Forbes list of the world's highest-paid dead celebrities
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the world's highest-paid dead celebrities as ranked by Forbes magazine since October 2001.
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2025 list
The 2025 list:[1]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $105 million |
| 2 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $85 million | |
| 3 | Richard Wright | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $81 million |
| 4 | Syd Barrett | Musician | Cancer | $81 million | |
| 5 | The Notorious B.I.G. | Musician | United States | Homicide | $80 million |
| 6 | Miles Davis | Musician | Stroke | $21 million | |
| 7 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart Attack | $17 million |
| 8 | Jimmy Buffett | Musician | Cancer | $14 million | |
| 9 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $13 million |
| 10 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 11 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $11 million |
| 12 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $11 million | |
| 13 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | Helicopter Crash | $10 million |
2024 list
The 2024 list:[2]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $600 million |
| 2 | Freddie Mercury | United Kingdom | Pneumonia resulting from HIV/AIDS | $250 million | |
| 3 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $75 million |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $50 million | |
| 5 | Ric Ocasek | Heart disease | $45 million | ||
| 6 | Prince | Overdose | $35 million | ||
| 7 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $34 million | |
| 8 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | $30 million | |
| 9 | Matthew Perry | Actor | Overdose | $18 million | |
| 10 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $17 million |
| 11 | James Brown | United States | Heart failure | $15 million | |
| 12 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $14 million | |
| 13 | Whitney Houston | Musician | Drowning | $13 million |
2023 list
The 2023 list:[3]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $115 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $100 million | ||
| 3 | Ray Manzarek | Cancer | $45 million | ||
| 4 | Dr. Seuss | Author | $40 million | ||
| 5 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | $30 million | ||
| Prince | Musician | Overdose | |||
| Whitney Houston | Drowning | ||||
| 8 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $22 million | |
| 9 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $16 million | |
| 10 | Bing Crosby | United States | Heart attack | $14 million | |
| George Harrison | United Kingdom | Cancer | |||
| 12 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $10 million |
| Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose |
2022 list
The 2022 list:[4]
J.R.R. Tolkien earned $500 million from the sale of Middle-earth Enterprises.[4]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $500 million |
| 2 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | United States | Helicopter crash | $400 million |
| 3 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $250 million |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | United States | Heart attack | $110 million | |
| 5 | James Brown | Heart failure | $100 million | ||
| 6 | Michael Jackson | Overdose/manslaughter | $75 million | ||
| 7 | Leonard Cohen | Canada | Fatal fall | $55 million | |
| 8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $32 million |
| 9 | Jeff Porcaro | Musician | Heart attack | $25 million | |
| 10 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $24 million | |
| 11 | Juan Gabriel | Musician | Mexico | Heart attack | $23 million |
| 12 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $16 million | |
| 13 | George Harrison | Cancer | $12 million |
2021 list
The 2021 list:[5]
Netflix announced the acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company, which manages the rights to Roald Dahl's stories and characters, for a fee of $684 million (£500m). Dahl's heirs held at least a 75% stake before the company was acquired.[5]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roald Dahl | Author | United Kingdom | Cancer | $513 million |
| 2 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $120 million |
| 3 | Michael Jackson | Overdose/manslaughter | $75 million | ||
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $40 million | |
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | $35 million | ||
| 6 | Bing Crosby | Musician | Heart attack | $33 million | |
| 7 | Elvis Presley | $30 million | |||
| 8 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $27 million | |
| 9 | Gerry Goffin | Lyricist | Natural causes | $23 million | |
| 10 | Luther Vandross | Musician | Stroke | $21 million | |
| 11 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $16 million | |
| 12 | Juice Wrld | United States | Accidental overdose | $15 million | |
| 13 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
2020 list
The 2020 list:[6]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $48 million |
| 2 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $33 million | |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | $32.5 million | ||
| 4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $25 million | |
| 5 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $23 million | |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | Helicopter crash | $20 million | |
| 7 | Juice Wrld | Musician | Overdose | $15 million | |
| 8 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $14 million | |
| 9 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $13 million | |
| 10 | Prince | United States | Overdose | $10 million | |
| 11 | Freddie Mercury | United Kingdom | Pneumonia resulting from HIV/AIDS | $9 million | |
| 12 | George Harrison | Cancer | $8.5 million | ||
| 13 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
2019 list
The 2019 list:[7]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $60 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $39 million | ||
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $38 million | |
| 4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $30 million | |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $20 million |
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $19 million | |
| 7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $14 million |
| 8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $13 million |
| 9 | Prince | Musician | United States | $12 million | |
| 10 | Nipsey Hussle | Homicide | $11 million | ||
| 11 | XXXTentacion | $10 million | |||
| 12 | Whitney Houston | Drowning | $9.5 million | ||
| 13 | George Harrison | United Kingdom | Cancer | $9 million | |
2018 list
Michael Jackson brought in $287 million from the sale of his estate's stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony.[10]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $400 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $40 million | ||
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $35 million | |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $34 million | |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $23 million | |
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $16 million | |
| 7 | Hugh Hefner | Personality | Sepsis | $15 million | |
| 8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | $14 million | |
| 9 | Prince | Musician | $13 million | ||
| 10 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million | |
| 11 | XXXTentacion | United States | $11 million | ||
| 12 | Muhammad Ali | Athlete | Septic shock | $8 million | |
| 13 | Bettie Page | Model | Heart attack | $7 million | |
2017 list
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $75 million |
| 2 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $40 million | |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $38 million | |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $35 million | |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $23 million | |
| 6 | Tom Petty | United States | Overdose | $20 million | |
| 7 | Prince | $18 million | |||
| 8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $16 million | |
| 9 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 10 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 11 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $9.5 million |
| 12 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | Heart failure | $8 million | |
| 13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $7.5 million |
2016 list
The 2016 list:[13]
Michael Jackson had the largest annual gain for an entertainer, living or dead, due to the $750 million sale of his half of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue.
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $825 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $48 million | |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | Heart disease | $40 million | |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $27 million | |
| 5 | Prince | Overdose | $25 million | ||
| 6 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $21 million | |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | $20 million | |
| 8 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $11.5 million |
| 10 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $11 million |
| 11 | David Bowie | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $10.5 million |
| 12 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $9 million |
| 13 | Elizabeth Taylor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $8 million |
2015 list
The 2015 list:[14]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $115 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $40 million | |
| 4 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $21 million | |
| 5 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $20 million |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | United States | Overdose | $17 million | |
| 7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $11 million |
| 9 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $10 million |
| 10 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $9.5 million | |
| 11 | Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | $9 million | |
| 12 | Paul Walker | Car crash | $8.5 million | ||
| James Dean | |||||
2014 list
The 2014 list:[15]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $140 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $40 million | |
| 4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $25 million |
| Paul Walker | United States | Car crash | |||
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Overdose | $17 million | ||
| 7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $11 million |
| 9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| Bruce Lee | Actor | Cerebral edema | |||
| Steve McQueen | Cancer | ||||
| Bettie Page | Model | Heart attack | |||
| 13 | James Dean | Actor | Car crash | $7 million | |
2013 list
The 2013 list:[16]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $160 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $37 million | |
| 4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $25 million |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $17 million |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $15 million |
| 7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | ||
| 10 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $9 million | |
| Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | |||
| 12 | Bruce Lee | Cerebral edema | $7 million |
2012 list
The 2012 list:[17]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $210 million |
| 2 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $145 million |
| 3 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $37 million | |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | $17 million | |
| 6 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million | |
| 7 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $10 million |
| Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | ||
| 9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | $8 million | |
| Bettie Page | Model | ||||
| 12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | $6 million | |
| 13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $5.5 million | |
2011 list
The 2011 list:[18]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $170 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $55 million | ||
| 3 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | $27 million | |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $25 million | |
| 5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | Heart failure | |||
| 7 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 9 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $7 million | |
| Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | Heart attack | ||
| Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | |||
| Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | |||
| 13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $6 million | |
| Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | ||
| Andy Warhol | Artist | Arrhythmia | |||
2010 list
The 2010 list:[19]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/manslaughter | $275 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $60 million | ||
| 3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $50 million |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $33 million |
| 5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $17 million |
| 6 | Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | Heart attack | $15 million |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | United States | Cancer | $11 million | |
| 8 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 9 | George Steinbrenner | Businessperson | United States | Heart attack | $8 million |
| 10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | $7 million | |
| 11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $6 million | |
| Steve McQueen | Actor | Heart attack | |||
| 13 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | Stroke | $5 million | |
2009 list
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yves Saint Laurent | Fashion designer | France | Cancer | $350 million |
| 2 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $235 million | |
| Oscar Hammerstein | Lyricist | ||||
| 3 | Michael Jackson | Musician | Overdose/manslaughter | $90 million | |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | Heart attack | $55 million | |
| 5 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $50 million |
| 6 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
| 7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $15 million |
| Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | ||
| 9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 10 | Michael Crichton | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $8 million | |
| Aaron Spelling | Film producer | Stroke | |||
| 13 | Andy Warhol | Artist | Arrhythmia | $6 million | |
2008 list
The 2008 list:[22]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $52 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $33 million |
| 3 | Heath Ledger | Actor | Australia | Overdose | $20 million |
| 4 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $18 million |
| 5 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | Stroke | $15 million |
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $12 million |
| 7 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $9 million |
| Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | ||
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | $6.5 million | |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Heart attack | $6 million | ||
| 11 | Paul Newman | Cancer | $5 million | ||
| James Dean | Car crash | ||||
| 13 | Marvin Gaye | Musician | Homicide | $3.5 million |
2007 list
The 2007 list:[23]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $49 million |
| 2 | John Lennon | United Kingdom | Homicide | $44 million | |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
| 4 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $22 million | |
| 5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $18 million |
| 6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $15 million |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $13 million | |
| 8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | Homicide | $9 million | |
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | $7 million | |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Heart attack | $6 million | ||
| 11 | James Brown | Musician | Heart failure | $5 million | |
| 12 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $4 million | |
| 13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $3.5 million |
2006 list
The 2006 list:[24]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kurt Cobain | Musician | United States | Suicide | $50 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Heart attack | $42 million | ||
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $35 million | |
| 4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $24 million |
| 5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $20 million |
| 6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $19 million |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $10 million | |
| Ray Charles | Musician | Liver failure | |||
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | $8 million | |
| Johnny Cash | Musician | Diabetes | |||
| 11 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $7 million |
| George Harrison | Musician | Cancer | |||
| Bob Marley | Jamaica | ||||
2005 list
The 2005 list:[25]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $45 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $35 million | |
| 3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $22 million |
| 4 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $16 million |
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $10 million | |
| 6 | Marlon Brando | Actor | Respiratory failure | $9 million | |
| 7 | Marilyn Monroe | Overdose | $8 million | ||
| J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | ||
| 9 | George Harrison | Musician | Cancer | $7 million | |
| Johnny Cash | United States | Diabetes | |||
| Irving Berlin | Composer | Heart attack | |||
| 12 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $6 million |
| Ray Charles | United States | Liver failure | |||
2004 list
The 2004 list:[26]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $35 million | |
| 3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $23 million |
| 4 | John Lennon | Musician | Homicide | $21 million | |
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $18 million |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | $8 million | |
| 7 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $7 million |
| Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | Heart attack | ||
| Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | ||
| 10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | $6.5 million | |
| 11 | George Gershwin | $6 million | |||
| Ira Gershwin | Lyricist | Heart disease | |||
| Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | |||
| Alan Jay Lerner | Lyricist | Cancer | |||
| Frederick Loewe | Composer | Heart attack | |||
| Cole Porter | Kidney failure | ||||
| 17 | James Dean | Actor | Car crash | $5 million | |
| Dale Earnhardt | Athlete | ||||
| Jerry Garcia | Musician | Heart attack | |||
| Freddie Mercury | United Kingdom | Pneumonia resulting from HIV/AIDS | |||
| Tupac Shakur | United States | Homicide | |||
| Frank Sinatra | Heart attack | ||||
2003 list
The 2003 list:[27]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $32 million | |
| 3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $22 million |
| 4 | John Lennon | Musician | Homicide | $19 million | |
| 5 | George Harrison | Cancer | $16 million | ||
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | ||
| 7 | Dale Earnhardt | Athlete | Car crash | $15 million | |
| 8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | Homicide | $12 million | |
| 9 | Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | $9 million | |
| 10 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 11 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | Heart attack | $7 million | |
| 12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | Cancer | ||
| 13 | Oscar Hammerstein | Songwriter | |||
| 14 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | ||
| 15 | Cole Porter | Composer | Kidney failure | $6 million | |
| 16 | Irving Berlin | Heart attack | |||
| 17 | Robert Atkins | Doctor | United Kingdom | Head trauma | |
| 18 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $5 million |
| 19 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | Heart attack | ||
2002 list
The 2002 list:[28]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $37 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $28 million | |
| 3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $20 million |
| Dale Earnhardt | Athlete | United States | Car crash | ||
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | Cancer | $19 million | |
| 6 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | $17 million | |
| 7 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $12 million |
| 8 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $10 million |
| 9 | Jimi Hendrix | United States | Overdose | $8 million | |
| 10 | Tupac Shakur | Homicide | $7 million | ||
| Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | |||
| 12 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | Heart attack | $5 million | |
| Robert Ludlum | Author | ||||
2001 list
The 2001 list:[29]
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $35 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | Cancer | $20 million | |
| John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | ||
| 4 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $17 million |
| 5 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | Overdose | $10 million | |
| Bob Marley | Jamaica | Cancer | |||
| 7 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $8 million |
| 8 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $7 million |
| 9 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 10 | Jerry Garcia | $5 million | |||
| 11 | Keith Haring | Artist | Complications from HIV/AIDS | $4 million | |
| Marilyn Monroe | Actor | Overdose | |||
| 13 | James Dean | Car crash | $3 million | ||