David Bowie and Prince new entries on Forbes dead celebrity list

  • Published
David Bowie and PrinceImage source, Reuters/Getty Images
Image caption,

Bowie died on 10 January 2016, while Prince was found dead on 21 April

David Bowie and Prince are new entries in the latest list of top-earning dead celebrities to be compiled by Forbes.

Prince's pre-tax income from 1 October 2015 to 1 October 2016 is estimated at $25m (£20.5m) by the business magazine, putting him fifth in the list.

Bowie, meanwhile, is ranked at 11th for an estimated income of $10.5m (£8.5m).

Both, however, are dwarfed by pop star Michael Jackson, who tops the list once again with a record-breaking estimated income of $825m (£672.8m).

The figure, said Forbes, was "the most any celebrity has ever earned in a single year" - a result of his half of a music publishing catalogue being sold for $750m (£611m).

Image caption,

There are 11 men and only two women in Forbes' list of top-earning dead celebrities

Jackson held a 50% stake in Sony ATV Music Publishing - famous for its library of Beatles tunes - as part of a business partnership that began in 1995.

Peanuts creator Charles M Schulz climbs one place on last year's list to second place with estimated 2015-2016 earnings of $48m (£39m).

US golfer Arnold Palmer, who died last month aged 87, enters the chart at three with estimated earnings of $40m (£32.6m).

Bowie died of cancer in January at the age of 69, while Prince was found dead on 21 April at the age of 57.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, external, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, external, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk, external.

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.