Forbes' Dead Celebrities 2009

This is a Spatagram favorite, Forbes' List ripped from the LA Times:



It's that time of year, when Forbes magazine releases its annual list of top-earning dead celebrities. You might think Michael Jackson would top the list, since his estate has opened the floodgates with music and a film, "This Is It," to satisfy consumer demand for all things MJ in the wake of his unexpected death in June.
But no, holding on to the No.1 spot is French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Laurent died of brain cancer at age 71 in June 2008. Boosted by the auction of much of his estate at Christie's in February, more than $350 million has been raked in during the last 12 months, Forbes reported.
Coming in No. 2 is the team of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, the duo responsible for such Broadway and movie musicals as "South Pacific," "The King and I," "The Sound of Music," "Carousel" and "Oklahoma!" Rodgers died in 1979 and Hammerstein in 1960, but they still combined to earn $235 million in the last year.
Then Jackson shows up at No. 3 with $90 million.
The rest of the list, according to Forbes:

4. Elvis Presley, $55 million.

5. J.R.R. Tolkien, $50 million.

6. Charles Schulz, $35 million.

7. John Lennon, $15 million.

8. Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), $15 million.

9. Albert Einstein, $10 million.

10. Michael Crichton, $9 million.

The full Forbes coverage is here.
-- Claire Noland

Gaps on so many levels, part two (boo)

Can you dig this? The annual Forbes' Most Successful Dead Celebrities List. Spatagram brought you last years list with Curt Kobain topping the list. Truth be told and books be sold, that was only because his crazed widow had sold off a good part of his catalogue to incredible wealth. I really dig that there are thirteen participants. Well, I think we know who the true King of the Underworld is.........

1. Elvis Presley (£29m)

2. John Lennon (£22m)

3. Charles M. Schulz (£17.5m)

4. George Harrison (£11m)

5. Albert Einstein (£9m)

6. Andy Warhol (£7.5m)

7. Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) (£7.5m)

8. Tupac Shakur (£4.5m)

9. Marilyn Monroe (£3.5m)

10. Steve McQueen (£3m)

11. James Brown (£2.5m)

12. Bob Marley (£2m)

13. James Dean (£1.7m)

Gaps on so many levels.

Certain things you can count on in Halloween season; orange & black color schemes, revenge scenarios, kids in sugar comas, politics and dancing. Oh, and of course the annual Most-successful Dead Celebrities list. The spiritual tide has turned and a new generation's deadhero has made the here and now comfy for their heirs. Kurt Cobain's new Nirvana has him sitting pretty. Smells like teen spirit, and how.

Top 10 'rich dead' list

1 Kurt Cobain ($50m - £26.3m)

2 Elvis Presley ($42m - £22.1m)

3 Charles Schulz ($35m - £18.4m)

4 John Lennon ($24m - £12.6m)

5 Albert Einstein ($20m - £10.5m)

6 Andy Warhol ($19m - £10m)

7 Dr Seuss/Theodor Geisel ($10ms - £5.3m)

8 Ray Charles ($10m - £5.3m)

9 Marilyn Monroe ($8m - £4.2m)

10 Johnny Cash ($8m - £4.2m)

The list is compiled as a parody on the Forbes 400 and issued same time every year.
Boo!