Michael Jackson has been named Forbes’ highest-paid dead celebrity for 2025, the King of Pop bringing in an estimated $105 million in pre-tax earnings over the last year.
The figure keeps Jackson well ahead of other posthumous earnings leaders and reflects a steady flow of income from the estate’s music, live show franchises, licensing deals and catalog sales.
Much of the recent boost traces back to a high-profile 2024 transaction in which the estate sold a 50 percent 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.
Forbes and reporting partners note that Jackson’s estate has now 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.
Industry watchers say the combination of catalog monetisation, high-profile licensing and live entertainment partnerships explains why dead celebrities now regularly top money lists.
