The King is dead, but his earning power lives on undiminished. Thirty years after his death, Elvis Presley has re-emerged as the top-earning dead celebrity, ousting the grunge rocker Kurt Cobain at the top of this year’s list of highest-paid dead celebrities.

Elvis earned $49 million (£24 million) in the past year, toppling the late Nirvana frontman and regaining the top spot on the Forbes.com list. Elvis’s estate continues to generate millions from music royalties, DVDs, licensing deals and tourism at Graceland, the singer’s mansion in Memphis.

The website ranks 13 former celebrities according to income and proves that death is no obstacle to making money. The group collectively earnt $232 million in the past year.

Cashing in on lawsuits and disputes that open the way for Beatles hits to be sold online, John Lennon came second, with $44 million, while George Harrison, his fellow Beatle, came fourth with about $22 million.

Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, whose cartoons are still syndicated in thousands of newspapers worldwide seven years after his death, came third, with $35 million, ahead of Albert Einstein, with $18 million. The great scientist’s name has been lent to DVDs that instruct parents how to “raise geniuses”.

Theodor Geisel, the creator of the Dr Seuss cartoon, ranked seventh, behind Andy Warhol but in front of Marilyn Monroe, whose image continues to pay dividends 40 years after her death. The rapper Tupac Shakur, killed in 1996, returned to the list after a four-year absence, while the Hollywood star Steve McQueen entered the listing for the first time. James Brown, the Godfather of Soul who died last December, made his debut at 11th place, ahead of the reggae legend Bob Marley and the 1950s Hollywood heart-throb James Dean.

Still coining it

Elvis Presley $49 million
John Lennon $44 million
Charles M. Schulz $35 million
George Harrison $22 million
Albert Einstein $18 million
Andy Warhol $15 million
Theodor Geisel $13 million
Tupac Shakur $9 million
Marilyn Monroe $7 million
Steve McQueen $6 million
James Brown $5 million
Bob Marley $4 million
James Dean $3.5 million

Source: Forbes

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