---
title: Elizabeth Taylor Tops Forbes’ Top-Earning Dead Celebrities List
author: Chris Z
published: 2012-10-28
modified: 2012-10-28
section: News
tags: Dead Celebrities, Elizabeth Taylor, Forbes, Michael Jackson, news
canonical: https://www.stasheverything.com/elizabeth-taylor-tops-forbes-top-earning-dead-celebrities-list/
source: Stash Everything
---

# Elizabeth Taylor Tops Forbes’ Top-Earning Dead Celebrities List

Despite **Michael Jackson** pulling in some major dollars in the past 12 months, he couldn’t top *Forbes’* recently released Top-Earning Dead Celebrities. Instead it was his old buddy **Elizabeth Taylor** who beat him to the top spot, with her estate earning a massive $210 million over the last year.

According to [Forbes.com](http://adf.ly/E0fkv), the estate earned most of the money from the record-breaking Christie’s auctions of her jewelry, costumes and art work, which brought in $184 million. In all, 1,800 lots sold. The most expensive item was an 1889 Van Gogh painting that went for $16 million.

Additionally, her perfume **White Diamonds**, one of the best-selling, brought in $75 million at retail in 2011; and property sales and residuals from Taylor’s movies.

As mentioned, Michael Jackson landed at #2, earning $145 million. His estate earned money from the sales of his own music, but he also owned a 50% stake in Sony’s ATV catalog, which includes artists like **The Beatles, Taylor Swift** and **Lady Gaga**. His estate also collects money from the successful Cirque Du Soleil show The Immortal Tour.

Jackson earned $90 million more than the third-ranked celebrity on the list, Elvis Presley, who pulled in $55 million in earnings, some coming from Cirque Du Soleil, as well, who launched a whole show around Presley’s music, called “Viva Elvis”, though it was shut down due to ticket sales flagging. Graceland is still a big attraction, making up the bulk of his revenue.

Below is the breakdown (via [Forbes.com](http://adf.ly/E0fkv)):

**Elizabeth Taylor (actress) – $210 million**
 Died: March 23, 2011
 Age: 79
 Cause: Heart failure

**Michael Jackson (singer) – $145 million**
 Died: June 25, 2009
 Age: 50
 Cause: Overdose/homicide

**Elvis Presley (singer) – $55 million**
 Died: August 16, 1977
 Age: 42
 Cause: Heart attack

**Charles Schulz (cartoonist) – $37 million**
 Died: February 12, 2000
 Age: 77
 Cause: Colon cancer

**Bob Marley (singer) – $17 million**
 Died: May 11, 1981
 Age: 36
 Cause: Cancer

**John Lennon (singer) – $12 million**
 Died: December 8, 1980
 Age: 40
 Cause: Murder

**Marilyn Monroe (actress) – $10 million**
 Died: August 5, 1962
 Age: 36
 Cause: Overdose

**Albert Einstein (scientist) – $10 million**
 Died: April 18, 1955
 Age: 76
 Cause: Natural causes

**Theodor Geisel (author) – $9 million**
 Died: September, 24, 1991
 Age: 87
 Cause: Natural causes

**Steve McQueen (actor) – $8 million**
 Died: November 30, 1980
 Age: 50
 Cause: Complication from surgery

   [![Elizabeth Taylor Forbes](https://www.stasheverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Elizabeth-Taylor-Forbes-300x300.jpg)](https://www.stasheverything.com/elizabeth-taylor-tops-forbes-top-earning-dead-celebrities-list/elizabeth-taylor-forbes/)   Elizabeth Taylor Forbes