The unstoppable legacy of 'Peanuts' and how much it's made over 65 years
Charles M. Schulz created the comic strip in 1950 and continued producing the daily strips until shortly before his death in February 2000. "Peanuts" was first published in only seven newspapers, but it quickly became a global phenomenon. The comic is now published in 2,600 countries and has more than 700 licensing agreements spread across the globe.
Charlie Brown's bad luck and misadventures have been documented in animated series since 1965's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and today's release of "The Peanuts Movie" marks the first such film in 35 years.
Charlie Brown and co. were owned by the E.W. Scripps Company's United Feature Syndicate until the Iconix Brand Group purchased the brand for $175 million in 2010. Throughout the years, "Peanuts'" annual revenue has ranged from $80 million to upward of $1 billion.
Here's a look back at where the "Peanuts" legacy started and how far it's come.
All adjusted rates calculated via the Bureau of Labor Statistics.