The Real Reason Marilyn Monroe Is Worth More Decades After Her Death

Few departed actors from over 60 years ago still live on in current memory. Despite their bygone contributions to the world's cultural landscape, not many can still boast a robust following — let alone enough fans to earn a regular paycheck (in fact, many celebrities actually die in debt). With that said, there a few departed legends that buck this trend. Take Marilyn Monroe, for example.

A darling of the screen, and America's most prominent sex icon of the '50s and early '60s, the actress died in 1962 at the age of 36. However, not only has Monroe's fame and success outlived her — surviving well into the next century — but her net worth has also grown in the years since. Totaling about $800,000 when she passed away (or, over $8.5 million, when adjusted for inflation as of early 2026), her estate is now estimated to be worth between $20 and $30 million. While Monroe wasn't considered particularly wealthy, by Hollywood standards, at the time of her death – and had a lower net worth than many surprisingly wealthy b-list celebrities today – her estate has continued amassing significant wealth thanks to things like image rights, her likeness, and intellectual property.

During her career, Marilyn Monroe earned approximately $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth – that's almost $43 million, as of early 2026. However, she wasn't known to be diligent with her spending, leaving a significantly smaller figure behind at the time of her death. Monroe bequeathed much of what did remain to friends and family members. 

However, while cash can be one of the best assets to inherit, Monroe ultimately left something far more valuable to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg — her physical property and 75% of her intellectual property rights. When Strasberg passed away in 1982, his wife Anna Strasberg established Marilyn Monroe, LLC and, in partnership with CMG Worldwide, began inking licensing deals that used Monroe's name and likeness for major global brands. These ranged from Holsten Pils to Chanel No. 5, and included everything from using Monroe's images to her signature on their products and advertisements.

In 2011, Anna Strasberg mostly parted ways with Marilyn Monroe's estate. She sold her majority-ownership stake for an estimated $20 to $30 million to brand management company Authentic Brands Group (ABG) — but kept a minority interest. Since the 2011 acquisition, Monroe's name and signature smile have continued appearing in numerous advertisements for brands like Chrysler, Coca Cola, and Dior. According to Forbes, which placed Monroe at No. 13 on its list of the highest-earning dead celebrities of 2020, the actress earned $8 million that year alone.