Dead still making a killing

NEW YORK: Rock'n'roll legend Elvis Presley has ceded his crown to Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain on the Forbes list of top-earning dead celebrities.

Cobain, who killed himself in 1994, earned $US50 million ($66.2 million) in the year to October 1.

The King earned a mere $US42 million, down from last year's $US45 million. Forbes.com bases its dollar amounts on licensing deals for using the dead celebrities' work or image in advertising or elsewhere.

This was Cobain's first time on the list. Presley had ruled the roost since the list's inception six years ago, said Forbes.com staff writer Lacey Rose.

Cobain's coup was due to his widow, actress and singer Courtney Love, who sold a 25per cent stake in the Seattle grunge group's song catalogue to New York music publishing company PrimeWave.
Ranked after Presley is Peanuts cartoon strip creator Charles Schulz, who earned $US35 million.
Rounding out the top five are ex-Beatle John Lennon at $US24million and physicist Albert Einstein at $US20 million.

Einstein's estate profited from licensing deals for educational videos.
Others on the list include Theodore Geisel, better known as children's book author Dr Seuss; rhythm and blues pioneer Ray Charles; silver screen legend Marilyn Monroe; and reggae superstar Bob Marley.