12. WHITNEY HOUSTON
Earned: $9.5 million
Deceased: February 11, 2012
Cause of death: Drowning
Career: American singer
The $7 million sale this May of half her estate, along with the success of the Kygo remix of her “Higher Love” cover—which has already clocked over 175 million Spotify spins—paved the way for Houston’s debut on our list.
