Pop icon Michael Jackson was at the top of Forbes Magazine's annual list of the top-earning dead celebrities, announced Monday. Jackson, who passed away on June 25th, 2009, has amassed $170 million in earnings over the past twelve months, a slight dropoff from the $275 million he generated last year, but still easily enough to top the list. In fact, Jackson's earnings over the past year were more than any livijng artist except U2, surpassing the earnings of huge acts like Lady Gaga, Eminem, Katy Perry and Jay-Z.
Elvis Presley, meanwhile, placed second on the dead celebrity list with $55 million in earnings, and Beatle John Lennon tied for fifth with $12 million generated.