An actor named after a spreadsheet is one of Forbes' best-paid dead stars

Forbes‘ annual package on the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities is especially macabre this year. No surprise that the two deceased celebs who earned the most money this year were Elvis Presley with $52 million (love that Elvis Jack-o-lantern that appears on the first page), followed by Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz with $33 million. But popping up already at No. 3 is Heath Ledger (pictured), whose share of the worldwide billion-dollar Bat-box office, plus his fee for the upcoming Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, is estimated by Forbes to be about $20 million. Paul Newman made the list, too, at No. 11 with $5 million (from movie and TV residuals and Newman’s Own food sales). I can’t ever remember an incarnation of this Forbes list that rushed so quickly to incorporate such recently deceased stars.

Also here, you’ll find a feature on haunted Hollywood (a ghost-spotter’s guide to spooky sites in L.A.) and one that tells investors and collectors of the killing to be made in the dead-celeb body parts market. Ewww. Happy Halloween, everyone.

More on Forbes‘ celebrity earnings’ lists:
Forbes‘ 2008 Most Overpaid Celebrities list
Forbes‘ 2008 Celebrity 100 Power list
Forbes‘ 2007 Most Overpaid Celebrities list
Forbes‘ 2007 Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list
Forbes‘ Ultimate Star Payback list
Forbes‘ 2007 Celebrity 100 Power list
Forbes‘ 2006 Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list
Forbes‘ 10 Most Trustworthy Celebrities list
Forbes‘ 2006 Celebrity 100 Power list
Forbes‘ 15 wealthiest fictional characters list
Forbes‘ 2005 Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list