The King of Pop Michael Jackson is World's Top Dead Earner

For a second straight year Michael Jackson is the world's top dead earner, according to a macabre list compiled by Forbes magazines of stars whose earning power remains undiminished beyond grave.

The King of Pop, who died two years ago at the age of 50, brought in $170 million for his estate over the past 12 months, enough to place him ahead of every other pop music act of the past year - both living and dead - except for Irish rock band U2.

Elvis came in second place, earning $55 million, thanks to his evergreen songbook and a hit Las Vegas stage production featuring his tunes mounted by Cirque de Soleil.

In third place was movie siren Marilyn Monroe, who had $27 million in earnings over the past year.

"Peanuts" cartoon creator Charles Schulz was fourth while Beatles legend John Lennon tied for fifth place with screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor, both earning $12 million.

Academy Award Nominee Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe

Almost one year ago today, the first photograph of actress Michelle Williams made up to look like Marilyn Monroe was released to the public.

Williams appeared to be completely transformed in the Hollywood icon, with her platinum curls, fuller face, and signature beauty mark.

But it is one thing to look like a legend, and it's another to portray her on screen.

And now we can see and hear Williams as Monroe in My Week With Marilyn, based on the true story of Colin Clark, who got to know the star when she work on a film in England in 1956.

The film presents Williams with a two distinct acting challenges: to copy Monroe's bubbly, flirty public persona that movie fans know, and to shed light on the hidden, emotional side the star kept from the public.

To get to the core of the character, Williams immersed herself in all things Marilyn. She spent six months consuming every movie, book, recording, photograph, and personal letter she could find.

She said, "I'd go to bed every night with a stack of books next to me. And I'd fall asleep to movies of her,"