While the 'They Roll' hitmaker joins the rank at No. 10 and the 'Moonlight' rapper trails close behind at No. 11, Michael Jackson still leads far ahead with $60 million.
- November 1, 2019
AceShowbiz - Forbes has released its annual list of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities. For the year of 2019, Nipsey Hussle, who was shot and killed on March 31, has the biggest debut, joining the rank at No. 10 with $11 million from October 2018 to October 2019.
The publication notes that "The Life" hitmaker netted most of the money from the rights to his music as his songs were streamed 1.85 billion times, the third-most of any act on the list. He also ran a clothing company, Marathon Clothing, during his life, though it's unknown how much the money made from his clothing business made up his earning in the last 12 months.
Another rapper, XXXTENTACION who was fatally shot in a robbery in June 2018, trails close behind Nipsey at No. 11 with $10 million. He holds the same spot as last year, when he made his debut on the list just months after his tragic death.
Meanwhile, Michael Jackson still tops the list with $60 million. Leading far ahead of other celebrities, the King of Pop is unbeatable and has claimed the title of the highest-earning dead celebrity for the seventh year in a row.
The rest in the Top 10 sees holdovers, with Elvis Presley still placing second. "Snoopy" creator Charles Schulz and golf legend Arnold Palmer swap places at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, followed by Bob Marley who still places fifth.
John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Prince round out the Top 10 at No. 7, 8 and 9 respectively, with Whitney Houston and George Harrison placing twelfth and thirteenth respectively. The late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who claimed the seventh place last year, is kicked out of the Top 10 this year.
Overall, the total earnings for the 13 dead celebrities drop significantly from last year. The sale of Michael Jackson's EMI publishing stake alone made up almost half of the total earnings, $628 million, last year. With the "Thriller" singer's earning dropping from $400 million to $60 million, the 13 dead celebrities collected a total of $285 million this year.
Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2019:
- Michael Jackson - $60 million
- Elvis Presley - $39 million
- Charles Schulz - $38 million
- Arnold Palmer - $30 million
- Bob Marley - $20 million
- Dr. Seuss - $19 million
- John Lennon - $14 million
- Marilyn Monroe - $13 million
- Prince - $12 million
- Nipsey Hussle - $11 million
- XXXTENTACION - $10 million
- Whitney Houston - $9.5 million
- George Harrison - $9 million
