Frank Sinatra (15)

Frank Sinatra
1915–1998
Leader of the Rat Pack
Cause of Death: Heart attack
His Way: Death only enhanced the appeal of a man who had been a household name throughout his career. Most of his estimated $200 million estate is held in private trust funds, but the rights to his music and image are split between the children from his first marriage and his fourth wife, Barbara, a former model and dancer who took issue with some of the children's sanctioned merchandising, such as the "singing" souvenir plate.
Life After Death: A seemingly endless stream of reissues has kept interest in Sinatra's music alive, but his name can sell anything: Sinatra, an $8.7 million production featuring video projections of Frank in action accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra, is due to open in London in spring 2006, while an Oris Frank Sinatra watch retails at $2,850.
Peer Plaudits: The aura of suited cool that Sinatra perfected in the early '60s continues to endure -- through HBO's The Rat Pack and the London stage production The Rat Pack: Live From Las Vegas -- regardless of recent, legend-tarnishing Sinatra books, including former valet George Jacobs's sex-and-Mafiosi tell-all Mr. S and 2005's unflattering Sinatra: The Life.