Michael Jackson : the “King of Pop” is still the highest-paid deceased celebrity of 2025
More than fifteen years after his death, Michael Jackson remains the highest‑paid deceased celebrity in the world, with $105 million in earnings in 2025 according to Forbes.
More than fifteen years after his death, Michael Jackson continues to reign over the entertainment world. The legendary “King of Pop” was named by Forbes as the highest‑paid deceased celebrity of 2025, with estimated earnings of $105 million over the past twelve months.
According to the American magazine, the bulk of those earnings comes from the sale to Sony Music of a 50% stake in Jackson’s vast music catalog, a deal completed in 2024 for about $600 million.
The singer of Thriller far outpaces the other late icons on Forbes’ annual list, including Prince, John Lennon, and Bob Marley. Musicians in fact dominate the ranking, occupying ten of the top thirteen spots and generating $541 million of the total for the year.
Since his death in 2009, Michael Jackson’s estate has raked in nearly $3.5 billion, cementing his status as the most lucrative posthumous artist in history. A performance that reflects the colossal artistic and commercial legacy left by a legend whose aura shows no sign of fading.
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