The late pop icon Michael Jackson has once again proven his enduring commercial power, topping Forbes magazine’s 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid deceased celebrities with an estimated $105 million in pre-tax earnings.
The King of Pop’s latest financial triumph stems largely from a landmark deal between his estate and Sony Music, in which a 50 percent stake in his master recordings and publishing catalog was sold for an astonishing $600 million.
Since Jackson’s passing in 2009, his estate has amassed more than $3.5 billion, cementing his status as the most financially successful celebrity in death.
His Broadway production MJ: The Musical has grossed nearly $300 million worldwide, while the Las Vegas show Michael Jackson ONE surpassed 5,000 performances this year.
