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Michael Jackson's Estate Makes More Than $1 Billion

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it seems that Michael Jackson's untimely death last year has proven to be a sound career move. According to figures compiled by trade journal Billboard, the late King of Pop has raked in some $1 billion (£677 million) since his passing 12 months ago.

Around $383 million (£259 million) of the total is thanks to posthumous album sales, while the success of documentary-concert film 'This Is It' accounts for another $400 million (£271 million). More unusually, the ex-performer also managed to score a hefty return on a new record deal.

Sony plan to release 10 Jackson albums over the next seven years -- including one comprising unreleased tunes -- and will pay the singer's estate as much as $250 million (£169 million) for the privilege. Billboard includes around £21 million of this in its one year total.

Strangest of all, Michael Jackson made a $6.5 million (£4.4 million) touring profit in the past 12 months, despite being in no position to play any shows. Fans who decided to forgo refunds in favour of hanging onto their tickets for his planned 'This Is It' concert series (presumably as souvenirs rather than in anticipation of rescheduling) explain this figure.

Proceeds from publishing deals, licensing arrangements, ringtones, DVDs and merchandise make up the remainder of the hefty amount.

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TO MATT GLAZEBOOK, youre comment about "Michaels untimely death last year has proven to be a sound career move", is truly INSENSITIVE AND IGNORANT. You speak like an idiot, and your way of throwing that opening statement together was just tastless and rude. You seem like one of the hateful people who could careless about how Michael is spoken about or refered to. Michael is loved and missed dearly, so dont ever get the fact about Micheal being deceased misconstruded for the idiotic belief that him being gone is great for business as if his family and fans would not rather have Michael here with us over ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD. You need to go back to school if you consider yourself a journalist, HONESTLY. The KING is missed, TRUST ME... I LOVE YOU MICHAEL & I MISS YOU, ALWAYS AND FOREVER YOU WILL LIVE IN MY HEART...

June 25 2010 at 3:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alison collinge@hotmail.com

Death untimely means I didn't die, the sales profits are not for greed and gobbling, only for comfortable life for family, worth is confidence and I always try to help children, I hope I can perform again and compiling some new songs and making a collaborative consolidation of my best songs is something I hope to do.

June 23 2010 at 6:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to alison collinge@hotmail.com's comment
Mikey Jaxon

will you be doing a duet with tupac shakur?

June 24 2010 at 12:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mikey Jaxon

what are you guys talking about? He made PLENTY of cash while he was alive. His spending habits were so bad though, he was only financially viable in death.

June 23 2010 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jake

NOW his selfish family can gobble it all up. I hope that MJ's kids get some. So sad he had to die to make money.

June 23 2010 at 7:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jake's comment
Leslie lewis

He was worth more to somebody dead than alive-Go figure

June 23 2010 at 8:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply