Michael Jackson Tops Forbes 2025 List of Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities with $105 Million
King of Pop earns $105 million in 2025, cementing his status as the most lucrative posthumous music icon
- Michael Jackson leads Forbes’ 2025 list of highest-paid deceased celebrities with $105 million in pre-tax earnings.
- Income comes from music catalog sales, licensing deals, live shows, and stage productions worldwide.
- Since 2009, Jackson’s estate has generated roughly $3.5 billion, outpacing all other posthumous music brands.
Michael Jackson has been named Forbes’ highest-paid deceased celebrity for 2025, with the King of Pop earning an estimated $105 million in pre-tax income over the past year.
Jackson’s estate continues to outperform other posthumous earners, benefiting from a steady stream of revenue generated by music catalog sales, licensing deals, live show franchises, and other commercial ventures.
The recent boost in earnings is largely attributed to a landmark 2024 deal in which the estate sold a 50% stake in Jackson’s master recordings and publishing rights to Sony Music for roughly $600 million. This transaction reshaped the long-term revenue potential of his catalog.
Since his passing in 2009, Jackson’s estate has amassed approximately $3.5 billion, making him the most lucrative posthumous music brand worldwide. Income streams include his enduring Las Vegas residency, touring productions, Broadway shows, and international stage performances that continue to draw audiences.
Industry experts note that catalog monetization, strategic licensing, and high-profile live entertainment ventures explain why deceased celebrities frequently dominate earnings lists. In Jackson’s case, careful estate management and major transactions have created a significant earnings gap between him and other late stars.
As one estate attorney told Forbes, “When it comes to estate earnings, it’s MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else.”
The 2025 Forbes roster also highlights that musicians continue to dominate the top spots, underscoring the long-term value of recorded music and associated intellectual property. This trend reflects broader shifts in the music industry, where catalog ownership and strategic licensing are now central to sustaining wealth for both living and deceased artists.
Michael Jackson’s posthumous earnings demonstrate how the commercial life of music can extend far beyond an artist’s time on stage, offering a case study in how estates, labels, and business partners turn legacy into lasting revenue.
