Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

According to Forbes Dr. Seuss and Charles Schulz are in the top 10 dead celebrities in the year 2009. The estates don’t seem to be losing steam at all, the wealth of movie deals and merchandising will keep these cartoon icons alive for many more years to come. For more than 50 years the parallel of these two household cartoonists will garner many more generations to the all ages properties. The family friendly content has a universal appeal and crosses over easily to other venues. Dr. Seuss books are timeless and Peanuts with characters that have symbiotic attachments to individuals and culture with that warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgic youth.

Forbes.com’s top ten Top-Earning Dead Celebrities:

1. Yves Saint Laurent – $350 million

2. Rodgers and Hammerstein – $235 million

3. Michael Jackson – $90 million

4. Elvis Presley – $55 million

5. J.R.R. Tolkein – $50 million

6. Charles Schulz – $35 million

7. John Lennon – $15 million

7. Dr. Seuss – $15 million

9. Albert Einstein – $10 million

10. Michael Crichton – $9 million