Michael Jackson's Lifetime Earnings

Around the globe tonight, Michael Jackson’s tunes remind us Halloween is in full swing. And whether it’s his uncredited vocals on “Somebody’s Watching Me” or his dancing emulated by a “Thriller” flash mob, the spooky holiday shows how Jackson’s legacy endures, now 15 years after his death.

Halloween also feels like an apt moment to reflect on just how big the business of Jackson still is—and was, during his life. From his best-known moves (buying the Beatles’ publishing catalog) to his more under...