DEAD CELEBS COINING IT Judging from the money rolling in, some celebs are better off dead than what they were when they were alive. Michael Jackson for instance, was plagued by financial woes in the final years of his life, but it took a mere four months after his death for his estate to rake in a staggering R720-million.

The enormous sum was earned from radio play, royalties from album sales, rights to his name and royalties from his stake in the Sony/ATV music catalogue.

The singer entered the Forbes list of Top Earning Dead Celebrities at number three, and he was the top earning dead singer on the list.

Elvis Presley, number one last year is down to number four

Forbes Senior Editor Matthew Miller said: "The money might be drying up in Hollywood, but there's still plenty of cash being made in the graveyard. The earning power of dead celebrities is more powerful than ever before."

 

The King of Rock was replaced at the top by fashion designer Yves St Laurent, who raked in R2,8-blillion following his death in June 2008.

Forbes.com's top ten Top-Earning Dead Celebrities:
1. Yves Saint Laurent: R2.8-billion
2. Rodgers and Hammerstein: R1.8-billion
3. Michael Jackson: R720-million
4. Elvis Presley: R440-million
5. J.R.R. Tolkien: R400-million
6. Charles Schulz: R280-million
7 = John Lennon: R120-million
7 = Dr. Seuss: R120-million
9. Albert Einstein: R80-million
10. Michael Crichton: R72-million

Kader Khan
Editor
info@yummie.co.za