It’s one thing to read the Forbes list of “World’s Richest People” or their List of Billionaires articles. You can’t feel too bad about royalty, media moguls or trust fund babies making more thanyou. But when even the dead earn a bigger paycheck than you? It’s hard not to feel bad about that.
Think about how much money you made last year. Now add the annual salaries of 12 people you know. Does it even come close the 247 million dollars earned during the last year by the deceasedcelebrities on this list? Probably not. Forbes used criteria even for this list, I guess even when you die you are subject to meeting monetary specifications to make “the list.” No deceased celebrity making under 7 million from October 2006 to October 2006 wasincluded on the list.
Who got bumped off the list from 2005? Marlon Brando and Irving Berlin.
The Forbes’ List of 13 “Top-Earning Dead Celebrities” is dominated by musicians. Many of the people on the list have obtained iconic status, except for Tolkein and Cash.
Forbes’ “Top-Earning Dead Celebrities”
1. Kurt Cobain
Rank in 2005: None. Newcomer!
Earnings: $50 million.
Death: Tragic
Occupation while alive: Frontman for the Grunge-movement sparking band Nirvana. His voice is still haunting and Nirvana’s songs have gone on to outlive Cobain. If he could, he’d probably make a song about being unhappy to be atop this list.
2. Elvis Presley
Rank in 2005: 1 ($45M)
Earnings: $42 million.
Death: Tragic, Died died August 16, 1977.
Occupation while alive: Ground-breaking Musician, Heartthrob, Actor.
3. Charles M. Schulz
Rank in 2005: 2 ($35 million)
Earnings: $35million.
Death: Tragic, died February 12, 2000.
Occupation while alive: Cartonist, Creator of Peanuts.
4. John Lennon
Rank in 2005: 3 ($22m)
Earnings: $24M million.
Death: Tragic, Died December 8, 1980
Occupation while alive: Beatle, Musician.
5. Albert Einstein
Rank in 2005: None. Newcomer!
Earnings: $20 million.
Death: Tragic.
Occupation while alive: Theoretical Physicist.
6. Andy Warhol
Last year’s rank: 4 ($16m)
Earnings: $19 million.
Death: Tragic. Died February 22, 1987
Occupation while alive: Pop Artist; painted Marilyn Monroe (#9)
7. Dr. Seuss
Last year’s rank: 5 ($10m)
Earnings: $10 million.
Death: Tragic. Died September 24, 1991.
Occupation while alive: Beloved children’s book author and illustrator.
8. Ray Charles
Last year’s rank: 13 ($6m)
Earnings: $10 million.
Death: Tragic. Died June 10, 2004.
Occupation while alive: Musician.
9. Marilyn Monroe
Last year’s rank: 7 ($8)
Earnings: $8 million.
Death: Tragic. Died: August 5, 1962.
Occupation while alive: Sex Goddess, Movie Star,
10. Johnny Cash
Last year’s rank: 10 ($7)
Earnings: $ 8 million.
Death: Tragic. Died: September 12, 2003.
Occupation while alive: Musician.
11.J.R.R. Tolkein
Last year’s rank: 8 ($8m)
Earnings: $7 million.
Death: Tragic. Died: September 2, 1973.
Occupation while alive: Writer, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy
12. George Harrison
Last year’s rank: 9 ($7)
Earnings: $7 million.
Death: Tragic. Died: December 1, 2001.
Occupation while alive: Beatle, Musician.
13. Bob Marley
Last year’s rank: 12 ($6m)
Earnings: $7 million.
Death: Tragic. Died: September 2, 1973.
Occupation while alive: Musician.
It will be interesting to see who makes the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities next year.
