourth on the list behind Jackson, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and recently-departed golf legend Arnold Palmer.

With earnings of $25 million (£20 million) over the October 2015-October2016 period, Prince, who passed away in April, places fifth on the list. Bob Marley places sixth with earnings of $21 million (£17 million).

John Lennon places eighth with $12 million (£9.8 million), while David Bowie, who died in January, places 11th with $10.5 million (£8.6 million).

Check out the Top 10 below.

10. Bettie Page – $11 million (£9.0 million)
9. Albert Einstein – $11.5 million (£9.4 million)
8. John Lennon – $12 million (£9.8 million)
7. Theador Geiel aka “Dr. Seuss” – $20 million
6. Bob Marley – $21 million (£17 million)
5. Prince – $25 million (£20 million)
4. Elvis Presley – $27 million (£30 million)
3. Arnold Palmer – $40 million (£33 million)
2. Charles Schulz – $48 million (£39 million)
1. Michael Jackson – $825 million (£675 million)

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