Elvis Presley Tops Earning List Of Celebs That Have Passed Away For Second Year In A Row

 

In one of the latest polls by Forbes, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley topped the list of highest-earning dead celebrities for the second consecutive year with earnings of $52 million.

The legendary singer died in 1977, but he has continued to pull in more revenue than any other late star in the past 12 months. Finances were boosted last year by the increase in visitors to his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee to mark the 30th anniversary of his death.

His earnings, from October 2007 to 2008, overshadow the second-placed star in the Forbes poll, Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz.  The animator, who died in 2000, took $33 million, while actor Heath Ledger took the number three spot with $20 million.

The publication says of Ledger:

 ”With the ‘The Dark Knight’ grossing $991 million in box office revenue worldwide, we estimate his earnings at $20 million.”

Late acting great Paul Newman, who died in September, debuts on the list at 11. The Butch Cassidy star’s range of Newman’s Own food products garnered $120 million last year. He donated all of the profits to charity, but Forbes estimate his 2007 earnings at $5 million.

Others who feature on Forbes’ annual list this year include American film and TV mogul Aaron Spelling, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Steve McQueen.

WENN