Kobe Bryant and Juice WRLD join Michael Jackson on Forbes list of highest-earning dead celebrities

Nancy Dillon

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and musician Juice WRLD died too soon over the last year and have since joined Michael Jackson on Forbes' annual list of highest-earning dead celebrities.

The new list, published Friday, said Bryant earned $20 million to take the No. 6 spot following his tragic death in the Jan. 26 helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

In this March 5, 2009 photo, US singer Michael Jackson announces that he is set to play ten live concerts at the London O2 Arena in July, which he announced at a press conference at the London O2 Arena.
In this March 5, 2009 photo, US singer Michael Jackson announces that he is set to play ten live concerts at the London O2 Arena in July, which he announced at a press conference at the London O2 Arena.


In this March 5, 2009 photo, US singer Michael Jackson announces that he is set to play ten live concerts at the London O2 Arena in July, which he announced at a press conference at the London O2 Arena. (Joel Ryan/)

Forbes said Bryant-related Nike merchandise sold out in the wake of his shocking death and fans also purchased 300,000 copies of his autobiography.

Juice WRLD, meanwhile, landed in the No. 7 spot with $15 million after his Dec. 8 overdose death.

The estate of the 21-year-old rapping prodigy saw a spike in streaming demand for his music, including his monster hit “Lucid Dreams” and his posthumous album “Legends Never Die,” which topped the Billboard charts.

In this April 13, 2016 photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant smiles during the first half of his last NBA basketball game, against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles.
In this April 13, 2016 photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant smiles during the first half of his last NBA basketball game, against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles.


In this April 13, 2016 photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant smiles during the first half of his last NBA basketball game, against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong/)

Jackson topped the list yet again, with his estate generating an estimated $48 million after his 2009 death from an accidental overdose of propofol.

Forbes said even with the release of the damning documentary “Leaving Neverland" last year, the King of Pop’s estate kept its crown thanks to earnings from its valuable Mijac Music catalog.

Juice WRLD is earning money posthumously.
Juice WRLD is earning money posthumously.


Juice WRLD is earning money posthumously. (Charles Sykes/)

The magazine awarded the No. 2 spot on the list to the estate of children’s book author Dr. Seuss, saying it bagged an estimated $33 million thanks to robust book sales and seven-figure TV and film deals.

The estate of “Peanuts” author Charles M. Shulz was ranked third after making $32.5 million from classics like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the new Apple TV+ series, “Snoopy in Space.”

The estates of golfer Arnold Palmer (No. 4), Elvis Presley (No. 5), Bob Marley (No. 8), John Lennon (No. 9), Prince (No. 10), Freddie Mercury (No. 11), George Harrison (No. 12) and Marilyn Monroe (No. 13) rounded out the Forbes list.

Advertisement