Top-earning dead celebrities

By Lacey Rose

updated 7:49 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2006

A nail in the casket is hardly the end for some stars. Instead, their work, as well as their iconic images, continues to appeal to fans who remember them, and to those born long after they died.

The 13 icons on our sixth annual Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list collectively earned $247 million in the last 12 months. Their estates continue to make money by inking deals involving both their work and the rights to use their name and likenesses on merchandise and marketing campaigns. To land on this year’s list, a star needed to make at least $7 million between Oct. 2005 and Oct. 2006.

How does a posthumous star land — and stay — on our list? Solitary events — a successful film release or an estate sale — won’t necessarily do it over the long term. Staying power comes from a body of work — or simply an iconic image — with long-lasting appeal. Elvis Presley has both, which has kept the King near the top of our list every year. And last year, entertainment mogul Robert Sillerman’s CKX paid $100 million for an 85 percent share of Presley’s estate.

More entertainment from Forbes Click for more content Slideshow: Top earning dead celebrities Slideshow: Recently departed The best-paid young celebrities The most overexposed celebrities World’s most powerful celebrities Most powerful celebrity babies Most trusted celebrities

But a one-off event can catapult a star onto the list. Or, in the case of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, to the top. While his music continues to sell, his debut atop the list is largely due to his widow, Courtney Love, who sold a 25 percent stake in his song catalog to publishing company Primary Wave for a reported $50 million. Thanks to this deal, audiences will be hearing much more of the angst-ridden rocker as his library graces the big and small screens. And, in a turn the rock star likely never imagined in his lifetime, his music may one day be used in advertising campaigns.

Other stars’ fortunes fluctuate a bit depending on how active their handlers have been in the past year: Music legend Johnny Cash released two new albums this year, and Bob Marley’s team continues to find new ways to repackage his reggae catalog. Former Beatle John Lennon could see a significant increase in income in coming years: His widow Yoko Ono is involved in two lawsuits against record label EMI Group for unpaid royalties.

Looking ahead, the future looks bright for late-night legend Johnny Carson, whose personal library of 4,000-plus “Tonight Show” hours could make millions in the YouTube era. Sadly for his fans — and his estate’s finances — less than 20 hours have been released thus far.

Of course, with emerging technology, the public will likely get an opportunity to hear — and see — a lot more of many deceased stars, often as they’ve never been seen before. Already, voice modeling and computer-generated imaging can bring posthumous stars back to provide authentic performances for videogames, films and advertisements. You need only flip on the TV to see Audrey Hepburn dancing about in the Gap’s skinny-black-pants advertising campaign.

MORE FROM FORBES

Forbes Section Front

Places you can actually get ahead in recession The cars that will likely set the pace in 2014 Foreclosure is a problem for celebrities too 10 things to buy before the economy improves Some financial lessons for recent graduates Need work? These jobs have a lot of openings Jobs that — surprise — pay in the six figures Even in tough times, bosses can still say ‘yes’ In all honesty, here are some ways to spot a liar Carrie Underwood is top-earning ‘Idol’ Forbes Section Front