Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

No. 1: Yves Saint Laurent

$350 million
Fashion designer

Died: June 1, 2008

Age: 71

Cause: Brain cancer
Collectors and art lovers clamored to buy Mondrians and Matisses once owned

by the pantsuit pioneer and his partner, Pierre Bergé, during a three-day auction in February. The sale netted $443 million, to be divided between two charitable foundations. Another sale, expected to be much smaller, will be held in next month. On the block: Saint Laurent’s Mercedes Benz and Greek and Etruscan antiques. His Moroccan house is also on the market separately.

 

 

No. 2: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein

$235 million (combined)
Musical composer (Rodgers); Playwright/songwriter/producer (Hammerstein)

Died: Dec. 30, 1979 (Rodgers); Aug. 23, 1960 (Hammerstein)

Age: 77 (Rodgers); 65 (Hammerstein)

Cause: Chronic illness (Rodgers); stomach cancer (Hammerstein)
The musical duo’s usual income from catalog licensing fees got a boost this year from the reported $200 million acquisition by Imagem Music Group of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization and the rights to the pair’s creations. That sale gives Imagem, which is owned by a Dutch pension fund, ownership of musicals like Oklahoma!, The King and I and South Pacific. What wasn’t sold: ownership of their individual works.

No. 3: Michael Jackson

$90 million
Musician

Died: June 25, 2009

Age: 50

Cause: Homicide
The King of Pop passed away just weeks before he would have taken the stage for his grand finale, scheduled for London’s O2 arena in July. Jackson’s posthumous earnings were bolstered by a merchandising deal and the rights to the use of his name and likeness in the Sony film This Is It. The gloved one also earned millions from album sales, radio airplay and music video marathons in the weeks following his death. Jackson’s estate has solid earning potential in the future due to his valuable stake in the Sony/ATV catalog as well as the publishing rights to his own catalog of music.

No. 4: Elvis Presley

$55 million
Singer, actor

Died: Aug. 16, 1977

Age: 42

Cause: Heart attack
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll watched his income swell $3 million to $55 million this year thanks to both Graceland admissions and an immense portfolio of licensing and merchandise deals. Elvis returned to the Mattel lineup this year with a collectors’ edition Jailhouse Rock-themed Barbie doll. Expect Presley’s fortune to grow still more next year as Graceland celebrates 75 years of Elvis, complete with new exhibits and a birthday celebration. Also in its final stages of preparation: an Elvis Presley Cirque du Soleil spectacular in Las Vegas.

No. 5: J.R.R. Tolkien

$50 million
Author

Died: Sept. 2, 1973

Age: 81

Cause: Bleeding ulcer
The creator of hobbits and Middle Earth languages left a lasting legacy for his fans and family with The Lord of the Rings franchise. The Tolkien estate and publisher HarperCollins recently reached a settlement with New Line Cinema over allegedly unpaid royalties from the Lord of the Rings movies. September’s agreement was reported at over $100 million, meaning J.R.R. Tolkien earned a sizable income in the last year. His earning potential isn’t dimming: The Hobbit is rumored for release in 2011, with directors Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson at the helm.

No. 6: Charles Schulz

$35 million
Cartoonist

Died: Feb. 12, 2000

Age: 77

Cause: Colon cancer
As the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang, Charles Schulz has been a fixture in the funny pages for decades. The cartoon was recently revisited in a line of New Balance sneakers for kids this fall. The Peanuts catalog was purchased by Warner Brothers after years with Paramount Pictures, resulting in new releases which include all six of the Peanuts television specials on a single DVD for the first time.

No. 7: John Lennon

$15 million
Musician

Died: Dec. 8, 1980

Age: 40

Cause: Murder
It was a big year for the Beatles, especially for the songwriter behind many of the band’s most famous songs. In September, Electronic Arts and MTV Games released The Beatles: Rock Band, allowing fans to jam along with a virtual version of the band and download additional albums for $17. As well, the Fab Four’s music was repackaged and remastered in a 16-disc box set that went on sale in September. LOVE, the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show featuring the group’s music, still reels fans into The Mirage.

No. 8: Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)

$15 million
Author

Died: Sept. 24, 1991

Age: 87

Cause: Natural Causes
The all-time best-selling children’s author remains on the charts nearly two decades after his death. In 2008, the author sold 5 million books, and he’s on track to do the same in 2009. His next silver screen incarnation is slated to hit theaters in 2012: a 3-D animated version of The Lorax. Next fall, PBS will debut a science learning series geared toward children, titled The Cat in the Hat Knows About That.

No. 9: Albert Einstein

$10 million
Scientist

Died: April 18, 1955

Age: 76

Cause: Natural causes
Earlier this year, Einstein turned up in perhaps the unlikeliest spot of all: a McDonald’s happy meal. As part of a Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian tie-in, the late genius lent his image to a bobble-head toy. Einstein’s name continues to be used to peddle Baby Einstein products, a majority Disney-owned venture designed to make infants smarter. International licensing deals with both Nestlé and the Toyota Prius in Japan, and a mall, aptly named Das Einstein, in Germany, have further beefed up his portfolio. More recently, The scientist’s estate has expanded into the videogame and digital arena with a slate of upcoming brain games.

No. 10: Michael Crichton

$9 million
Author

Died: Nov. 4, 2008

Age: 66

Cause: Cancer
Crichton’s death last year came as a shock to fans who were unaware the author was fighting cancer. But like many writers, Crichton continues to publish after his death. His latest book, Pirate Latitudes, was discovered by Crichton’s assistant and will be published next month. Steven Spielberg has already acquired the rights to turn the book into a movie. Crichton had one more unfinished novel on his hard drive at the time of his death; the tome is slated to be published next fall.