Tupac Shakur

A Forbes.com spokesman said: "The earning power of most deceased people, even famous ones, slows considerably or stops altogether when they die.

"But for a select few, the pay cheques keep coming and some draw even bigger pay-days than when they were alive."

John Lennon is fourth in the list with an estimated annual income of $21m (£11m).

He is joined by fellow Beatle George Harrison - who died in 2001 - whose earnings reached $7m (£4m).

Musical success

Other top earners include screen icon Marilyn Monroe, with $8m, and actor James Dean, who died in a car crash in 1955 at the age of 24.

Murdered rapper Tupac Shakur, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1996, is valued at $5m (£2.7m), putting him equal with legendary crooner Frank Sinatra.

Flamboyant Queen frontman Freddie Mercury makes the list for the first time, also with $5m.

His earnings have been boosted by the success of the musical We Will Rock You, which has been filling theatres from Australia and Russia to Spain and Paris.

1. Elvis Presley $40m (£22m)
2. Charles Schulz $35m (£19m)
3. JRR Tolkien $23m (£12.5m)
4. John Lennon $21m (£11m)
5. Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel $18m (£10m)
6. Marilyn Monroe $8m (£4.3m)
7. George Harrison $7m (£3.8m)
=7. Irving Berlin $7m
=7. Bob Marley $7m
10. Richard Rodgers $6.5m
11. George and Ira Gershwin $6m
=11. Jimi Hendrix $6m
=11. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe $6m
=11. Cole Porter $6m
15. James Dean $5m (£2.7m)
=15. Dale Earnhardt Sr $5m
=15. Jerry Garcia $5m
=15. Freddie Mercury $5m
=15. Tupac Shakur $5m
=15. Frank Sinatra $5m

Source