Quincy Jones’ Estate Tops Forbes’ List of Highest-Earning Dead Celebrities at $150 Million, Ahead of Michael Jackson’s $140 Million

Michael Jackson did not finish first this year. Forbes’ 2026 ranking of the highest-earning dead celebrities puts the estate of Quincy Jones on top at $150 million, ahead of Jackson’s estate at $140 million, according to the Forbes list.

Forbes called it only the fourth time since Jackson’s death in 2009 that anyone else has topped the list. The figures cover pretax earnings from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026, and do not subtract fees paid to agents, managers or lawyers.

Forbes says it drew on Luminate data and industry interviews. It credits each celebrity with all the money generated by sales, streams, licensing and estate deals in that window, whether or not beneficiaries still control the rights.

A March sale put Quincy Jones at No. 1

Most of Jones’ total comes from one transaction. In March, his estate sold most of its interests in his assets, personal catalog and publishing rights to HarbourView Equity Partners, including songs such as “Soul Bossa Nova,” according to Forbes. Forbes estimates the deal at about $150 million.

HarbourView describes itself as a multi-strategy investment firm focused on entertainment and media, and its website lists a March 11, 2026, Business Wire release about the firm and the Quincy Jones Estate. Jones died in late 2024 at age 91, according to Forbes’ Australian edition.

The sale price got a lift from Jackson. Jones holds 10% producer royalties on Jackson’s first three solo albums, and Forbes says those payments rose sharply after the biopic “Michael” became a hit. Industry insiders told Forbes the estate got a premium because of Jones’ reputation.

EURweb’s summary of the list adds that the albums in question are “Off the Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad,” which Forbes says make up more than two-thirds of Jackson’s yearly global streams. The same catalog that feeds Jackson’s total therefore helped lift Jones above him.

Why Jackson’s estate still earned $140 million

Jackson’s estate took in an estimated $140 million over the same 12 months. Forbes lists music streaming, a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, several productions of “MJ: The Musical,” and a brand licensing business as the sources. The official Michael Jackson website lists the musical and the Cirque show under its ticket links.

The biopic is the newest piece. According to EURweb’s summary of the list, “Michael,” starring Jaafar Jackson, opened in April 2026 and has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. Forbes reports that the estate spent an estimated $25 million of its own money on reshoots.

Forbes estimates the estate’s share at about 25% of net profits, which it puts at more than $50 million over several years. That money is not all counted in this year’s $140 million. Together, the top two estates account for $290 million of the ranking.

From Dr. Seuss to Prince: the middle of the ranking

Dr. Seuss ranks third at $80 million, according to Forbes, which pointed to a new travel agency concept and the posthumous book “Sing the 50 States!” Elvis Presley follows at $75 million, with a Las Vegas hologram show planned for 2027.

Bob Marley is sixth at $25 million, although his Las Vegas show went on hiatus in January and did not return. Prince is seventh at $24 million, helped by the album “Timeless,” which reached Billboard’s top 10 on the album sales chart.

Dolly Parton enters at No. 5 with $46 million

Dolly Parton debuts at fifth place at $46 million, and Forbes calls her a newcomer to the list. The magazine lists her death as Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80.

Most of her total comes from theme parks. Forbes says her estate owns half of Dollywood and its neighboring Splash Country water park, and reports that Dollywood drew 3.4 million visitors in 2025, up 8%, while Splash Country drew 390,000. The Dollywood website shows both parks in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, though it does not say who owns them. Forbes expects the estate’s earnings to rise next year.

The bottom of the list: Keaton, Lennon and Harrison

Diane Keaton ranks eighth at $22 million. Forbes credits the sale of her Brentwood home for $18 million and a memorabilia auction that brought $4.2 million before fees. John Lennon is ninth at $18 million, with Apple Corps licensing rising to nearly $10 million and Lennon set to be portrayed in planned Beatles films.

George Harrison is tenth at $15 million, and his Harrisongs catalog remains under family ownership. Forbes’ fuller list runs to 13 names, adding Jimmy Buffett at $15 million, Kobe Bryant at $14 million and Arnold Palmer at $13 million.

Buffett’s estate is the one with an open question: Forbes says control of it is disputed, with a trial scheduled for January. Bryant’s total rose on sneaker sales after a Knicks player wore a Kobe 6 during a title run.

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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.

Image: Dietmar Rabich – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons