Sifter

The following lists the top deceased wage-earners in America for 2004, according to Forbes Magazine. For songwriters, the money rolls in via worldwide royalties—their estates get money every time one of their songs is played on Viacom’s Infinity Broadcasting, sold on a CD, used in a film or covered by a singer. Others, like Marilyn Monroe, make their post-mortem money through the marketing of their image. Here are last year’s top-10 most successful dead people.

Name job earnings date of death age

1. Elvis Presley The King $40 million Aug. 16, 1977 42

2. Charles Schultz cartoonist $35 million Feb. 12, 2000 77

3. J.R.R. Tolkien author $23 million Sept. 2, 1973 81

4. John Lennon Beatle $21 million Dec. 8, 1980 40

5. Theodor Geisel Dr. Suess $18 million Sept. 24, 1991 87

6. Marilyn Monroe actress $8 million Aug. 5, 1962 36

7. George Harrison Beatle $7 million Nov. 29, 2001 58

8. Irving Berlin songwriter $7 million Sept. 22, 1989 101

9. Bob Marley Rasta prophet $7 million May 11, 1981 36

10. Richard Rogers songwriter $6.5 million Dec. 30, 1979 77