deleb

noun

1. (neologism)A dead celebrity, particularly one whose image is used for promoting a product.

   “Revenues from delebs are already rising as rights companies become more aggressive about advertising and product deals, says Reeder, whose company represents estates including Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol and Johnny Cash.”

   “In America, licensing the images, names and voices of 'delebs' (dead celebrities) has become a multi-billion-dollar business.”

   “The only apparent qualification is that a deceased person's image or persona may be so desirable for commercial exploitation that a transferable property right in the image is created in the dead celebrity or "deleb;" for example, the estate of Michael Jackson took in more than $400 million for licensing his publicity rights in 2018 alone.”

   “Recent changes at Twitter indicate the tech giant may be trying its hand at a form of necro-advertising, users speculated after delebs — dead celebrities — including Kobe Bryant and Anthony Bourdain had verification check marks placed on their inactive accounts, creating the appearance that they've paid to subscribe to Twitter Blue.”