Dead, But Still Worth Millions

Elvis Presley is No. 1 on Forbes.com's list of top-earning deceased celebrities for the third consecutive year, earning an estimated $40 million.

"Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schulz is No. 2, earning $32 million, followed by writer J.R.R. Tolkien, $22 million; former Beatle John Lennon, $19 million; and former Beatle George Harrison, $16 million.

The third annual list, edited by Forbes.com senior editor Lisa DiCarlo, is based on estate earnings, the Web site said Friday.

Rounding out the top 10: children's book author Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, $16 million; race car driver Dale Earnhardt, $15 million; rapper Tupac Shakur, $12 million; reggae star Bob Marley, $9 million; and movie star Marilyn Monroe, $8 million.

Geisel's posthumous earnings could go up next year: The U.S. Postal Service will issue a stamp in early March honoring the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, which will likely boost both his visibility and sales of licensed merchandise.

Presley died at 42 on Aug. 16, 1977, and is buried in a small garden beside Graceland, his Memphis residence. Every year thousands of people flock there to celebrate his birthday with a week of parties, concerts and get-togethers.

For this year's celebration, some 30,000 people visited Memphis during the anniversary week. Some visitors stayed a day or two, while others remained the whole week.

Graceland and its complex of shops and museums now draw more than 600,000 visitors a year.