I'm not afraid to die anymore, I've seen what lies beyond, and it is far more beautiful than anything in this life - Elvis

And yet in death he is still the King - and then some. From the latest Forbes richest dead celebrity list.

Elvis is top-earning dead celebrity

Just because you are dead, it does not mean you can't stage a comeback.

Website Forbes.com (www.forbes.com) said on Tuesday that Elvis Presley regained the top spot on its list of the highest-earning dead celebrities, ousting Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who had beaten him last year.

Elvis shimmied his way back atop the seventh annual list of 13 top-earning legends that he had ruled since its inception, with estimated earnings of about $US49 million ($A53.44 million) in the year ending this month.

The rise from $US42 million ($A45.81 million) last year comes after CKX Entertainment, which bought part of his estate from daughter Lisa Marie Presley, embarked on a mission to renew interest in the late singer and actor.

Forbes.com said in a statement that the top 13 - who generated massive amounts of merchandising revenue - grossed a combined $US232 million ($A253.04 million) in the year.

In second place came Beatle John Lennon, who was murdered in New York in 1980 at the age of 40. He earned $US44 million ($A47.99 million) while the creator of Peanuts comic strip, Charles M Schulz, took the third slot with earnings of $US35 million ($A38.17 million).

Cobain was one of four who fell off this year's ranking. He debuted on the list in first place last year after his widow, Courtney Love, sold part of his song catalogue for a reported $US50 million ($A54.53 million).

Rounding out the top five on this year's list were George Harrison from the Beatles, who died in 2001, with $US22 million ($A24 million), and German-born physicist Albert Einstein with $US18 million ($A19.63 million).

Einstein has become a key trademark in child education due to the Disney-owned Baby Einstein brand of videos and toys.

The Beatles did well in the latest list in the wake of settling two long-standing legal disputes with the settlements believed to have exceeded $US100 million ($A109.07 million).

Newcomers in the list were actor Steve McQueen and the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown who died late last year. Rapper Tupac Shakur regained a slot on the list as did James Dean.

Rounding out the top 13 were pop artist Andy Warhol, Theodor Geisel, better known as children's author Dr Seuss, silver screen legend Marilyn Monroe and reggae superstar Bob Marley.

The other three bumped off this year's list were rhythm & blues pioneer Ray Charles, author JRR Tolkien and country singer Johnny Cash.