Michael Jackson is dead but still “crushes” Ronaldo: The King of Pop earns $105 million in 2025, shocking the world
Despite being dead for more than 15 years, Michael Jackson still proves that his fame and influence are irreplaceable — even living superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo. According to Forbes, the “King of Pop” has been honored as the highest-earning deceased celebrity in 2025, with a total of up to $105 million in just the past 12 months.
This huge source of income comes from selling 50% of his publishing and master music catalog to Sony for an estimated $600 million, despite the objections of his mother — Katherine Jackson. In addition, streaming royalties, revenue from music, documentaries, and products related to the Michael Jackson brand also continue to bring in tens of millions of dollars each year.
This is the 13th time since 2009 that Michael Jackson has topped the list of highest-earning dead celebrities — a record that no one in entertainment history has been able to match. His posthumous earnings have surpassed $3.5 billion, a figure that has left the entire contemporary artist world in awe.
Meanwhile, many people have compared Michael Jackson to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still active in the world of sports. However, although he is still alive and still appears densely on social media, Ronaldo seems to be unable to reach the cultural influence that Michael Jackson left behind.
A post that went viral on social media has sparked a fierce debate:
“Michael Jackson died but still won, while Ronaldo is alive but lost. Who is the real legend?”
Thousands of comments have erupted. Ronaldo fans defend their idol, claiming that CR7 is the “G.O.A.T. of football”, while Michael Jackson fans assert: “MJ’s global influence cannot be measured by goals or titles. He is a cultural icon for all of humanity.”
In fact, Michael Jackson is not just an artist, he is a timeless icon. Even though he has passed away, his music, style and legendary dance moves continue to live on in the hearts of billions of people around the world.
The question “Can Ronaldo surpass Michael Jackson?” may have an answer.
Because when a deceased person still makes the whole world bow in admiration, while a living person still has to prove his worth — then clearly, Michael Jackson is the true legend.
