No such thing as Passive Income? 50 DEAD people who'd disagree!

Travis Sago

Aug '24 • Licensing Lingo & Stories

If these folks could talk...

They might disagree with the idea that passive income is a myth like Big Foot:

Michael Jackson (died 2009) Earnings in 2022: $75 million. Sources: Music catalog, Cirque du Soleil show, merchandising.
Elvis Presley (died 1977) Earnings in 2022: $110 million. Sources: Graceland tourism, music royalties, licensing deals.
Charles Schulz (died 2000) Earnings in 2022: $100 million. Sources: Peanuts licensing, TV specials, merchandise.
Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel, died 1991) Earnings in 2022: $32 million. Sources: Book sales, TV and film adaptations, merchandise.
Bob Marley (died 1981) Earnings in 2022: $16 million. Sources: Music royalties, House of Marley products, merchandise.
John Lennon (died 1980) Earnings in 2022: $12 million. Sources: Beatles music catalog, solo work royalties.
Prince (died 2016) Earnings in 2022: $120 million. Sources: Music catalog sale, streaming royalties.
Marilyn Monroe (died 1962) Earnings in 2022: $8 million. Sources: Image licensing, merchandise, fragrance lines.
Albert Einstein (died 1955) Earnings in 2022: $10 million. Sources: Licensing of name and image for products and advertising.
David Bowie (died 2016) Earnings in 2022: $250 million. Sources: Catalog sale to Warner Chappell Music, ongoing royalties.
Whitney Houston (died 2012) Earnings in 2022: $55 million. Sources: Music catalog sale, hologram tour, biopic.
Kobe Bryant (died 2020) Earnings in 2022: $400 million. Sources: BodyArmor stake sale, Nike deal, book sales.
Freddie Mercury (died 1991) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $30 million. Sources: Queen music royalties, "Bohemian Rhapsody" biopic.
George Harrison (died 2001) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $25 million. Sources: Beatles catalog, solo work royalties.
Juice WRLD (died 2019) Earnings in 2022: $15 million. Sources: Music streaming, posthumous album releases.
Tupac Shakur (died 1996) Earnings in 2022: $11 million. Sources: Music royalties, merchandise, estate deals.
Charles M. Schulz (died 2000) Earnings in 2022: $100 million. Sources: Peanuts licensing, TV specials, merchandise.
Bing Crosby (died 1977) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $10-15 million. Sources: Music royalties, licensing of "White Christmas".
Roald Dahl (died 1990) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $20 million. Sources: Book sales, movie and theater adaptations.
Stan Lee (died 2018) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $10 million. Sources: Marvel comics and movie royalties.
Leonard Cohen (died 2016) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $5-10 million. Sources: Music royalties, licensing of "Hallelujah".
J.R.R. Tolkien (died 1973) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $500 million. Sources: Book sales, movie and TV adaptations.
Frank Sinatra (died 1998) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $5-10 million. Sources: Music royalties, licensing deals.
Bob Ross (died 1995) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $15-20 million. Sources: Merchandise, licensing deals, streaming revenue.
Jenni Rivera (died 2012) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $7 million. Sources: Music royalties, book sales, TV series.
Kurt Cobain (died 1994) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $8-10 million. Sources: Nirvana music royalties, merchandise.
Selena (died 1995) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $8 million. Sources: Music royalties, makeup line, Netflix series.
James Dean (died 1955) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $5-7 million. Sources: Image licensing, merchandise.
Bruce Lee (died 1973) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $7 million. Sources: Image licensing, merchandise, video games
Avicii (Tim Bergling, died 2018) Earnings in 2022: Estimated $5-10 million. Sources: Music royalties, posthumous album release.

Here are 20 more, but I couldn't find the royalty amounts:

Thomas Edison (died 1931) Inventions: Light bulb, phonograph, motion picture camera. Edison's patents continue to generate revenue for his estate.
Nikola Tesla (died 1943) Inventions: Alternating current (AC) electrical systems. His patents are still cited in modern electrical engineering.
George Washington Carver (died 1943) Inventions: Hundreds of peanut-based products. His estate continues to receive royalties from some of his innovations.
Stephanie Kwolek (died 2014) Invention: Kevlar Her estate benefits from ongoing Kevlar sales and applications
Alfred Nobel (died 1896) Invention: Dynamite His estate still benefits from dynamite patents and related technologies.
Ernie Davis (died 1963) Invention: Windshield wipers. His patent continues to generate royalties for his estate.
Marion Donovan (died 1998) Invention: Disposable diapers. Her estate continues to benefit from her diaper-related patents.
Philo Farnsworth (died 1971) Invention: Electronic television. His estate still receives royalties from TV-related patents.
Garrett Morgan (died 1963) Inventions: Traffic signal, gas mask. His estate continues to benefit from these safety inventions.
Ruth Handler (died 2002) Invention: Barbie doll. Her estate receives ongoing royalties from Barbie sales.
Percy Spencer (died 1970) Invention: Microwave oven His estate continues to benefit from microwave technology patents
Lonnie Johnson (still living, but included for significance) Invention: Super Soaker water gun Continues to receive royalties from Hasbro
Wilson Greatbatch (died 2011) Invention: The implantable cardiac pacemaker His estate benefits from ongoing pacemaker technology
Art Fry (still living, but included for significance) Invention: Post-it Notes Continues to receive royalties from 3M
Katharine Burr Blodgett (died 1979) Invention: Non-reflective glass Her estate benefits from ongoing use of this technology
Charles Goodyear (died 1860) Invention: Vulcanized rubber. His patents continue to influence modern rubber industry.
John Pemberton (died 1888) Invention: Coca-Cola formula. His estate received royalties for years after his death.
Frederick Banting (died 1941) Discovery: Insulin for diabetes treatment. His estate donated the patent, but it is still being recognized.
George Eastman (died 1932) Inventions: Roll film, Kodak camera. His estate continues to benefit from photography-related patents.
Leo Baekeland (died 1944) Invention: Bakelite (first synthetic plastic) His estate continued to benefit from plastic industry developments