• Tweet

Unfortunately, most of you guessed wrong

.

Michael Jackson - 74%

Whitney Houston - 6%

Elizabeth Taylor - 21%

.

The correct answer is Elizabeth Taylor who tops the list with $210 million.

When it comes to earnings, it’s hard to beat Michael Jackson. The pop singer, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, raked in more than any living artist in the past 12 months: $145 million.

But this year that wasn’t enough to get him to the top of our list of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities. Beating him to the No. 1 spot is his old friend Elizabeth Taylor. The estate of the glamorous actress, who was 79 when she passed away last year, earned a staggering $210 million last year.

The Social Networking Lives Of The Dead Celebrities Dorothy Pomerantz Dorothy Pomerantz Forbes Staff

The Recently Deceased Stars With The Biggest Earning Potential Dorothy Pomerantz Dorothy Pomerantz Forbes Staff

Video: The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities Dorothy Pomerantz Dorothy Pomerantz Forbes Staff

Michael Jackson's Personal Debts To Be Paid Off By Year's End Zack O'Malley Greenburg Zack O'Malley Greenburg Forbes Staff

Most of that money came from the record-breaking Christie’s auctions of the star’s jewelry, costumes and art work, which brought in $184 million. Every one of the 1,800 lots sold. The most expensive item was an 1889 Van Gogh painting that went for $16 million.

Then there’s her perfume, White Diamonds, which is one of the best selling perfumes around bringing in $75 million at retail in 2011, according to Euromonitor.

The rest of the money came from property sales and residuals from Taylor’s movies. After Cleopatra, the star smartly negotiated a 10% ownership stake in each of her films. Her estate also collects money from Around The World in 80 Days, which was produced by her husband, Michael Todd.

Information taken from www.forbes.com

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Tue May 21 08:03:36 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 2, 2012

sweetlady1st

Iv guessed right yipi...at some stage I thought MJ was the highest erning dead Celeb.

Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

Lord-Have-Mercy

Mgqumeni
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

Teegal

I knew i was right. Michael coudnt be remeber he still owing sum ppl out there. Read pp,l thats where knowledge is.
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

sh!tFaceSumsung

i got it wrong as well : thought MJ is the highest
ok enuf said : @sowetanlive when are u going to publish te results of sumsung washing machine competition
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

MommaC

:) Only knew the right answer because I overheard it on the radio a few days before.
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

Galfrend

got it right...coz i read it here 2 weeks back :)
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

MissBhakajuju

Hi Galfrend... unjani shlobo sam ??


Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

Galfrend

MissBhaka - Ngiright sthandwa unjan wena?
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

Ayobas

Eish, I thought it was Wako Jeco, bliksem me, this means, even Saturday's lotto I m gonna loose, rather not to play, but Up the Bhakhaniye Up, Down Siwelele sa Maspa
Report Abuse

Nov 2, 2012

MissBhakajuju

@ Galfrend

nam ndiphilile my Chomie... am in Midrand this morning, and its freezing lala.... hoooooo *shivering*




Report Abuse

Read all 16 comments