12 People Who Died Rich and Only Got Richer After That

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12 People Who Died Rich and Only Got Richer After That

The passive income that just keeps giving! Years (sometimes decades) after an artist has passed away, their work is still enjoyed by millions of people around the world. And, if they or the people around them were half-decent in the business realm, that can equate to a metric ton of money. The word “estate” has a regal vibe, doesn’t it? We can’t help but read it in a Jeeves-style voice, or maybe as a yacht rock radio DJ. It’s not only the realm of their mansion, guest houses, and “grounds” (ooh, fancy), it’s an overall financial hub that can grow long after they die.

After the rich and powerful kick the rich and powerful bucket, the lucky sons of bitches who were named beneficiaries will most likely see a spike in royalties right off the hop. Because when we hear that a beloved artist has passed, we wanna give their hits a once over while we pour one out. After that, whatever revenue streams they had in place are luckily still flowing into the afterlife. And for some, those post-mortem numbers are just staggering. Here are 12 people who died rich and kept getting a whole lot richer… From beyond the grave.

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Time to clean out the attic.

CRACKED DAVID BOWIE'S HITS FOUND A NEW HOME. In 2022, his estate sold his global music publishing rights to Warner Chappell Music for over $250 million. The sale included songs like Starman, Heroes and Ziggy Stardust.

LA Times 

The new millennium has been kind to the King.

CRACKED ELVIS EARNED ALMOST $1 BILLION SINCE THE YEAR 2000. At the time of his death in 1977, Elvis Presley's net worth was around $5 million, but his estate has earned roughly $924 million in the 21st century so far. His albums continue to sell, and Graceland alone brings in over $10 million per year.

Parade

Six decades later, Beatlemania is still raging.

CRACKED JOHN LENNON PAVED ABBEY ROAD IN GOLD. Не died in 1980, but his estate has generated at least $346 million from 2001 to 2021 alone, thanks to royalties, merchandise, licensing fees, and more.

Newsweek / Rock Hall 

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