Michael Jackson: Top Earning Dead Celebrity
Michael Jackson was an iconic pop star from the 80s who revolutionized the music industry. He sold more than 750 million records worldwide and was the highest-earning dead celebrity for several consecutive years. In 2020, Jackson topped Forbes’ Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list for the fourth consecutive year, earning him $75 million. His success still lives on even after his death in 2009.
Since then, his estate has been working hard to maintain the King of Pop’s legacy and overseen by his estate manager John Branca and co-executor John McClain. He was also the first musician to get a primary posthumous award from the Grammy Museum in 2014 and has a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
From licensing his old music to having interest in a movie based on his music, here’s a look into how Jackson continues to rake in the big money.
Licensing and Merchandise Deals
Michael Jackson’s song catalog makes up about 25% of his earnings. His songs have been used in numerous commercials, films, television shows and video games, which brings in a steady stream of income. His estate also profit from the sales of an astonishing amount of merchandise, including his signature white glove, limited edition Funko Pop figurines, graphic T-shirts, jewelry and decorative wall art. Other licensing deals include an ongoing collaboration with the Cirque du Soleil production One and his image appearing on Pepsi cans.
Tours and Ticket Sales
Michael Jackson consistently remained one of the most successful tours of all time. His tours grossed a total of $1.37 billion in the decade before his death. His estate also continues to earns money from ticket sales for his tribute, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour”.
Lloyalty Program/ Streaming Services
In 2017, Michael Jackson’s estate released “Michael Jackson: The Experience”, a loyalty program for Michael Jackson fans called “The King of Pop Club”. This club lets members join exclusive activities and access exclusive content, as well as earn points redeemable for various products in the official Michael Jackson store.
Jackson’s music is also available to stream on various music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Endorsement Deals and Investments
Thanks to his successes on television, Michael Jackson was one of the most sought-after celebrities for endorsement deals at the time and his estate continues to see returns from his prior deals. His legacy also still lives on in Vegas as he was a major investor in the Mandalay Resort Group’s $800 million House of Blues dinner theatres.
The Michael Jackson Company
Michael Jackson created The Michael Jackson Company in 1989, which manages his financial and legal matters such as royalties, investments, and projects. It also visits almost every corner of the world to expand their operations in order to increase the income for his estate.
Michael Jackson was a revolutionary artist and continues to have a major influence on today’s music industry. His legacy is maintained by his estate and royalties thanks to his licensed music, merchandise, tours and ticket sales, streaming services, endorsement deals and investments, as well as The Michael Jackson Company.
Since his death in 2009, Michael Jackson has been the highest-earning dead celebrity for four years straight and continues to bring returns to his estate. He was the first musician to get a primary posthumous award from the Grammy Museum and will continue to be remembered for decades to come.
