In it's most recent list of top celebrity earners, Forbes has named Michael Jackson as the highest earning dead celebrity of the last year. With his estate earning an estimated $160 million between October 2012 and June 2013, not only is Michael the top earning dead celebrity, but the top earning celebrity in general.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson tops the list once again

Michael's earnings over the last year amount to $35 million more than the top-placed living celebrity, Madonna, who Forbes estimates earned $125 million between 2012 and 2013. As reported by Forbes, this marks the "third time in the past five years" that a dead celebrity has been crowned the highest earner of the year. How appropriate for a list that is released just before Halloween.

Michael's earning have come from an array of different sources, including two Cirque du Soleil shows performing his hits - one that tours and another that has a residency at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. His other earnings come from his half of the Sony/ATV song catalog, which include a number of his hits and some songs that he still holds the rights to. His estate could have earned even more, had the wrongful death case against concert promoters AEG Live been a success. The concert promoters were taken to court by Michael's mother and children, who demanded an enormous sum for the death of Michael.

Joining Michael on the list of top earners from the grave include the ever popular and ever marketable Elvis Presley, who made $55 million last year, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz ($37 million), actress and MJ's pal Elizabeth Taylor ($25 million) and Bob Marley ($18 million).

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley joins Michael on the list

Michael Jackson This Is It
The King of Pop continues to produce a huge income