WorldTop StoryTop StoryLatest News
Quincy Jones' Estate Tops Forbes' 2026 Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities List
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
Quincy Jones' estate earned an estimated $150 million in 2026, largely from selling music rights to HarbourView. This places it ahead of Michael Jackson's estate, which earned $140 million.
Key points
- Quincy Jones died in November 2024 at age 91 from pancreatic cancer.
- His estate's earnings were driven by a $150 million sale of music rights to HarbourView in March 2026.
- Michael Jackson's estate ranked second with earnings of $140 million, boosted by a successful biopic.
- Jones's estate includes rights to his personal catalogue and works with major artists like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra.
- The Forbes list measures earnings from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
Key insights
- The sale of Jones's music rights demonstrates how creative assets can generate significant revenue posthumously.
- Michael Jackson's estate's earnings show how a successful film can enhance a deceased artist's brand.
- The ranking reflects a growing trend of celebrity estates operating like media companies.
Why it matters
The earnings from Quincy Jones' estate highlight the lasting financial value of creative ownership.
Tags
Entities
Quincy Jones· PersonMichael Jackson· PersonForbes· OrganizationHarbourView· Company
Source
Times of India
