The late King of pop music, Michael Jackson, is currently making waves as he tops Forbes magazine's list as the world’s highest-paid dead celebrity in 2025, with an estimated pre-tax earnings of $105 million. The financial milestone emanates from the groundbreaking deal between his estate and Sony Music, in which a 50 percent stake in his master recordings and publishing catalog was sold for a whopping sum of $600 million.
The estate of the late pop icon has, since his demise in 2009, generated more than $3.5 million, elevating his status to the most influential celebrity in death.
His Broadway production MJ: The Musical has grossed nearly $300 million worldwide, while the Las Vegas show Michael Jackson ONE surpassed 5,000 performances this year.
Following Jackson on the Forbes list is author Dr. Seuss, whose estate brought in $85 million, owed to strong book sales and lucrative Netflix licensing agreements. Pink Floyd founders Richard Wright and Syd Barrett each earned $81 million after Sony acquired the band’s catalog for $400 million.
Other late music legends, including Prince, John Lennon, and Bob Marley, generated $541 million collectively over the past year, underscoring the continued profitability of legacy catalogs.
Jackson’s influence shows no sign of fizzling out, as beyond music, his estate is expanding into new ventures, including the upcoming biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, slated for release in April 2026.
Industry analysts predict the film could spark another surge in revenue for the pop superstar’s estate.