Elvis Presley's earning power lives on undiminished, as a Forbes list shows the King is the highest-paid dead celebrity.

Presley earned US$49 million in the last year, ousting Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain to top Forbes.com's list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities, according to media reports Tuesday.

The website ranks 13 celebrities now pushing up daisies on their income and proves that death is no obstacle to making money, with the group collectively earning a combined 232 million dollars in the last year.

John Lennon ranks second with earnings of 44 million dollars, followed by Charles M. Schulz (35 million dollars), George Harrison (22 million dollars), Albert Einstein (18 million dollars), Andy Warhol (15 million dollars), Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) (13 million dollars), Tupac Shakur (9 million dollars), Marilyn Monroe (7 million dollars), Steve McQueen (6 million dollars), James Brown (5 million dollars), Bob Marley (4 million dollars) and James Dean (3.5 million dollars).

Presley died in 1977. His estate continues to generate millions from music royalties, DVDs, licensing deals and tourism at Graceland, the rocker's mansion in Memphis, Tenn. He last topped the list in 2005.