1. J.R.R. Tolkien
The British author died of pneumonia at the age of 82. Almost half a century has passed since his death. However, J. R. R. Tolkien's literary masterpieces still bring enormous income. In 2022, Tolkien’s heirs earned $500 million from the sale of the intellectual property rights to Swedish video game manufacturer Embracer. In August, it bought Middle-Earth Enterprises, which handled intellectual property rights for motion pictures, videogames, and merchandise for the LOTR and the Hobbit.
2. Kobe Bryant
The 5-time NBA champion tragically died 2 years ago in a plane crash. The Los Angeles Lakers star was only 41 years old.The basketball legend had a big stake in the BodyArmor sports drink. Last year, Coca-Cola agreed to acquire BodyArmor. Bryant’s family earned $400 million from the sale of his stake in BodyArmor to Coca-Cola.
3. David Bowie
The British rock star died of liver cancer in 2016 at the age of 69. David Bowie left a rich musical legacy, which many publishing companies dreamed of getting under their control until recently. This year, David Bowie's estate sold the publishing rights to all his songs to Warner Chappell Music. The deal was worth $250 million.
4. Elvis Presley
The "King of Rock 'n' Roll," Elvis Presley died of a heart attack on August 16, 1977. Despite the fact that 45 years have passed since his death, his star shines as bright as in the days of his glory. The King benefited handsomely from tourists visiting his Graceland mansion and resort. Approximately $80 million of Presley’s earnings came from tour tickets, shows, and merch. Over the year, the estate made a profit of $110 million.
5. James Brown
James Brown, also known as the Godfather of Soul, died in 2006 at the age of 73. The dispute over the inheritance has been going on for more than 15 years. James Brown left only part of his fortune to his family. He set aside the majority of his assets to create scholarships for children in need. However, his heirs tried to contest the will. The battle over James Brown’s estate was resolved last year. The heirs reached a settlement agreement. They sold the estate owned by the singer and the rights to his songs to Primary Wave Music. The music label paid $100 million and promised to fulfill the last will of James Brown, associated with the charity.
6. Michael Jackson
The pop king died of a fatal overdose at the age of 51. Despite this, his income keeps growing, bringing high returns to his family. This year, his heirs earned more than $75 million thanks to MJ's personal record label, which owns the rights to his songs. There was also a new cash cow - MJ The Musical on Broadway and Cirque du Soleil, a jukebox retelling of Jackson’s story. This musical brought solid profits to the singer's heirs.
7. Leonard Cohen
The Canadian bard passed away in 2016 at the age of 82. Released just weeks before his death, Cohen's 14th studio album, You Want It Darker, was warmly received by critics. They called it a late-period masterpiece. In the spring of this year, all songs written by Leonard Cohen were acquired by Hipgnosis Song Management. For 278 songs and their derivatives, including Hallelujah, the company paid $55 billion.
8. Dr. Seuss
Theodore Seuss Geisel is widely known under the pseudonym - Dr. Seuss. He is one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century. He published more than 60 books for children and sold over 700 million copies globally. More than 30 years have passed since his death. However, his family still receives large incomes from the sale of books and merchandise, e.g. themed souvenirs, as well as from the film adaptation. This year, his heirs earned more than $30 million.
9. Jeff Porcaro
The name of this American virtuoso drummer is widely known among musicians. In the 1980s, he played in Toto. Jeff was also considered one of the most sought-after session drummers in the industry. He collaborated with such stars as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and many others. His life ended in 1992. He died of a heart attack. Even 30 years after the musician's death, his heirs continue to generate solid income by selling the rights to the records of his performances. Last year, his earnings reached $25 million.
10. Charles Schulz
The American cartoonist passed away in 2000 at the age of 77. The greatest legacy left by Charles Schulz is Peanuts comics, narrating the adventures of Charlie Brown and his friends. Schultz has been working on the creation of this series for more than 50 years. Many of his works have been animated. These cartoons have become classics of American animation. However, they will no longer be airing on free broadcast TV after Apple TV snapped up the rights for their paid streaming service. The deal was estimated at $20 million.
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