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Parody by Sandbox Studio |
E=mc($$$)
With his genius and his unmistakable appearance, Albert Einstein is an icon of both science and culture. Since his passing Einstein has inspired films, books, and even an opera, Einstein on the Beach. Not surprisingly, his popularity pays off handsomely.
In its July 3 issue, Forbes magazine ranked deceased celebrities according to their annual revenues. Einstein came in third, earning $20 million in 2005 for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which inherited his estate.
Approximately $5 million came from the use of his image, and more royalties came from Disney's line of educational videos and toys, "Baby Einstein," which generated $400 million in sales last year.
Einstein's earnings followed those of Elvis Presley ($53 million) and Kurt Cobain ($50 million) on the list. Rounding out the top five were Andy Warhol ($16 million) and Marilyn Monroe ($8 million).
Benjamin Berger
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