Here’s how Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson and more continue to make millions… even after they’re dead

Author of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, JRR Tolkien, tops the list with an income of $500 million

Forbes magazine just released its annual ranking of the highest-paid celebrities who continue to make money even after their death. Here are a total of 13 celebrities who made it to the list of the highest-paid dead people of 2022 and in total earned a record $1.6 billion this year, which is 72% more than the list. books last year.

Music, literature and sports legends are among the richest people who continue to generate millions of dollars in outside income. We tell you who they are.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Topping the rankings is the late author of the successful novels ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’, who died of pneumonia in 1973.

Forbes estimates that the former Oxford professor made nearly $500 million after Middle-Earth Enterprises, which handles intellectual property rights to movies, video games and merchandising, was sold to the company. this August this year.

Photo: Getty Images

Kobe Bryant

Closely followed by NBA star Kobe Bryant, who died in a plane crash along with his daughter Gianna in January 2020.

The late LA Lakers legend had a 7% stake in the energy drink BodyArmor and served as a member of the company’s board of directors before his death in 2020. In late 2021, Coca-Cola agreed to buy 70% of BodyArmor still unowned for $5.6 billion at a valuation of $8 billion. In this way, Bryant’s estate received $400 million in profit from this purchase.

Photo: Getty Images

David Bowie

In third place is iconic British musician David Bowie, who died in 2016 of cancer.

According to Forbes estimates, the sale of David Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’ album publishing catalog and David Bowie masters to Warner Chappell in January generated enough revenue to about $250 million.

Photo: Getty Images

Elvis Presley

The man known as the ‘King of Rock N’ Roll’ left this world in 1977 due to a heart attack, but he continued to be an economic powerhouse. Forty-five years after his death, Elvis’ estate has generated $110 million in income.

It is estimated that most of that money came from box office and merchandise sales at Graceland, Presley’s home in Memphis. Only $5 million came from the film rights to ‘Elvis’, a biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Photo: Getty Images
James Brown
American soul and funk singer James Joseph Brown died in 2006 from heart failure.

This year, his fortune increased by $100 million after New York-based independent music company Primary Wave acquired the rights to the music, real estate, and name and likeness of the so-called ‘ Godfather of the soul’. ‘. Part of this legacy will be used to fund academic scholarships for low-income children.

Photo: Getty Images

Michael Jackson

The legendary ‘King of Pop’, who reportedly died of a drug overdose in June 2009. In 2022, his total revenue increased to $75 million thanks to profits from the themed Cirque de Soleil show Jackson theme in Las Vegas, as well as his music. Mijac catalog.

Another source of income is ‘MJ The Musical on Broadway’, a musical that tells the singer’s story through his successes. According to a source close to Jackson’s estate, by November, the event had raised $80 million.

Photo: Getty Images

Added to this list is Leonard Cohen with $55 million; Dr. Seuss with $32 million; Jeff Porcaro with $25 million; Charles Schulz with $24 million, Mexican singer Juan Gabriel with $23 million, as well as two deceased Beatles artists: John Lennon with $16 million and George Harrison with $12 million.

Last year, the person leading the list was British children’s writer Roald Dahl, author of the book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.