Authentic Brands Purchases Rights to Marilyn Monroe’s Image

Marilyn Monroe’s name did not make it on Forbes’ list of top-earning dead celebrities in 2010, but her estate earned around $4-5 million. On Thursday, Authentic Brands Group and NECA acquired the rights from Ms. Monroe’s estate. Although the terms of the sale were not disclosed, it is estimated that the new owners paid approximately $30 million for these rights.

Jamie Salter, chief executive of Authentic Brands Group, said he plans to aggressively market Ms. Monroe’s image, focusing on handbags, shoes, and home care products. He’s also open to inserting her image in new films using computer animation.

See David Gelles, Authentic Brands Picks up Marilyn Monroe, FT.com, Jan. 13, 2011.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this to my attention.