Michael Jackson is Forbes’ highest-earning dead celebrity

Michael Jackson seen in a February 16, 1997 file photo with Elizabeth Taylor in Los Angeles

Michael Jackson has been dead for more than eight years, but the King of Pop is still topping charts as Forbes’ highest-earning dead celebrity of 2017, the publication announced Monday.

Jackson’s estate earned more than $75 million this year — the fifth year in a row Jackson topped Forbes dead celebrity list. The lucrative year was boosted by an animated Halloween special on CBS, a new compilation album released last month and an ongoing Cirque de Soleil tribute show, among other business ventures.

The estate recently underwent a $1 billion turnaround, Billboard reported, going from $500 million in debt to $500 million in cash.

Other dead celebrities that made the top five on the Forbes list were Arnold Palmer, who died last year but still earned $40 million in 2017 through golf apparel and Arizona beverages; Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, who earned $38 million with MetLife using his characters in advertisements; Elvis Presley, who continues to attract fans to Graceland; and Bob Marley, whose estate has used his likeness on audio products and beverages.

Another dead celebrity to make the list is Albert Einstein at No. 10, whose estate earned $10 million from companies using his likeness on an array of products, including posters and tablets.