Top 10 Dead People Rumored to be Alive

Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Russia’s Nicholas II, was killed by Communist revolutionaries when she was 17-years-old. But that didn’t stop a number of pretenders from claiming they were the heir to the throne. The most famous was Anna Anderson, who sued to be recognized as the Grand Duchess, but lost. Her story inspired the famous movie, “Anastasia,” but DNA tests have since confirmed that Anderson’s claim was false.

U.S. Special Forces killed the mastermind of the September 11th attacks in 2011. Nonetheless, rumors of his continued existence keep circulating, mostly based on the premise “pics or it didn’t happen.” Many Americans believe his death was faked to boost President Obama’s approval rating. Our favorite theory: the President faked bin Laden’s death just so he could pre-empt Donald Trump’s TV show, because Trump questioned the President’s birth certificate.

Teamsters’ president Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappeared in 1975. While theories suggest he ended up buried under Giants Stadium, others claim he faked his own death. Why would he do that? Hoffa was in bed with organized crime for years, and some believe he had ratted out some of his cronies. The only recourse: Disappear into the Witness Relocation Program. Nevertheless, Hoffa was officially declared dead in 1982.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson had gone a bit strange by the time of his death on June 25, 2009; still, there’s no reason to believe he’s not buried in that gold-plated coffin, as some allege. According to ardent believers, MJ faked his death for one of three reasons: he was tired of being a tabloid fixture. He needed a way out of his crushing debt. Or it’s all a big publicity stunt and he’s working on a real comeback album right now.

Because Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s body was burned after his 1945 suicide, rumors abound of Hitler escaping death – despite dental records proving otherwise. The most popular theory: he took a submarine to Argentina, a country which did indeed welcome many Nazi criminals. Supposed sightings of Hitler in Argentina continued for decades, but have since died down – perhaps because Herr Fuehrer would be over 120-years-old by now.

When famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart disappeared in 1937 during an around-the-world flight, the country mourned. Those who dispute her death have many theories, including that she was captured by the Japanese and forced to broadcast propaganda as the notorious Tokyo Rose. Others have her living on a deserted island or starting a new life – as a New Jersey banker. Whatever the case, she was declared dead in 1939.

Comedian Andy Kaufman was known for playing elaborate pranks on his audience, so many doubt he really died in 1984. In fact, dedicated fans insist it’s all part of an elaborate ruse. The rumor resurfaced in 2013 when a 24-year-old actress named Alexandra Tatarsky claimed to be Kaufman’s daughter. The claim, like all those involving Kaufman’s supposedly faked death, was proven false.

The expression “live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse” definitely applies to Doors’ frontman Jim Morrison, who died in Paris at age 27. A bank-teller claims to have cashed a check for Morrison after his death, and many reported seeing the singer in France. Others claim he’s in Africa, living a life of happy seclusion. Père Lachaise Cemetery has good reason to believe he’s dead, though: his grave is a major Paris tourist attraction.

“Brothers getting shot, coming back resurrected,” Tupac Shakur rapped that prophetic line on his album “The 7 Day Theory,” which was released after his death in a drive-by shooting. Before he died, Shakur had begun going by the name Makaveli, after the strategist who advocated faking death to fool enemies. And Suge Knight, who was in the car with Shakur when he was shot, has expressed doubt about his death. However, the Las Vegas coroner disagrees.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- D.B. Cooper (unknown - disappeared November 24, 1971)
- Princess Diana (July 1, 1961 - August 31, 1997)

“The King is dead. Long live the King.” This phrase takes on new meaning when talking about Elvis. He died in 1977, but faithful fans claim a wax dummy is all that lies in his coffin. And there’ve been a colossal amount of supposed post-death sightings of the King: sometimes he’s sweeping the floor in a Stockholm bar, sometimes he’s living in Las Vegas sewers, sometimes he’s working as an Elvis lookalike at Graceland. Elvis sightings will never die, but neither will his music – and that’s what really matters.

Do you agree with our list? Which famous personality have you thought cheated death? For more interesting top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.