QandAs: Buzz

Who are the top earning dead celebrities?

Answer:

Believe it or not, the estate of grunge rocker Kurt Cobain tops the list of top earners. In fact, in the most recent analysis by Fortune magazine, the Nirvana guitarist's estate brought in $50 million during the last year, which beats the combined earnings during the same time period for the estates of Elvis Presley ($42 million) and Marilyn Monroe ($8 million).

Cobain committed suicide in April 1994 at the height of Nirvana's popularity, and dying young apparently has its perks. Thirty years after he died of a heart attack, Elvis is next on the list with $42 million. You don't have be a rocker to top the list of top earners among dead celebs, however. Cartoonist Charles M. Schultz was known the world over as the cartoonist who brought us The Peanuts. Schultz died of cancer in 2000. In the last 12 months his estate earned $35 million.

Former Beatle John Lennon was gunned down in 1980 outside his New York apartment, but his earning potential lives on. The estate earned $24 million during the past year.

Scientist Albert Einstein is next on the list with an estate that in the last year brought in $20 million. Does this the Einstein bobblehead doll is a hot seller? It seems so.

Artist Andy Warhol has been gone for 20 years now, but as they say, the artist's work is rarely as appreciated as in death. Warhol enjoyed some popularity while alive, but the estate is stronger than ever now, having earned $19 million in the last year.

Here's a look at the other top earning estates of dead celebrities:

- Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) - $10 million
- Ray Charles - $10 million
- Marilyn Monroe - $8 million
- Johnny Cash - $8 million
- J.R.R. Tolkien - $7 million
- George Harrison - $7 million
- Bob Marley - $7 million