Michael Jackson earns more in death than he did when he was alive

Michael Jackson remains the highest earning dead celebrity in the world. On what would have been his 60th birthday, check out how much he made last year.

Michael Jackson made $75 million (Rs 528 crore) in 2017, enough to make him the world’s highest earning dead celebrity, according to Forbes. The late singer is making more in death than he did when he was alive.

This August 29, 1993 file photo shows pop star Michael Jackson performing the first of two concerts at the National Stadium in Singapore. (AFP)

In 2016, Jackson’s earnings were over $800 million - the highest annual total for any entertainer ever, dead or alive - thanks mostly to the sale of his half of the Sony/ATV catalogue, which Jackson purchased first in 1981. He also rakes in millions through his Cirque Du Soleil show in Las Vegas and his publishing catalogue, which also features hits by other musicians.

According to Forbes, Jackson has earned over $3 billion pretax in his career - before and after death - and close to $4 billion when adjusted for inflation. Jackson, who died in 2009 because of an alleged overdose of prescription medication, would have turned 60 on August 29. His doctor was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Prince Michael Jackson arrives at the iHeartRadio MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVA) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The high earnings mean that his three children, Paris, 20, Prince, 21, and Blanket, 16, aren’t living like ‘vagabonds’ as Jackson had claimed months before he died in 2019. At the time, he was $500 million in debt.

Jackson’s videos have accumulated over 1 billion views so far this year.

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