NEW YORK – Twelve years after his death, Kurt Cobain is making millions upon millions. He’s even richer than the King.
Cobain, who raked in an estimated $50 million from October 2005 to October of this year, has edged Elvis Presley from the No. 1 spot on Forbes.com’s “Top-Earning Dead Celebrities” list.
Presley, who had sat atop the list each year since its debut in 2001, ranks second with earnings of $42 million. Presley died in 1977.
He’s followed by Charles M. Schulz, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), Ray Charles, Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Cash, J.R.R. Tolkien, George Harrison and Bob Marley.
Cobain, lead singer of grunge-rock band Nirvana, committed suicide in 1994. In March, his widow, rocker Courtney Love, sold 25 percent of Nirvana’s song catalog to Primary Wave Music Publishing.
Thanks to the deal, Cobain’s music will be heard on CBS’ “CSI: Miami,” Forbes said, and could also be used in commercials for eco-friendly products.
Forbes said the celebrities on the list collectively earned $247 million in the past year.
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