He’s left the building to go to the bank
The King still wears the money crown.
Rock ‘n’ roll legend Elvis Presley, dead for more than 26 years, Friday led the Forbes.com list of top-earning deceased celebrities for the third year in a row, to the tune of $40 million for the year ending September 2003.
With perennial mega-hits like “Don’t be Cruel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “All Shook Up,” his “30 #1 Hits” CD has sold 9 million copies since being released in 2002, and a follow-up CD, “Elvis: 2nd to None,” is in the top 10 on Billboard’s album chart after coming out two weeks ago.
Runner-up on the list was Peanuts cartoon creator Charles M. Schulz, earning $32 million. Third at $22 million was writer J.R.R. Tolkien, whose “Lord of the Rings” books have been transformed on screen into a lucrative movie franchise.
Former Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison earned $19 million and $16 million, respectively, putting them fourth and fifth on the list, based on estate earnings.
