Quincy Jones is officially the highest-paid dead celebrity of 2026, bringing in a massive payday for his estate.

In March, his estate sold the vast majority of his publishing rights and musical interests to a private equity firm for an estimated $150 million.

He passed away in late 2024 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the music of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin.

Beyond his massive hits like “Thriller” and “We Are The World,” he also executive produced “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and earned Oscar nominations for scoring “The Color Purple.”

Bono famously summed up his influence during a 2008 interview when he said, “If God has a jukebox, I know which name is on more of the selections than any other. It starts with Q.”

Thanks to this historic $150 million catalog deal, his unmatched impact on the entertainment industry continues to reach new heights long after his passing.

Here are the top 10 deceased celebrities of 2026 based on estate earnings from October 2025 until September 2026:
  1. Quincy Jones – $150 million
  2. Michael Jackson – $140 million
  3. Dr. Seuss – $80 million
  4. Elvis Presley – $75 million
  5. Dolly Parton – $46 million
  6. Bob Marley – $25 million
  7. Prince – $24 million
  8. Diane Keaton – $22 million
  9. John Lennon – $18 million
  10. George Harrison – $15 million