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.

MICHAEL JACKSON MOVIE "THIS IS IT"

Michael Jackson sudden death was a big blow to his fans, Michael Jackson who died on June 25 before a long awaited return to the stage. Fans will be delighted to know that a film showing his final rehearsals will be released at he end October.

The film title "This Is It,"which will be released worldwide, will be drawn from hundreds of hours of backstage footage of Jackson rehearsing and feature interviews with some of his closest friends and creative collaborators.

It is named after the series of 50 London concerts the star had planned to perform for his July farewell-before his death from an apparent cardiac arrest on June 25 at a rented mansion in Los Angeles shocked the world.

The film footage was shot mostly in June 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, other scenes was shot at The Forum in Inglewood California. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment will co produce the film with AEG Live and the estate, while Sony Pictures will distribute the feature, which would amount to a major undertaking as Jackson had not commercialized concert footage.