Kurt Cobain - $50M

Some of the celebs on the list are icons, like Elvis, and their earning power continues at a steady place. Others, like musicians and actors, depend on how their estates have been managing things. A freshly printed "greatest hits" album could get them back on top, while in an off year they might not even come close to the $7 million or so needed to be considered a top earner.

1. Kurt Cobain - $50M
2. Elvis Presley - $42M
3. Charles M. Schulz - $35M
4. John Lennon - $24M
5. Albert Einstein - $20M
6. Andy Warhol - $19M
7. Dr. Seuss - $10M
8. Ray Charles - $10M
9. Marilyn Monroe - $8M
10. Johnny Cash - $8M
11. J.R.R Tolkien - $7M
12. George Harrison - $7M
13. Bob Marley - $7M

By Forbes via Luxist