Michael Jackson, Inc: How the King of Pop Earned Over $700 Million Since His Death

In an exclusive look at his career earnings, Forbes details select earnings milestones and shows how the late King of Pop lives on. From the new book Michael Jackson, Inc.' by senior editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg. http://www.michaeljacksoninc.com

Michael Jackson, Inc.: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a Billion-Dollar Empire

Add up the earnings of Jay Z, Taylor Swift and Kanye West since 2009, and the total is $544 million. It’s an astounding sum, but Michael Jackson has earned more than all three—combined—since his death five years ago.

The King of Pop has pulled in over $700 million during that span, more than any artist dead or alive, and he shows no signs of slowing down. His latest postmortem release, Xscape, debuted at No. 2 on the charts in May; weeks later, a virtual Michael Jackson moonwalked across the stage at the Billboard Music Awards.

About the Author
Zack O’Malley Greenburg is a senior editor at Forbes and his work has also appeared in The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, Vibe, and McSweeney’s, among others. His first book, the Jay Z biography Empire State of Mind, was published in 2011. A child star, he played the title role in the film Lorenzo’s Oil. He lives in New York.





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