Yves Saint Laurent was the highest-earning dead celebrity last year, making $350 million (£213 million), according to the annual list compiled by Forbes. The fashion designer was followed by the composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein with $235 million, and Michael Jackson at $90 million. Elvis Presley was fourth with $55 million. Last year he topped the list of highest earning dead celebrities with $52 million.

Matthew Miller, the editor of the list, forecast that Jackson would rise in the coming year. “He will make tens of millions because he has lucrative publishing rights and rights to all his memorabilia,” he said. The rankings assess the earning power of dead celebrities, including musicians, authors, actors and songwriters.