Jackson third on dead rich list

A film of Jackson rehearsing was premiered this week

Pop star Michael Jackson has been placed third in an annual list of top-earning dead celebrities compiled by Forbes magazine.

It said the star's estate had earned $90m (£54m) since his sudden death in June, aged 50.

French designer Yves Saint Laurent, who died last year, topped the list with estimated earnings of $350m (£213m).

In second place were Broadway legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, with $235m (£142m).

Expanding fortune

The songwriting duo penned the music and lyrics to shows including Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music.

TOP 10 DEAD CELEBRITY EARNERS 1. Yves Saint Laurent - $350m (£213m) 2. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein - $235m (£142m) 3. Michael Jackson - $90m (£54m) 4. Elvis Presley - $55m (£33m) 5. JRR Tolkien - $50m (£30m) 6. Charles Schulz - $35m (£21m) 7. John Lennon - $15m (£9m) 8. Theodor Geisel $15m (£9m) 9. Albert Einstein - $10m (£6m) 10. Michael Crichton - $9m (£5m) Source: Forbes magazine

The bulk of Jackson's earnings came from selling the rights to This Is It, a film based on rehearsal footage for what would have been his comeback concerts in London.

Forbes has estimated that this income was bumped up by the sale of about 9 million albums and 5.5 million digital downloads since his death.

At number four was Elvis Presley with $55 million (£33 million).

In fifth place was The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien, whose estate banked an estimated $50 million (£30 million).

But there was no place for Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Steve McQueen, who have all appeared on previous lists.