The great thing about being an international superstar is that you continue to be rich long after you're dead. Unsurprisingly, Michael Jackson has topped this year's list of highest earning dead celebrities with more than $100 million in earnings since last year.

Michael JacksonMichael Jackson is still a top earner

While his body might be no more, it's very clear that the King of Pop's spirit lives on; so much so that his estate has manage to rake in $115 million over the year according to Forbes list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities. Plus, his post-mortem earnings altogether have reached a staggering $1 billion, and he's close to doubling the amount he made during his solo career.

More: Read our review of Jackson's second post-humous album 'Xscape'

His incredible financial legacy has been documented in 'Michael Jackson, Inc.: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a Billion-Dollar Empire' by Zack O'Malley Greenburg; a book in which attorney Donald David admitted the fortune would set Jackson's children - Prince, Paris and Blanket - well up for the future. 'The cash flow on an annual basis is tremendous. Sure, it's going to decline eventually, but it's going to be a huge amount in the foreseeable future. [Jackson's] kids are going to have grandkids before that money's gone', he said.

Elvis Presley came in second from Jackson in the highest earning dead celebrity stakes, with 'Peanuts' creator Charles Schulz third (no doubt that was helped but the big screen adaptation of his well known cartoon), Bob Marley fourth and Elizabeth Taylor in fifth place.

More: Michael Jackson's father suffered a stroke earlier this year

Jackson, known for his many stellar hits including 'Beat It', 'Billie Jean' and 'Thriller', is still responsible for the best-selling album of all time and this year marks the fifth year he's become the highest earning dead celebrity. The superstar passed away at the age of 50 in his Los Angeles home in 2009, after overdosing on prescription medication. His doctor Conrad Murray was later charged with involuntary manslaughter.