LEGENDARY POP SINGER Michael Jackson has been named as the top earning dead celebrity in a list from Forbes.

The Forbes list of the 13 highest grossing dead celebrities for 2017 puts Jackson in at number one with earnings of $75 million for the period of 15 October, 2016 through 15 October, 2017.

The singer and performer’s post-mortem empire has topped the list for the fifth year in a row, with a CBS Halloween special and new album Scream helping the estate rake in the cash.

Jackson died on 25 June 2009.

Following Jackson in to number 2 is golf legend Arnold Palmer raking in $40 million just a year after his death. A large number of retail stores still stock Palmer’s line of goods.

At number 3 is the creator of the popular Peanuts cartoon and comic strip Charles Schulz with an income of $38 million.

Following the King of Pop in at number four is King of Rock N’ Roll Elvis Presley, with $35 million in earnings.

The full list is as follows:

1. Michael Jackson ($75 million)
2. Arnold Palmer ($40 million)
3. Charles Schulz $38 million)
4. Elvis Presley (€35 million)
5. Bob Marley ($23 million)
6. Tom Petty ($20 million)
7. Prince ($18 million)
8. Dr Seuss ($16 million)
9. John Lennon ($12 million)
10. Albert Einstein ($10 million)
11. David Bowie ($9.5 million)
12. Elizabeth Taylor ($8 million)
13. Bettie Paige ($7.5million)

While Jackson came in well on top, the singer’s earnings paled in comparison with his $825 million haul last year, the highest annual total for any entertainer dead or alive.

This was mostly as a result of the sale of his half of the Sony/ATV catalogue.

Read: Emma Stone is the world’s highest-paid actress

Read: Rory McIlroy up to sixth highest-paid athlete in world after successful year on and off course