Even when the glare of the spotlight finally dims, some stars stay bigger than life, and bigger than the majority of bank balances. Catalogs of music, merchandising, streaming royalties, and licensing contracts keep them remembered and their estates prosperous. Here’s a recap of the deceased legends whose bank accounts prospered the most in 2024, demonstrating that legacies are still highly lucrative long after the last curtain call.
13. Whitney Houston – $13 Million
Whitney’s voice is still indelible, and so is her earning potential. Her estate raked in $13 million this year, thanks to Whitney-branded slot machines bound for Vegas casinos. The slots will play her songs and include iconic video footage, sustaining her star power on the Strip. Pat Houston and Primary Wave Music continue to handle her brand and royalties.
12. Arnold Palmer – $14 Million
The golf great’s name will forever be associated with his legendary half-lemonade, half-iced tea concoction. More than 500 million cans of the beverage are sold annually, and the alcoholic rendition is now a best-seller in the United States. Due to these consistent sales, Palmer’s estate earned $14 million in 2024—testimony that his reach goes far past the fairway.
11. James Brown – $15 Million
The Godfather of Soul is dead and gone, but his estate continues to generate income. His estate raked in $15 million this year, thanks to proposals to make his South Carolina house into a museum. Now that Primary Wave is in as an investor, the estate is setting Brown up both as a cultural and financial giant for the next few years.
10. John Lennon – $17 Million
Lennon’s music continues to resonate across the globe. The release of Now and Then—a “new” song by the Beatles, produced using AI to restore his vocals—helped drive his estate’s revenues to $17 million. His widow, Yoko Ono,o and so, Julian and Sean keep his memory alive, running one of the richest catalogs in music history.
9. Matthew Perry – $18 Million
The Friends actor added this list after he died in 2023. His estate made $18 million, mostly due to Friends syndication royalties, which generate millions annually. His memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, also sold millions of copies. His charity now fights addiction recovery, which was one of his last wishes.
8. Charles M. Schulz – $30 Million
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts crew remain cultural icons. With new specials on Apple TV+, skyrocketing fame among Gen Z on TikTok, and a constant production of merchandise, Schulz’s estate earned $30 million. The Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California, also keeps his legacy alive for fans of all ages.
7. Bob Marley – $34 Million
The Marley brand continues to flourish through music, merchandising, and even pot products. The biopic Bob Marley: One Love re-sparked interest, and licensing agreements raked in $34 million for the estate in 2024. Marley’s children operate the estate, keeping his message and music alive decades on.
6. Prince – $35 Million
Paisley Park tours, licensing agreements, and catalog sales by Prince totaled $35 million this year. Although his estate has been bogged down in family conflicts since his passing, the deal with Primary Wave keeps his music and business vibrant. Fans continue to flock to commemorate his genius, demonstrating that the Purple One’s strength is eternal.
5. Ric Ocasek – $45 Million
The deceased leader of The Cars took a massive posthumous jump with Primary Wave’s purchase of a stake in his publishing, image, and likeness rights. That transaction alone returned $45 million to his estate, putting his heirs financially secure and his music heritage intact.
4. Elvis Presley – $50 Million
The King remains reigning in Memphis. Graceland attracted more than 600,000 visitors last year, generating $50 million in revenue for Presley’s estate. Even with recent family conflict, granddaughter Riley Keough now handles his legacy, keeping Elvis’s music and memorabilia alive for future generations of fans.
3. Dr. Seuss – $75 Million
Popular children’s writer Dr. Seuss remains amusingly popular, with his estate garnering $75 million this year. Aside from book sales, licensing agreements for theme parks, film, and merchandise guarantee his characters—The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat, and so on—stay part of the pop culture fabric.
2. Freddie Mercury – $250 Million
Queen’s iconic frontman came back to the list in a big way after the band sold its billion-dollar catalog to Sony. Mercury’s estate received approximately $250 million, which was shared among longtime friend Mary Austin and the remaining bandmates. His voice and image are as recognizable today as ever.
1. Michael Jackson – $600 Million
Nobody touches the King of Pop. Jackson’s estate took in $600 million this year, primarily from Sony’s record-breaking buyout of half of his music catalog. Include the profitability of MJ: The Musical and ancillary licensing agreements, and his posthumous take is unmatched. Posthumously, his estate has generated more than $3 billion, an empire that refuses to slow down.
From music to books to athletics, these legends demonstrate that influence doesn’t end at death. Their legacies still inspire, entertain, and, in many instances, bring in astronomical dollars. In 2024, these 13 legends reminded us that an enduring cultural legacy is worth more than words but, on occasion, also phenomenally lucrative.