Michael Jackson Tops Highest Earning Dead Celebs List

King of Pop earned $170m last year

While he's been dead for two years and the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray drags on in the media, Michael Jackson has still managed to make money in his eternal sleep.

According to Forbes Magazine Jackson is the highest earning dead celebrity right now. Jackson, via album sales and other streams, generated $170 million in revenue over the last year. Forbes also reports that MJ could make even more money next year after the profits from Cirque du Soleil's "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" are tallied up.

Jackson trumped the earnings of second placer Elvis Presley who still raked in $55 million almost 35 years after his death. 

While there were plenty more of pop culture's favorite faces in the top 15 there was only one other brown face in the bunch. Jimi Hendrix, powered by HP's use of his music in recent commercials, raked in $7 million.

No, 2Pac was not on the list. He's still alive, silly.