kobe bryant

A court case brought by Kobe Bryant’s widow over graphic photographs taken at the site of the helicopter crash that killed him, has begun. Photo: Getty Images

Highest-paid dead celebrities of 2022

For the first time ever, the top five highest-paid dead celebrities have all raked in $100m or more in a calendar year.

kobe bryant

A court case brought by Kobe Bryant’s widow over graphic photographs taken at the site of the helicopter crash that killed him, has begun. Photo: Getty Images

Even dead celebrities are raking in the cash this year, with the top five all earning sums in excess of $100m (R1.836bn).

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According to Forbes:

“The 13 departed artists, athletes and entertainers on this year’s Forbes list of the top-earning dead celebrities earned a record $1.6 billion, making it a 72% increase over last year’s total. It’s by far the biggest 12-month haul since we started tracking graveyard earnings in 2001 – and, for the first time ever, the top five made more than $100 million each.”

dead celebrities
J.R.R Tolkien is the richest of many dead celebrities. Image: Vox

According to Forbes, legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien, who penned the iconic The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, is at the top of the pile. He earned $500 million from the sale of Middle-Earth Enterprises, which handles intellectual property rights for motion pictures, videogames, merchandise, and more to Swedish gaming company Embracer in August.

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Following close behind him in 2022 was basketball legend Kobe Bryant with $400 million from his estate’s sale of his stake in the BodyArmor sports drink company to Coca-Cola. It’s the largest acquisition in the soft drink firm’s history.

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Highest earning dead celebrities in 2022

  • $500m – J.R.R. Tolkien
  • $400m – Kobe Bryant
  • $250m – David Bowie
  • $110m – Elvis Presley
  • $100m – James Brown

Michael Jackson, Leonard Cohen, Dr. Seuss, Jeff Porcaro and Charles Schulz round out the top 10 for 2022.

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