Popular Celebrity Gravesites

Many an artist has lived in anonymity only to find recognition after death; but when it comes to megastars like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, fame can come early in life and stick into the hereafter. Celebrity gravesites become popular attractions, visited by tourists hoping to connect with their once-living idols.

Nearly a year ago, shortly after Houston – a six-time Grammy Award winner – was found dead in her Los Angeles hotel room the day before the Grammys; her body was taken to New Jersey where it was buried next to her father at Fairview Cemetery. The next day, fans in droves flocked to her gravesite, so much so that the cemetery became overwhelmed and closed its gates.

A Fairview Cemetery representative declined to answer questions specific to Houston's grave but told CNBC that the cemetery does not accept gifts from Houston's fans and does not allow unapproved visitors to her grave. Yet such privacy isn't always the case. Devotees constantly adorn a long list of celebrity gravesites with flowers, gifts and in-person tributes and the constant traffic can make keeping a popular memorial in good condition difficult.

Read on for some of the most popular celebrity gravesites of all time.

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Marilyn Monroe

One of the best-known sex-symbols ever, Marilyn Monroe was laid to rest in a simple crypt at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles after her untimely death at age 36. Fifty years later, adoring fans still visit her crypt, often kissing and touching her memorial so much so that it has become darker than those surrounding it.

The model and actress remains a pop icon today, widely recognized for her voluptuous curves and platinum blond hair. Monroe's vixen-like qualities captivated men, even after her death. Ex-husband Joe DiMaggio, who never remarried after their 274-day marriage, reportedly had roses sent to her crypt weekly for 20 years until he died.


Jim Morrison

The explosively wild front-man of "The Doors," Jim Morrison was known for his charismatic personality and off-the-cuff poetry he'd improvise during his 1960s live sets. At just 27, the rock legend died, reportedly from a heroin overdose, while in Paris, where his body now rests.

His gravesite, located in the "Poet's Corner" of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, is one of the city's most-visited tourist attractions. Fans from across the world pay tribute daily with flowers and poems; some have left behind graffiti and drug paraphernalia, causing cemetery officials to erect metal barricades around the plot.



Bob Marley

Responsible for spreading Jamaican music to audiences worldwide, Robert Nesta Marley remains a music legend forever synonymous with reggae. Writing songs with political and social undertones specific to his beloved Jamaica, Marley was an international success in life; but it wasn't until three years after his death that he struck better than gold when his compilation album "Legend" went 10 times Platinum.

In 2012, the "One Love" believer and singer made $17 million, earning him the number five spot on Forbes list of "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities." Today, thousands pay homage to Marley by visiting the mausoleum where he rests near his childhood home in Saint Ann.



Diana, Princess of Wales

Princess Diana's tragic death after paparazzi chased her down in Paris 15 years ago rocked not just Britain, but the world. More than a million mourners flooded London for her funeral, where Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind," which he originally wrote for Marilyn Monroe but rewrote for Diana. The song has since become the second-best selling single of all time at 33 million copies.

A few days before his wedding, Prince William is said to have taken Kate Middleton to visit the island where his mother's grave sits on the Althorp Estate in Northhampshire, England. A temple with limited visiting times for the public serves as a shrine to the late princess, who was known for her philanthropic work -- especially in the fight against AIDS -- and for transforming the British monarchy.



Elvis Presley

Known for his good looks, hip-shaking moves and bluesy voice, King of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley is the top selling individual artist of all time. With 18 number one hits, such as "Hound Dog" and "Love me Tender," Presley received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at only 36 years old. But just six years later he died Aug. 16, 1977, after an overdose of prescription medication.

Initially, Presley was buried in Memphis, Tenn., at the Forest Hills Cemetery, but after too much tampering, his body was moved to his beloved Graceland. Today, fans visit his final resting place year round, but it's the annual celebration in August known as "Elvis Week" that draws the biggest crowds. This past year marked the 35th anniversary of Presley's death; a reported 500 fans per hour toured the mansion while an estimated 75,000 attended the candlelight vigil, according to Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal.

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