10. Steve McQueen
Despite having died aged 50 in 1980, 'The Great Escape' star Steve McQueen's estate continues to enjoy an influx of wealth as a result of his consistent use in marketing campaigns by many top brands. Although having been dead for 32 years, McQueen is estimated to still be worth some $7million, a fact owing to his iconic image being used by the likes Dolce & Gabbana and Tommy Hilfiger. Isn't fame an extremely strange thing.
9. Stieg Larsson
Rising to prominence over the last few years as a result of his seminal 'Millenium Trilogy' series (featuring The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), this Swedish author makes more money now than he did whilst he was still alive. Tragically succumbing to a heart attack in 2004 aged 50, Larsson passed before he got to realise the huge success of his work- which has since gone on to sell some 40 million copies, as well as permitting multiple big screen adaptions, the most recent of which was directed by David Fincher and starred Daniel Craig and Stellan Starsgard.
8. Jimi Hendrix
Famously dying of a drug related overdose during his peak in September 1970, this iconic musician still manages to influence and inspire despite being several generations our senior. The overall popularity of his music, whilst refusing to fade over some 4 decades, maintains a steady flow of funds into the guitar aficionados estate- with a countless number of his tracks being used in an equally countless amount of TV shows, movies and advertising campaigns over the years. The estimated amount of cash said to still belong to Hendrix currently stands at a healthy $7million- all of which has accumulated since his death, as he never really had much of a chance to live the good life whilst he was still around.
7. Albert Einstein
The late great scientist Albert Einstein passed away on April 18th, 1955 at the age of 76 due to natural causes. Although enjoying a moderate amount of wealth during his time, Albert's estate is now said to be worth a cool $10million. Multiple corporate tie-ins have attributed to this gradual accumulation of wealth- including a Disney fronted venture to create products designed to improve infant brain-power and various other uses of his name by companies such as Chrysler and A.J Morgan.
6. Elizabeth Taylor
Iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor made her name as one of the last true classic Hollywood starlets. With a career which began during the 'Golden Age' of cinema in the 1940's and 50's, the British born actress went on to enjoy a prominent career right up until her death in March 2011, aged 79. Despite already heading an estate worth around $12million, the figure saw a dramatic rise when Christies auction house in New York City sold off a number of her earthly possessions for a combined total of over $150million late last year.
5. John Lennon
Despite having suffered an untimely death at the hands of murderer Mark Chapman in 1980, John Lennon's estate continues to collect serious amounts of revenue. The former Beatle took his place amongst the 20th century's most notable and influential figures the day he was shot on the steps of his apartment block in New York City, with interest in his music maintaining a constantly impressive level since. I'm in no way trying to say that his death caused this popularity, as the guy was a star long before that psychopath got him in his sights- but it mustn't have done much to stem it- as he continues to master a fortune of around $12million. Whilst much of this would have been accumulated when the Liverpudlian was still very alive and well, the recent addition of The Beatles back catalogue onto iTunes couldn't have done much damage the sum.
4. Charles Schulz
Influential artist Charles Schulz made his name in a post-war US as a young veteran and a talented cartoonist. Creating, perhaps most notably a strip named 'Peanuts' (which is still printed to this day) in 1950, Schulz went on to enjoy a very successful career in a very competitive industry. With Peanuts, at its peak, being published in some 75 countries, it wasn't long before the licensing deals with large networks began to bear their heads. It is through these contracts that Schulz's estate continues to grow- currently standing at around $25million, despite the man himself dying of cancer in 2000.
3. Marilyn Monroe
Dying of an overdose in 1962 at the age of 36, Marilyn Monroe has remained as one of the most iconic superstars of all time. Epitomising for many, the classic beauty of the mid Twentieth Century, her image is still used excessively to this day on a whole range of posters, t-shirts and the like. Mastering an estate worth some $27million despite having passed away over 50 years ago, Marilyn's timeless image has been transformed to definite brand status.
2. Elvis
Easily the icon on a list of icons, the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley passed on August 16th, 1977 after suffering a heart attack aged just 42. He lives on in the countless licenses which pick up regular stacks of cash from the use of his image and music alike. His former home turned shrine at Graceland is one of the most visited establishments of its kind in the world- and pretty much all of the money generated from the attraction is turned over to The Kings estate. Add to that the endless items of merch which has ever been sold bearing the guys likeness, as well as his record and film sales- and you land somewhere in the region of $55million. Not bad for a dead guy.
1. Michael Jackson
The world was forced into a state of shock when misunderstood pop-icon MJ died in June 2009. As one of the world's biggest stars, Jackson was due to make a return to the live performance format which kicked off his career as a child, later that summer. Despite having not had the best financial luck in the decade or so previously, the singer was back on the straight and narrow in the months leading up to his untimely and unexpected death. As well as the aforementioned million if not billion dollar comeback concerts scheduled to take place in London, his publishing company was also doing extremely good business. It seems they still are, as the deceased stars estate is said to be worth no less than $170million.
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