Jackson tops posthumous earnings list

Michael Jackson regained the title of the top-earning dead celebrity in the past year, easily surpassing Elvis Presley and cartoonist Charles Schulz, Forbes magazine said.

After being pushed into second place by Elizabeth Taylor last year Jackson, who died in 2009, was back on top with estimated earnings of $160m (€115.9m) in the 12 months from Oct 2012 to 2013.

“He earned the bulk of his bucks from two Cirque du Soleil shows, his Mijac Music catalogue, recorded music sales, and his half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire, which includes the copyright to hits by the Beatles, Lady Gaga, Eminem, and Taylor Swift, among others,” Forbes said.