The money might be drying up in Hollywood, but plenty of cash is still being made in the graveyard, according to a 2008 list of the highest-earning dead creative celebrities.
Yves Saint Laurent, the fashion designer who died in June, earned $350million (£213m) last year, topping the list, which is compiled by Forbes, for the first time.
He beat out the composers Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein with $235milion, and the musicians Michael Jackson (3rd) on $90m and Elvis Presley (4th) at $55m.
The French style icon’s future income potential also looks healthy, given that some of his antiques, property - and his Mercedes Benz - are yet to go under the hammer.
But in the short-term, Jackson appears to have the brightest financial prospects on the list, which also includes dead authors, actors and cartoonists, suggesting his worth is set to rise in the next 12 months.
The King of Pop’s financial footing is particularly sound thanks to his publishing rights, including in the much-hyped Sony film ‘This Is It’, and rights to all his memorabilia.
J.R.R Tolkein, the English writer best-known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was the highest ranking Briton, with an income last year alone of $50million.
He beat out his fellow countrymen John Lennon, on $14million, and Andy Warhol, on $6million, whose earnings contributed to the $886million (£541m) that all 13 of the dead celebrities grossed in the past 12 months.
Oct 29, 2009
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