Top Earning Dead Celebrities of 2012

Some dead celebrities continue to cash in on their fame post-mortem. Despite passing away, their business portfolios and past accolades collect revenue at impressive rates – deceased benefactors to their heirs and business partners. Rich in life and in death, these are the celebs that have raked in the most royalties this year.

Forbes List of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

1. Elizabeth Taylor: Taylor tops this year’s list of top-earning dead celebrities with $210 million dollars in cold hard cash. The actress, who passed away at 79 years of age in 2011 due to heart failure, has Christie’s to thank for her number one spot on the Forbes list. The jeweller is responsible for the record-breaking sale of the late movie star’s jewellery and art; an event which brought in $184 million dollars of the total sum recorded above. Her estate, which has set up her remaining relatives financially for life, will now turn its attention to exploiting her iconic image for more money – an activity that holds a lot of potential for profit thanks to Taylor’s embodiment of old-Hollywood glamour.  
2. Michael Jackson: His rumoured financial troubles prior to his death have certainly been waylaid as the king of pop earns himself a new title: music’s post-mortem cash king. Bringing in the equivalent of $145 dollars in 2012, the deceased Jackson has managed to earn more money in single year than any living artist can claim.
3. Elvis Presley: Rock n Roll Royalty Elvis Presley’s royalties remain staggering at $55 million dollars this year. Presley celebrates his 35th anniversary since his death in 1977 with what some have called ‘flat earnings’ due to the closure of his Viva Elvis show in Las Vegas and the auctioning of his Graceland mansion to billionaire Leon Black.
4. Charles Schulz: Famous cartoonist Charles Schulz holds his own amongst this posse of top-earning dead celebrities with an impressive haul of $37 million dollars in the past 12 months alone. The creative genius behind the Peanuts comic strip died in 2000 from aggressive colon cancer at the ripe old age of 77, an end which hasn’t slowed down the earnings of Charlie Brown in any way, shape or form. The Peanuts protagonist and his gang are as hot as ever 67 years since their first comic debut, with Fox even announcing that a Peanuts movie is in the works from the makers of Ice Age.
5. Bob Marley: He didn’t manage to beat the popularity of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, but the king of reggae certainly made the list of top-earning dead celebrities by earning $17 million dollars this past year. Not considered a pioneer of commercial ventures in life, Bob Marley has managed to become one of the most diversified businessmen from beyond the grave.  Despite his tragic death at the young age of 36 in 1981, Marley’s albums have continued to sell at a rapid rate, recently hitting the 75 million mark. Besides albums, Bob Marley’s business portfolio consists of a variety of other acquisitions, most recent additions including a beverage company and a production house of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products.

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that death has had no hold on the finances of these celebrities, each earning more in the past 12 months than their living counterparst. Whether they’re truly resting in peace or busy as ever in a heavenly boardroom could be debated. One thing is clear; the above named dead celebrities are the richest they’ve ever been – perhaps one of the only positive outcomes that can be derived from their passing. 

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Bella Gray is a corporate blogger based in office space in Miami. A maestro of tips and strategies for navigating the workplace, Gray is the perfect go-to-gal for all your business solutions.

Secrets Which Define The Beauty Of Hollywood Stars

It is often said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Perception about what is beautiful differs in each one of us. While that is true, there are some common factors that make a person or place or thing look beautiful to most people. When talking about beautiful people, most of us immediately think of Hollywood stars. What is it that makes them look beautiful to such a large number of people? The secret behind the beauty of Hollywood stars is that they play up their best accents and allow them to overshadow the flaws. But there are a few things that most of them have in common.

A Winning Smile:

You will never find a beautiful person with a yellow smile. Their teeth are always sparkling white. Like the rest of your body, your teeth also bear the brunt of aging and discoloration. However, a simple thing like bleaching your teeth can bring the shine and sparkle back into them. The best part is that you can now do it yourself at home with any of the various cosmetic teeth whitening kits available at most drug stores.

Gleaming Skin:

It makes news when a star is spotted with a zit. Gleaming skin is as essential in looking beautiful as white teeth. Face scrubs, masks, peels – there is a solution to every skin problem that you may face. Applying these on a regular basis helps in keeping your skin blemish free and looking young. There are many lotions available, which give your skin that ethereal sheen which glows. 

The Bronzed Look:

There is something about that tanned bronze look that just makes you look stunning. Sun tanning and tanning beds can age your skin faster. The answer is using a sunless tan lotion or going in for a custom airbrush at your salon. There are good quality lotions available that you can apply at home, although care must be taken to follow the instructions given with them. You also need to follow the guidelines for sunless tanning to retain the tan for a longer period of time.

Hands and feet:

A look at the stars will show you well groomed hands and feet. A manicure and pedicure is a must and it can either be availed at the salon or can be done at home. Make sure that all the dead skin is scrubbed off with a good pumice stone. Nails should be well groomed. Make sure to apply a cuticle lotion on your hands and feet. If you use nail polish, be sure to use a topcoat daily. Apply lotion to the hands and feet every night to prevent them from looking dry.

Young Skin:

To keep your skin looking young, you need to protect it from the elements and pollution. Sun protection lotions, large dark glasses and hats go a long way in protecting your face. Exfoliating your skin regularly, applying moisturizers, lotions, night cream for the face and eyes go a long way in helping keep your skin looking healthy and young.

Beautiful Tresses:

Hair needs to look healthy and shiny for you to look beautiful. Regular trimming helps keep the hair in shape. Shampooing and conditioning your hair should be part of your regular grooming routine.

In addition to the above it is important to exercise regularly, watch your diet and drink lots and lots of water. A healthy inside promotes a healthy outside. Hollywood stars are born just like us – they just take care of themselves and in the process look beautiful.

Paula is a teeth whitening specialist who offers teeth whitening in Milton Keynes and teh surroudning areas.

Image Credit: 1, 2.

Before They Were Famous: Celebrity Jobs Before They Were Well-Known

Celebrities are a joy to behold. Their well-groomed appearances, impeccable style, expensive accessories and a lavish lifestyle often inspire several others to follow their footsteps to success, or at least figure in the dreams of those yearning to become famous. However, not all of them were born with a silver spoon, but have earned their present status by toiling it out at one or more common or even embarrassing jobs of their times. Let us take a look at few such celebrities, who have once rubbed shoulders with mundane jobs before making it all big and famous. 

Sir Sean Connery

Sir Sean Connery, an exemplary actor and producer of today, with several prestigious awards to his credit, started off on his first job at Scotland, where he delivered milk for St. Cuthbert’s Co-operative Society. During his teenage years, he held several other jobs - driving trucks, polishing coffins and modelling for artists at the Edinburgh College of Art. He also spent three years in the Royal Navy and also worked as a lifeguard before he reached the age of twenty.

Simon Cowell

This direct and obnoxious judge of the X-Factor has in fact struggled through 17 jobs before reaching the pinnacle of fame and wealth. From his modest beginnings as a mail-room clerk at EMI Records, he moved through the ranks of the company to become a record producer, partnering with Iain Burton to form Fanfare Records Company and subsequently was hired by BMG as an A&R Consultant. Today, he is an ‘Idol’ maker, and a successful and famous television and pop music entrepreneur. 

Cheryl Cole

A popular face on the Vogue cover, an X-factor judge and a L’Oreal model, Cheryl Cole from the British showbiz began her career as a child star for a British Gas TV advertisement. Before moving on to reality TV shows and to the music scene in 2002, she had worked as a receptionist at a NewCastle hotel.

Adele

Music sensation Adele opted for a short stint at Rough Trade, a vinyl record store in Notting Hill to get the pulse of the music world, even after having picked up a couple of Grammy Awards.

Rod Stewart

With 140 million albums and a net worth of over £100 million, British rock star Rod Stewart reportedly realised the value of hard work digging graves at the Highgate Graveyard in London.

Gordon Summer

Better known as Sting, this popular, famous and successful musician donned several roles before he found his way to the world of celebrities. Starting off as a bus conductor, he moved on to manual labour at construction sites, before working as a tax officer. He later attended college and qualified as a teacher, and worked for two years at St. Paul's First School in Cramlington.
Dreams when pursued earnestly do tend to payoff – today’s celebrities too were erstwhile commoners!

This post was written in collaboration with Adecco, helping you find your perfect job, from financial jobs to secretarial roles.

Immage Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Public Celebrity Breakdowns

Celebrities suffer from the same mental illnesses as everyone else. Unfortunately, theirs is highly publicized for the world to judge. With 26 percent of the entire world's population suffering from a diagnosable form of mental illness, it is no small wonder that the mental illness of so many celebrities is continually in the limelight.

Catherine Zeta Jones is considered the new face of bipolar II disorder. This is similar to bipolar I, but bipolar II sufferers never hit the mania highs that bipolar I sufferers do. Brook Shields had a severe case of postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter. It was treated and completely cured with medications. Halle Berry had severe depression that is now under control, and Jessica Alba lives with obsessive/compulsive disorder.

The fact that so many celebrities have come forward and made their mental illness known is a positive change. Non-celebrities often find this therapeutic, knowing that they are not alone in their suffering.

From: http://www.bestmastersincounseling.com

From: BestMastersInCounseling.com

The Highest Paid Actors of 2012 in Hollywood

Tom Cruise
Despite world wide gossip over his family and ties to Scientology, Tom Cruise still tops the list. Mr. Cruise’s accumulative earnings gives him the lead for the being one of the highest paid actors of 2012 with a total thus far of $75 million dollars.
The latest Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol grossed the actor the majority of his earnings, with the film Rock of Ages adding to his income. Other films that the actor has signed onto or has completed which add income for 2012 include the following:
Jack Reacher - to be released December 2012
Oblivion - currently in post production
All You Need is Kill - currently in pre-production

Leonardo DiCaprio
Mr. DiCaprio’s earning total for 2012 thus far have been allocated at $37 million dollars. His main money making project has been J. Edgar, in which he played former FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. That film may have been released in November of 2011 but it ran for a good half of 2012.
Some of the films that the actor has lined up to increase his earnings are:
Django Unchained - currently in post production
The Great Gatsby - currently in post production
The Wolf of Wall Street - currently being filmed

Adam Sandler
Mr. Sandler is at a tie with Leonardo, coming in at $37 million dollars for 2012 so far. His double-run playing both the male and females leads for the film Jack and Jill contributed to a higher gross for the past year. Adding to his earnings for 2012 is the film That’s My Boy co-starring with SNL lead and The Lonely Island singer Andy Samberg.
Voice over work in film has also added to Mr. Sandler’s overall income. In 2012 he was the voice actor for Dracula in the animated film Hotel Transylvania.
Signed contracts for films in production that will have an effect for Mr. Sandler’s earnings in 2012 are:
Grown Ups 2 - currently in post production
Three Mississippi - currently in pre-production

Dwayne Johnson
Also known as “The Rock” this entertainer has gone onto be one of the highest paid actors in the film industry. His earnings for 2012 so far, total to $36 million dollars. A combination of wrestling themed acting and regular storyline film acting is what has doubled his earning potential over the years.
The following are the projects and films that Mr. Johnson has been working on:
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
WrestleMania XXVIII - made for TV movie
Snitch - completed film
G.I. Joe: Retaliation - completed film
The Fast and the Furious 6 - currently filming

Ben Stiller
This comedic actor has made a mark for earnings in 2012 with about $33 million dollars. His projects are numerous and like all the actors listed above, he is constantly working. Mr. Stiller’s top earner for the year has been the release of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.
His other projects that have boosted total earnings are:
Eagleheart - TV series
The Watch - completed film
He’s Way More Famous Than You - currently in post production
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - currently in post production

Alison often writes reviews about movies and TV shows. Currently, she mostly writes for http://www.serijskiubojica.hr, a Croatian TV shows portal.

Who Are The World's Richest Rock Stars?

How much do you think rock star musicians get paid every year? There are really two ways to answer this and that's either a) "A Lot" or b) depends on who it is and what they do to make money. And really, both types of answer are true. From the beginning of the music industry days, the most successful musicians could stand to make millions of dollars from their music careers, from album sales, endorsements, world tours, and merchandise sales. Today that is true, but to an even larger extent due to rock stars' financial investment choices. The most successful musicians today make even more millions by leveraging their music money into other investment endeavors. This infographic, Who Are The World's Richest Rock Stars?, names off the richest of the rich rock stars in music history, and details how they each made most of their money. Something worthy of note: most of these names are NOT pop stars, and most of the empires have been built on things other than music!

This infographic was produced by BearShare.com, the world's leading free and legal file sharing software.

When Dieting Goes Too Far: 3 Celebrity Deaths

Too many people today are faced with eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia are serious diseases that if not treated, could end up in fatalities

Most people suffering from eating disorders cannot stop themselves. They feel as if any weight that is put on will make them ugly, which only turns the disorders into vicious cycles: they need to eat to get healthy, but they feel awful when they eat.

Eating disorders don't discriminate, and they can affect both men and women of all ages. Even celebrities have experienced eating disorders, and the following five didn't live to talk about it.

1. Karen Carpenter


KarenCarpenter was the drummer and lead singer of The Carpenters, a band popular during the 60s and 70s. Though they experienced much success in the early 70s, gaining both #1 and #2 spots on Billboard's Top 100, the band started to fall apart in the late 70s when Richard Carpenter, brother and bandmate to Karen, became addicted to quaaludes.

Karen struggled with anorexia for most of her life, but in the 70s, not much information was known about the disease. In the early 80s, she started seeing a therapist about her disease. After a few weeks, she called her therapists telling hims she felt strange and weak, and was sent to the hospital. After being in New York for two months, she gained over 30 pounds, which had an adverse effect on her heart. Since she was so tiny, her heart couldn't handle the extreme weight gain, and on February 4, 1983, at the age of 32, Karen Carpenter died of heart failure associated with anorexia.

2. Christy Henrich

At the age of 14, ChristyHenrich made the US National Gymnastics Team and represented the US in the 1989 World Championships.

Even though she was a successful and talented gymnast, a judge told her that she needed to lose weight. She started limiting the amount of food that she ate, and eventually, she became anorexic. At first, nobody noticed, but eventually, her body became too weak to compete. She was asked to leave the team and continued to lose 47 more pounds.

Her family finally forced her to seek treatment, but after multiple stays in the hospital, rounds of treatment and successful bouts of recovery, Christy succumbed to anorexia at the age of 22.
Since her death, the attention given to the health and weight of gymnasts has changed. Many other gymnasts came forward to discuss their battles with the disorder. Now, when gymnastics are broadcast on TV, stations are not allowed to show the weight of the gymnast or talk about their weight.
3. Ana Carolina Reston

AnaCarolinaReston was a Brazilian model who started her career at the age of 13. In 2004, she attended a casting call in China and was told that she was too fat. She started eating only apples and tomatoes, and after two years, cut down her size to almost half of what it was.
In 2006, she was hospitalized for kidney malfunction due to both anorexia and bulimia. One month later, the kidney malfunction spread into full on disease, and she died due to complications of starvation.

At her time of death, Ana Carolina only weighed 88 pounds and had a body mass index of 13.4—a BMI of 16 is considered starvation.

All of these women were talented and died at early ages due to their battle with anorexia or bulimia, two popular dieting diseases that affects numerous people every day. If you or someone you love is battling with an eating disorder, seek help immediately.

Lizzie Watters is a writer and cook.  She enjoys writing about recipes, cooking tips, dieting and kitchen safety.  Lizzie recently wrote about her favorite banana nut bread recipe.

Celebrity Gifts - A Timeline

Celebrities love spending their cash. We're forever reading about who's bought what and why? More often than not these extravagant splashes of the readies are on gifts for a fellow A-lister. With an ever more populated carousel of celebrity relationships it seems that this trend is set to continue. A look at the gift related balance sheet between Brad and Ang or Jay-Z and Beyonce is enough to give any accountant conniptions.

Of course all this frivolous spending is part of why we love them. When Mike Tyson spends more than most people will earn in their lifetime on a bath tub we want to know about it. If Becks buys Posh a vineyard we're there. I mean who doesn't dream of vino with their own name on it?!

We decided to track the trend of celebrity gifting over the last 100 years and see what we found. The answer was a lot. From Elvis to Bieber we've got it covered and plenty either side too. And most of it is pretty out there...

This infographic was created by Find Me A Gift, the novelty gift ideas people.

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Top Ten Hen Party Costume Ideas

Have fun like a famous celebrity! That's your night!

Police women

Power is sexy and that is why this idea never gets old. The best thing is that there are so many cop costumes available on the market that everyone can find something they would like to wear. As long as you are all wearing the hat / cap and pilot sunglasses, you are on the right track!

Baywatch

If you can have the right location – that is a beach view and a hot summer night – even better. If not, never mind, try it anyway. It is hard to think of a better view than a bunch of women all dressed up in red high cut swimsuits a la Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra style (boobs are optional). We surely hope there are not a lot of David Hasselhoff lookalikes on this small planet, but if you can find a ”Mitch” waiter, go for it! Its your Hen party so why not stand out from the crowd?!

Moulin Rouge

If you really want to dress up and get creative, this is a good choice. Because with Moulin Rouge there cannot be too much feathers, glitter, tutu and glamour, and there are no things such as a too tight corset – squeeze more. The positive thing is also that you can reuse some pieces from your outfit in later parties, which cannot be said about the cop costumes – that would probably not be a hit at your mother-in-law's birthday party.

A night at the Oscar's

We often hear ”I never get to dress up like a princess” from women. We live in a red carpet world but only a few of us actually get invited to that kind of events. Give your friends a chance to dress up in their best for one night and feel like a queen. This is a Hen party idea that is really different and unique, why not get the Stag do guys invloved to and have them dress up in tuxedos, a super classy affair. Problem solved!

80's

Neon colors, big shoulder pads, leg warmers, parachute and stirrup pants, big jewelry, glitter, acid wash, big hair... enough said, looks great!

Amy Winehouse, Madonna, Lady Gaga or Marilyn – female icons


cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Domain Barnyard

There are many to choose from, but take one with their very own style. Amy with black eyeliner, red lips and a big ball of hair, pointy bra corsets inspired by the one Madonna wore by Jean-Paul Gaultier, coke cans a la Lady Gaga, or just the classic pinup look by Marilyn Monroe. Have all girls dressed up as the same star, or ask them to choose their favorite!

Catwoman

Send a group of PVC kittens to a bar on a hen night and... if you want everyone's attention, you want to try this.

Sailors

If you do not want to go over the top, but still dress up in something, the sailor look can be sophisticated enough to get you into any place you want, but still so hilarious!

Secretary

A sexy woman dressed in black & white wearing glasses – men love it. 20 sexy women dressed in black & white wearing glasses – men go insane!

Be a man

We could have saved this spot for nurses, fairies or pink ladies. Great ideas, but on the other hand, how often in life have you as a female gotten a request ”come dressed as a man”? Charlie Chaplin, Jack Sparrow, James Bond, Austin Powers, Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka, Harry Potter, Zorro... Dresses and high heels we are used to, so try something new instead!

Written By Rebecca from Chillisauce Events who specialise in Hen Weekends and Stag Parties.