Forbes has released its annual list of the highest-paid dead celebrities , with Friends star Matthew Perry joining the ranks of Freddie Mercury , Michael Jackson , and Whitney Houston . The business publication reports that estate deals and music catalogues are making the most money for dead celebrities . In August, a judge ruled that the $600 million United States sale of Jackson’s catalogue to Sony could go ahead, though his mother Katherine Jackson opposed the sale.
Revenue from MJ The Musical is also continuing to roll in, with the outlet estimating that Jackson has earned more than US$3.3 billion ($5.5b) in total since his death in 2009.
Mercury is also back on the list for the first time since 2020, thanks to Queen’s £ 1b ($2.1b) sale of their music catalogue to Sony this year, with the proceeds reportedly split between Mercury and living band members Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and Brian May..