For the second straight year, the late pop music legend Michael Jackson earned more money than any other dead celebrity.

Forbes magazine, which keeps track of such things, says Jackson is estimated to have earned $170 million over the past year. Most of that money was earned in sales of music albums and memorabilia.

Another music legend, Elvis Presley, was in second place on the list of top-earning dead celebrities. Presley made $55 million from the sale of music and a hit stage production in Las Vegas by the renowned Cirque de Soleil, featuring his songs.

Hollywood movie icon Marilyn Monroe was next in line, earning $27 million over the past year.

Rounding out the top five spots were Peanuts cartoon creator Charles Schulz, who was fourth on the list. Iconic Beatles singer John Lennon was tied with another Hollywood movie legend, Elizabeth Taylor, for fifth place.

The Forbes list takes into account any deceased celebrity who earned at least $6 million between October 2010 and October 2011.

Michael Jackson has rarely been out of the news since his death in 2009 at age 50 from a drug overdose.

Jackson's take of $170 million also makes him the second highest-earning pop music act of this past year, dead or alive. Only the Irish rock band U2 earned more.
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