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JACKO'S JACKPOT

Michael Jackson tops rich list of dead celebrities after raking in £46million a year from royalties

SINGER Michael Jackson tops a rich list of dead celebrity “earners”.

The Thriller star’s estate rakes in £46million a year from royalties — 11 years after his death aged 50.

Michael Jackson's estate rakes in £46million a year from royalties
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Michael Jackson's estate rakes in £46million a year from royaltiesCredit: Getty - Contributor
Marilyn Monroe still 'earns' £10million a year
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Marilyn Monroe still 'earns' £10million a yearCredit: Corbis - Getty

Second is author JRR Tolkien whose Lord of the Rings books are worth £38million a year.

Elvis Presley “makes” £30million, say boffins who used 2010 to 2019 data from business magazine Forbes to calculate earnings.

Musicians Bob Marley, John Lennon, Prince and David Bowie also make the list compiled by — as does Playboy boss Hugh Hefner.

The firm said: “If you think the amount celebrities make is excessive, wait until you hear the dizzying amount some continue to earn from beyond the grave. 

Elvis Presley 'makes' £30million, despite passing away in 1977
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Elvis Presley 'makes' £30million, despite passing away in 1977Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty
Author JRR Tolkien, whose Lord of the Rings books are worth £38million a year, came second in the list
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Author JRR Tolkien, whose Lord of the Rings books are worth £38million a year, came second in the listCredit: Getty - Contributor

“Some not only out-earn us Average Joes, but other living celebs as well!”

The study also includes a calculator to find out how long it would take you to earn as much as the dead celebrities.

Software engineer Jeremy Brown, 36, of Edinburgh, said his £31,000-a-year salary paled into insignificance compared to top dead earners.

He added: “If only I could make one-hundredth of what Michael Jackson earns as a dead man, I’d be happy.

Musician Bob Marley also makes the list
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Musician Bob Marley also makes the listCredit: Getty - Contributor

“I’ve just worked it out, and one hundredth is £460,000 a year.

";To be honest I’d be more than happy with half of that amount!”

Playboy boss Hugh Hefner, who died in 2017, is among the top 'earners'
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Playboy boss Hugh Hefner, who died in 2017, is among the top 'earners'Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The top 10

  1. Michael Jackson - £46m
  2. J.R.R Tolkien - £38m
  3. Elvis - £30m
  4. Bob Marley - £15m
  5. Hugh Hefner - £11.5m
  6. John Lennon - £10.8m
  7. Marilyn Monroe - £10m
  8. Prince - £9.2m
  9. Whitney Houston - £7.3m
  10. David Bowie - £7.3m
Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris, 22, posts never-before-seen footage of late father 11 years after his tragic death

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