Bob Marley - Contributed

Kurt Cobain has overtaken Elvis as the highest-paid dead celebrity. Latest figures, compiled by Forbes.com, show the late 'Nirvana' frontman has made US$50 million in the past year, despite having killed himself in April 1994.

By comparison, second-placed Elvis, who has held the top spot since 2001 and has been dead for almost 30 years, made just US$42 million in the past twelve months.

Other big earners who have long since passed include 'Peanuts' cartoon creator Charles Schulz, whose Charlie Brown and Snoopy cartoons are still syndicated in newspapers across the world, whose estate earned US$35 million, and Imagine singer John Lennon who raked in US$24 million.

Baby Einstein

The 'Baby Einstein' brand of preschool toys and DVDs helped late genius Albert Einstein earn US$20 million last year, while cultural icons Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe also made the list.

Movies have played a big part in keeping the cash pouring in for the three more people who made the top thirteen - Ray Charles, whose life inspired the Oscar-winning film Ray; Walk The Line subject and country music legend Johnny Cash and J.R.R. Tolkein, the creator of the Lord of the Rings epic.

Top earning dead celebrities

1. Kurt Cobain - Musician

2. Elvis Presley - Singer

3. Charles M. Schulz - Peanuts creator

4. John Lennon - Musician

5. Albert Einstein - Physicist

6. Andy Warhol - Cultural Icon

7. Dr. Seuss creator Theodor Geisel

8. Ray Charles - Musician

9. Marilyn Monroe - Actress

10. Johnny Cash - Musician

11. J.R.R. Tolkien - Author

12. George Harrison - Musician

13. Bob Marley - Musician