# Forbes list of the world's highest-paid dead celebrities

This is a list of the world's highest-paid dead celebrities as ranked by Forbes magazine since October 2001.

## 2024 list

The 2024 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $600 million |
| 2 | Freddie Mercury | Musician | United Kingdom | AIDS | $250 million |
| 3 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $75 million |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $50 million |
| 5 | Ric Ocasek | Musician | United States | Heart disease | $45 million |
| 6 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $35 million |
| 7 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $34 million |
| 8 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $30 million |
| 9 | Matthew Perry | Actor | United States | Overdose | $18 million |
| 10 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $17 million |
| 11 | James Brown | Musician | United States | Heart failure | $15 million |
| 12 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $14 million |
| 13 | Whitney Houston | Musician | United States | Drowning | $13 million |

## 2023 list

The 2023 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $115 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $100 million |
| 3 | Ray Manzarek | Musician | United States | Cancer | $45 million |
| 4 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
| 5 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $30 million |
| 6 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $30 million |
| 7 | Whitney Houston | Musician | United States | Drowning | $30 million |
| 8 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $22 million |
| 9 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $16 million |
| 10 | Bing Crosby | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $14 million |
| 11 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $14 million |
| 12 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $10 million |
| 13 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $10 million |

## 2022 list

The 2022 list:
J.R.R. Tolkien earned $500 million from the sale of Middle-Earth Enterprises.
| 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 | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $110 million |
| 5 | James Brown | Musician | United States | Heart failure | $100 million |
| 6 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $75 million |
| 7 | Leonard Cohen | Musician | Canada | Fatal fall | $55 million |
| 8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $32 million |
| 9 | Jeff Porcaro | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $25 million |
| 10 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $24 million |
| 11 | Juan Gabriel | Musician | Mexico | Heart attack | $23 million |
| 12 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $16 million |
| 13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $12 million |

## 2021 list

The 2021 list:
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.
| 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 | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $75 million |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $40 million |
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
| 6 | Bing Crosby | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $33 million |
| 7 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $30 million |
| 8 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $27 million |
| 9 | Gerry Goffin | Lyricist | United States | Natural causes | $23 million |
| 10 | Luther Vandross | Musician | United States | Stroke | $21 million |
| 11 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $16 million |
| 12 | Juice Wrld | Musician | United States | Accidental overdose | $15 million |
| 13 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |

## 2020 list

The 2020 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $48 million |
| 2 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $33 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $32.5 million |
| 4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $25 million |
| 5 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $23 million |
| 6 | Kobe Bryant | Athlete | United States | Helicopter crash | $20 million |
| 7 | Juice Wrld | Musician | United States | Overdose | $15 million |
| 8 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $14 million |
| 9 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $13 million |
| 10 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $10 million |
| 11 | Freddie Mercury | Musician | United Kingdom | AIDS | $9 million |
| 12 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $8.5 million |
| 13 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |

## 2019 list

The 2019 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $60 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $39 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $38 million |
| 4 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $30 million |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $20 million |
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $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 | Overdose | $12 million |
| 10 | Nipsey Hussle | Musician | United States | Homicide | $11 million |
| 11 | XXXTentacion | Musician | United States | Homicide | $10 million |
| 12 | Whitney Houston | Musician | United States | Drowning | $9.5 million |
| 13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $9 million |

## 2018 list

The 2018 list:
Michael Jackson brought in $287 million from the sale of his estate's stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony.
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $400 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $35 million |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $34 million |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $23 million |
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $16 million |
| 7 | Hugh Hefner | Personality | United States | Sepsis | $15 million |
| 8 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $14 million |
| 9 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $13 million |
| 10 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 11 | XXXTentacion | Musician | United States | Homicide | $11 million |
| 12 | Muhammad Ali | Athlete | United States | Septic shock | $8 million |
| 13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $7 million |

## 2017 list

The 2017 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $75 million |
| 2 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $40 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $38 million |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $35 million |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $23 million |
| 6 | Tom Petty | Musician | United States | Overdose | $20 million |
| 7 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $18 million |
| 8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | 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 | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $8 million |
| 13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $7.5 million |

## 2016 list

The 2016 list:
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/homicide | $825 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $48 million |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | Athlete | United States | Heart disease | $40 million |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $27 million |
| 5 | Prince | Musician | United States | Overdose | $25 million |
| 6 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $21 million |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $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 | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $8 million |

## 2015 list

The 2015 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $115 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $55 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $40 million |
| 4 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $21 million |
| 5 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $20 million |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | 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 | United States | Cancer | $9.5 million |
| 11 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $9 million |
| 12 | Paul Walker | Actor | United States | Car crash | $8.5 million |
| 12 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $8.5 million |

## 2014 list

The 2014 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $140 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $55 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $40 million |
| 4 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $25 million |
| 4 | Paul Walker | Actor | United States | Car crash | $25 million |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | 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 |
| 9 | Bruce Lee | Actor | United States | Cerebral edema | $9 million |
| 9 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 9 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $9 million |
| 13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $7 million |

## 2013 list

The 2013 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $160 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $55 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | 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 |
| 8 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $10 million |
| 10 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $9 million |
| 12 | Bruce Lee | Actor | United States | Cerebral edema | $7 million |

## 2012 list

The 2012 list:
| 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/homicide | $145 million |
| 3 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $55 million |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $37 million |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $17 million |
| 6 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 7 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $10 million |
| 7 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 9 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $8 million |
| 10 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $8 million |
| 12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | Cancer | $6 million |
| 13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $5.5 million |

## 2011 list

The 2011 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $170 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $55 million |
| 3 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $27 million |
| 4 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $25 million |
| 5 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $12 million |
| 5 | Elizabeth Taylor | Actor | United Kingdom | Heart failure | $12 million |
| 7 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 8 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 9 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $7 million |
| 9 | Stieg Larsson | Author | Sweden | Heart attack | $7 million |
| 9 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $7 million |
| 9 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | Cancer | $7 million |
| 13 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $6 million |
| 13 | Bettie Page | Model | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 13 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $6 million |

## 2010 list

The 2010 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $275 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | 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 | Author | 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 | United States | Cancer | $7 million |
| 11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $6 million |
| 11 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 13 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | Stroke | $5 million |

## 2009 list

The 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 | Cancer | $235 million |
| 2 | Oscar Hammerstein | Lyricist | United States | Cancer | $235 million |
| 3 | Michael Jackson | Musician | United States | Overdose/homicide | $90 million |
| 4 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | 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 |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $15 million |
| 9 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $10 million |
| 10 | Michael Crichton | Author | United States | Cancer | $9 million |
| 11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 11 | Aaron Spelling | Film producer | United States | Stroke | $8 million |
| 13 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $6 million |

## 2008 list

The 2008 list:
| 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 |
| 7 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $9 million |
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $6.5 million |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 11 | Paul Newman | Actor | United States | Cancer | $5 million |
| 11 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $5 million |
| 13 | Marvin Gaye | Musician | United States | Homicide | $3.5 million |

## 2007 list

The 2007 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $49 million |
| 2 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $44 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
| 4 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $22 million |
| 5 | Albert Einstein | Scientist | Germany | Aneurysm | $18 million |
| 6 | Andy Warhol | Artist | United States | Arrhythmia | $15 million |
| 7 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $13 million |
| 8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | Homicide | $9 million |
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $7 million |
| 10 | Steve McQueen | Actor | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 11 | James Brown | Musician | United States | Heart failure | $5 million |
| 12 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $4 million |
| 13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $3.5 million |

## 2006 list

The 2006 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Kurt Cobain | Musician | United States | Suicide | $50 million |
| 2 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $42 million |
| 3 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | 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 | United States | Cancer | $10 million |
| 7 | Ray Charles | Musician | United States | Liver failure | $10 million |
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 10 | Johnny Cash | Musician | United States | Diabetes | $8 million |
| 11 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $7 million |
| 11 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $7 million |
| 11 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $7 million |

## 2005 list

The 2005 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $45 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | 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 | United States | Cancer | $10 million |
| 6 | Marlon Brando | Actor | United States | Respiratory failure | $9 million |
| 7 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 7 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $8 million |
| 9 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $7 million |
| 9 | Johnny Cash | Musician | United States | Diabetes | $7 million |
| 9 | Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | Heart attack | $7 million |
| 12 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $6 million |
| 12 | Ray Charles | Musician | United States | Liver failure | $6 million |

## 2004 list

The 2004 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $35 million |
| 3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $23 million |
| 4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $21 million |
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $18 million |
| 6 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 7 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $7 million |
| 7 | Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | Heart attack | $7 million |
| 7 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $7 million |
| 10 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | Cancer | $6.5 million |
| 11 | George Gershwin | Composer | United States | Cancer | $6 million |
| 11 | Ira Gershwin | Lyricist | United States | Heart disease | $6 million |
| 11 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $6 million |
| 11 | Alan Jay Lerner | Lyricist | United States | Cancer | $6 million |
| 11 | Frederick Loewe | Composer | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 11 | Cole Porter | Composer | United States | Kidney failure | $6 million |
| 17 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $5 million |
| 17 | Dale Earnhardt | Athlete | United States | Car crash | $5 million |
| 17 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $5 million |
| 17 | Freddie Mercury | Musician | United Kingdom | AIDS | $5 million |
| 17 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | Homicide | $5 million |
| 17 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $5 million |

## 2003 list

The 2003 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $40 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $32 million |
| 3 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $22 million |
| 4 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $19 million |
| 5 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $16 million |
| 6 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $16 million |
| 7 | Dale Earnhardt | Athlete | United States | Car crash | $15 million |
| 8 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | Homicide | $12 million |
| 9 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $9 million |
| 10 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 11 | Frank Sinatra | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $7 million |
| 12 | Richard Rodgers | Composer | United States | Cancer | $7 million |
| 13 | Oscar Hammerstein | Songwriter | United States | Cancer | $7 million |
| 14 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $7 million |
| 15 | Cole Porter | Composer | United States | Kidney failure | $6 million |
| 16 | Irving Berlin | Composer | United States | Heart attack | $6 million |
| 17 | Robert Atkins | Doctor | United Kingdom | Head trauma | $6 million |
| 18 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $5 million |
| 19 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $5 million |

## 2002 list

The 2002 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $37 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $28 million |
| 3 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $20 million |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Athlete | United States | Car crash | $20 million |
| 5 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $19 million |
| 6 | George Harrison | Musician | United Kingdom | Cancer | $17 million |
| 7 | J. R. R. Tolkien | Author | United Kingdom | Pneumonia | $12 million |
| 8 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $10 million |
| 9 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $8 million |
| 10 | Tupac Shakur | Musician | United States | Homicide | $7 million |
| 10 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $7 million |
| 12 | Jerry Garcia | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $5 million |
| 12 | Robert Ludlum | Author | United States | Heart attack | $5 million |

## 2001 list

The 2001 list:
| Rank | Name | Career | Nation | Cause of Death | Earnings |
| 1 | Elvis Presley | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $35 million |
| 2 | Charles Schulz | Cartoonist | United States | Cancer | $20 million |
| 2 | John Lennon | Musician | United Kingdom | Homicide | $20 million |
| 4 | Dr. Seuss | Author | United States | Cancer | $17 million |
| 5 | Jimi Hendrix | Musician | United States | Overdose | $10 million |
| 5 | Bob Marley | Musician | Jamaica | Cancer | $10 million |
| 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 | Musician | United States | Heart attack | $5 million |
| 11 | Keith Haring | Artist | United States | AIDS | $4 million |
| 11 | Marilyn Monroe | Actor | United States | Overdose | $4 million |
| 13 | James Dean | Actor | United States | Car crash | $3 million |