Michael Jackson vs Elvis Presley: Which estate earned more after their deaths?

American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson continues to generate more money than American singer and actor Elvis Presley decades after their deaths. With the success of a blockbuster biopic widening the gap between the two music legends in latest annual earnings ranking.

Jackson’s business interests generated an estimated $140 million in the 12 months ending September 30, 2026, compared with $75 million associated with Presley, as per Forbes’ 2026 ranking of the highest paid dead celebrities.

The figures measure pretax earnings generated by the artists’ business interests, including music, licensing and other income. They do not necessarily represent the amounts paid directly to family members or estate beneficiaries. Forbes also counts income generated by rights and businesses even when the beneficiaries no longer own or control them.

Michael Jackson’s earnings rise after the success of his biopic

Jackson’s latest earnings received a boost from Michael - the biographical film released in April 2026, the movie grossed more than $1 billion at the global box office.

The estate reportedly invested an estimated $25 million of its own money to fund reshoots during the film’s troubled production. Forbes estimates that the estate will eventually receive more than $50 million in profit participation from the movie over the next several years. That amount is a projection, not money already received in full.

The film’s success also helped drive interest in Jackson’s broader entertainment business. His music streaming, Cirque du Soleil’s 'Michael Jackson ONE' show in Las Vegas, productions of 'MJ: The Musical', international residencies, touring performances & brand licensing contributed to estimated $140 million total.

While Jackson died on June 25, 2009 at age 50, but his continued commercial success shows how his music and image remain valuable long after his death. Especially when new projects introduce his work to another generation of audiences.

Elvis Presley’s earnings come from Graceland, music and licensing

Presley generated an estimated $75 million over the same 12 month period, placing him fourth on the 2026 ranking. He died on August 16, 1977 at age 42, but his name continues to generate substantial commercial income.

Graceland, which was his former home in Memphis, Tennessee, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year even now. Licensed merchandise and music related business interests also contribute to the earnings associated with his legacy.

A hologram concert show planned for Las Vegas by the end of 2027 could provide another way to bring Presley’s music to audiences. However, the project’s anticipated debut does not mean it has already generated earnings included in the latest ranking.

Presley’s business interests also have a more complicated ownership structure than the term “estate” might suggest. Forbes reported in 2025 that his family held 15% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company associated with Graceland tourism, licensing and related interests. Authentic Brands Group controls the remaining stake & manages the business.

Consequently, the $75 million estimate shouldn't be interpreted as money that all goes directly to Presley’s family.

Michael Jackson vs Elvis Presley: Annual earnings compared

The latest ranking shows Jackson maintaining a substantial lead. The previous year’s figures also placed him ahead of Presley, although their reported earnings changed considerably in 2026.

The two rankings cover separate 12 month periods. As 2026 list calculates earnings from Oct 1 2025, to Sep 30 2026 and 2025 list covers Oct 1 2024 to Sep 30 2025.

The figures are estimates and even the methodology also changed between the two editions. Forbes’ 2025 ranking estimated earnings distributed to family members and other beneficiaries. Its 2026 methodology instead counts all pretax earnings generated by the celebrities’ business interests, regardless of whether beneficiaries still own or control the rights.

So that change is important when comparing the two years. While the figures show how much commercial activity is associated with each artist but they don't provide a direct measure of how much money their heirs received.

How much have Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley earned since their deaths

Jackson and Presley have generated billions of dollars through their music and related businesses but their cumulative earnings estimates cover different periods.

In its 2025 ranking, Forbes estimated that Jackson had generated $3.5 billion since his death in 2009. The same report said Presley had earned more than $1.2 billion during the 25 years Forbes had tracked posthumous celebrity earnings.

These totals shouldn't be treated as a direct, like for like comparison because the tracking periods differ. They also shouldn't be confused with the artists’ annual earnings or the proceeds from individual asset sales.

Jackson’s catalogue has been involved in two major transactions. His estate sold its stake in ATV music catalogue to Sony for $750 million in 2016 and in a separate deal in 2024, the estate sold Sony a 50% stake in Jackson’s master recordings & publishing rights for $600 million.

Who earns more today? Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley

Jackson leads the latest annual comparison, with an estimated $140 million against Presley’s $75 million. The success of Michael helped boost earnings across Jackson’s entertainment businesses, while Presley continues to generate substantial income through Graceland, licensing and music related interests.

The cumulative figures also highlight the commercial reach of both artists, although the different tracking periods prevent a direct comparison of their lifetime posthumous earnings.