In the time since Michael Jackson died suddenly in 2009, the financial story that played out has been nothing short of a thriller. The King of Pop has earned more than $1 billion before taxes since then, enough to pay off his personal debts and then some. This year Jackson again leads our Halloween-spooky list of the 13 top-earning dead celebrities, pulling in $115 million over the past year. The main drivers of his afterlife fortune: Vegas Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson One, the Mijac Music catalogue, recorded music sales and half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.

Top-earning dead celebs of 2015:

1. Michael Jackson - $115M (7th year at #1 with >$100M)
2. Elvis Presley - $55M
3. Charles Schulz - $40M (Peanuts creator)
4. Bob Marley - $21M
5. Liz Taylor - $20M

King's earnings adjusted for inflation are now at $3 billion.

Originally posted by dhovardhega The fact that those dead celebs earned more than most of alive celebs

Originally posted by TYE where does the money go? Their family?

Blanket. (That is her name, right? Or is it Lourdes?) I always mix up the children.

Originally posted by EdgeOfAddiction Blanket. (That is her name, right? Or is it Lourdes?) I always mix up the children.

Originally posted by Buyonce1814 . Can I put this in my sig?

Omg. Blanket is from South Park. DECEIVED! and Lourdes is Madonnams girl.

Michael Jackson, Jr., Paris Jackson and Prince Jackson are the kids.

Originally posted by EdgeOfAddiction Omg. Blanket is from South Park. DECEIVED! and Lourdes is Madonnams girl. Michael Jackson, Jr., Paris Jackson and Prince Jackson are the kids.