Marilyn Monroe continues to be a successful celebrity brand even 50 years after she died

Art Daily Newsletter

A detail of a picture of Marilyn Monroe by artist Cristiam Ramos created entirely from candy is on display at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum in Hollywood, California. The hair and dress are made from licorice, the skin is made of gummy bears and the background is made from hard candies. There is no paint at all in the image. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK. By: Anthony McCartney, AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP).- There is a career after death, at least if while alive you wielded star power like Marilyn Monroe. The bombshell actress continues to be a successful celebrity brand even 50 years after she died on Aug. 5, 1962, with a new digital emphasis to complement the wealth of photos, fashion, films and other cultural touchstones she left behind. Monroe ranked third last year in Forbes' annual list of top deceased celebrity earners, generating $27 million and coming in behind Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. It was a comeback for the actress, who had fallen off the list the previous two years. When the list is updated in the fall, it will likely show it has been another lucrative year for the actress' estate, which was purchased in 2010 by Authentic Brands Group and its partner, NECA. The company is in the midst of upgrading Monroe offerings from trinkets to cosmetic lines, spas, salons and apparel. From beyond the grave, Monroe tweets ... More