KB50MJ
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This is a thread dedicated to listing MJ's earnings according to Forbes over the years on their Highest Paid Entertainers List. All of this info is from Lisa D. Campbell's book "Michael Jackson: The King Of Pop" and Adrian Grants Book "Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary".
Basically the way the list is compiled is Forbes totals and estimates entertainer's 2 year earnings and rank them in the list. But they only base their estimations on public record.
I think the first time MJ appeared on this list was 1987.
1987 (Sept. 1986- Sept.1987):
Rank- #9
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $43 million
Background info- Not a bad amount for a singer who had no new albums, singles, or tours for almost the entire two year period. The Bad album was only during the las four months of 1987.
1988 (Sept. 1987-Sept. 1988):
Rank- #1, Michael moonwalked past the previous years highest paid entertainer, Bill Cosby, by $5 million.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $97 million
Background info- Forbes estimated that $37 million was earned in 1987, with the remaining $60 million being earned in 1988 from the sales from the Bad album and its singles, proceeds from the Bad tour, sales from his autobiography Moonwalk, his Pepsi Commercials, and earnings from music publishing. The Magazine estimated Michael's earnings from the Bad Tour at $40 million. Estimates of his fee for the Pepsi endorsements were $15 million. Royalties from Bad sales, if assuming the same royalty rate he received from Thriller would be $32 million, since Bad had sold 16 million copies by the end of the year. Rolling Stone estimated he would earn $5 million from ownership of ATV publishing, leaving $5 million from Moonwalk sales and other royalties, not bad!
1989 (Sept. 1988- Sept. 1989):
Rank- #1, Bill Cosby placed #2 for the second consecutive year.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $125 million
Background info- The magazine estimated MJ's earnings for 1988 at $60 million with the remaining $65 million being earned in 1989. Money was earned from sales and money from Moonwalker, The Legend Continues, sales from the Bad album and the rest of the Bad World tour, the $20 million deal with LA Gear, music publishing right, royalties from other album sales, selling licensing rights such as his image/likeness and name to Blackthorne for Moonwalker comic books which never took off.
1990 (Sept. 1989- Sept. 1990):
Rank- #2, behind Bill Cosby.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $100 million
Background info- Michael's earnings in 1989 totaled $65 million and the magazine estimated his 1990 earnings at $35 million. I don't know the full details this year on how he earned this money, but my guess would be from music publishing rights, and royalties from his record sales.
1991 (Sept. 1990- Sept. 1991):
Rank- #5, Madonna was ranked at #4 with a two year earning of $63 million.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $60 million. (I do wonder though how this could be when he signed a $65 million deal with Sony at this time period. PG, any ideas?)
Background info- Special attention seemed to be paid by the media to the fact that Madonna placed higher than MJ. What was conspicuously absent from many of the comments was that Madonna earned relatively little more than MJ during this 2 year time period. She stared in Dick Tracy, released an accompanying soundtrack album, and a greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, an accompanying video cassette and a video cassette single for the roof-raising "Justify My Love". A tour documentary film, Truth or Dare, was released documenting her Blond Ambition tour. Michael's projects during this same time period totaled 0. Again I don't have the full details on how he earned this money, but I can assume it was from music publishing, and royalties from record sales. Plus the new record deal with Sony. But thay totaled $65 million, so I'm confused on how Forbes only estimated $60 million for MJ. Again, PG, if you have any insight, I would be happy to know.
There is no mention of the list for 1992. I'm sure MJ ranked highly that year, becuase of all the stuff what was going on with the Dangeorus album, tour, selling of film rights, other royalties and publishing rights, etc.
1993 (Sept. 1992- Sept. 1993):
Rank- #12
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $42 million
Background info- Michael's 1992 earnings were estimated at $26 million, and his 1993 earnings estimated at $16 million. Again no mention in detail of how he earned the money, but my guess is sales from Dangeorus, the rest of the world tour, and other royalties and publishing rights.
There is no mention of the years 1994 or 1995.
1996 (Sept. 1995- Sept. 1996):
Rank- #4
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $90 million
Background info- Earnings came from the HIStory album and world tour, publishing rights, and royalties.
After this there is no other mention anywhere on MJ ranking on Forbes 'Highest Pair Entertainers' list. If I have for gotten a year, or missed any info, PLEASE let me know.
Basically the way the list is compiled is Forbes totals and estimates entertainer's 2 year earnings and rank them in the list. But they only base their estimations on public record.
I think the first time MJ appeared on this list was 1987.
1987 (Sept. 1986- Sept.1987):
Rank- #9
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $43 million
Background info- Not a bad amount for a singer who had no new albums, singles, or tours for almost the entire two year period. The Bad album was only during the las four months of 1987.
1988 (Sept. 1987-Sept. 1988):
Rank- #1, Michael moonwalked past the previous years highest paid entertainer, Bill Cosby, by $5 million.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $97 million
Background info- Forbes estimated that $37 million was earned in 1987, with the remaining $60 million being earned in 1988 from the sales from the Bad album and its singles, proceeds from the Bad tour, sales from his autobiography Moonwalk, his Pepsi Commercials, and earnings from music publishing. The Magazine estimated Michael's earnings from the Bad Tour at $40 million. Estimates of his fee for the Pepsi endorsements were $15 million. Royalties from Bad sales, if assuming the same royalty rate he received from Thriller would be $32 million, since Bad had sold 16 million copies by the end of the year. Rolling Stone estimated he would earn $5 million from ownership of ATV publishing, leaving $5 million from Moonwalk sales and other royalties, not bad!
1989 (Sept. 1988- Sept. 1989):
Rank- #1, Bill Cosby placed #2 for the second consecutive year.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $125 million
Background info- The magazine estimated MJ's earnings for 1988 at $60 million with the remaining $65 million being earned in 1989. Money was earned from sales and money from Moonwalker, The Legend Continues, sales from the Bad album and the rest of the Bad World tour, the $20 million deal with LA Gear, music publishing right, royalties from other album sales, selling licensing rights such as his image/likeness and name to Blackthorne for Moonwalker comic books which never took off.
1990 (Sept. 1989- Sept. 1990):
Rank- #2, behind Bill Cosby.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $100 million
Background info- Michael's earnings in 1989 totaled $65 million and the magazine estimated his 1990 earnings at $35 million. I don't know the full details this year on how he earned this money, but my guess would be from music publishing rights, and royalties from his record sales.
1991 (Sept. 1990- Sept. 1991):
Rank- #5, Madonna was ranked at #4 with a two year earning of $63 million.
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $60 million. (I do wonder though how this could be when he signed a $65 million deal with Sony at this time period. PG, any ideas?)
Background info- Special attention seemed to be paid by the media to the fact that Madonna placed higher than MJ. What was conspicuously absent from many of the comments was that Madonna earned relatively little more than MJ during this 2 year time period. She stared in Dick Tracy, released an accompanying soundtrack album, and a greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, an accompanying video cassette and a video cassette single for the roof-raising "Justify My Love". A tour documentary film, Truth or Dare, was released documenting her Blond Ambition tour. Michael's projects during this same time period totaled 0. Again I don't have the full details on how he earned this money, but I can assume it was from music publishing, and royalties from record sales. Plus the new record deal with Sony. But thay totaled $65 million, so I'm confused on how Forbes only estimated $60 million for MJ. Again, PG, if you have any insight, I would be happy to know.
There is no mention of the list for 1992. I'm sure MJ ranked highly that year, becuase of all the stuff what was going on with the Dangeorus album, tour, selling of film rights, other royalties and publishing rights, etc.
1993 (Sept. 1992- Sept. 1993):
Rank- #12
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $42 million
Background info- Michael's 1992 earnings were estimated at $26 million, and his 1993 earnings estimated at $16 million. Again no mention in detail of how he earned the money, but my guess is sales from Dangeorus, the rest of the world tour, and other royalties and publishing rights.
There is no mention of the years 1994 or 1995.
1996 (Sept. 1995- Sept. 1996):
Rank- #4
Estimated Two Year Earnings- $90 million
Background info- Earnings came from the HIStory album and world tour, publishing rights, and royalties.
After this there is no other mention anywhere on MJ ranking on Forbes 'Highest Pair Entertainers' list. If I have for gotten a year, or missed any info, PLEASE let me know.
