Paris Jackson, daughter of singer Michael Jackson, received US$ 65 million (about R$ 365 million in current conversion) in benefits and payments from her father’s estate. The revelation surfaced through new court documents filed in the lawsuit brought by Paris herself against the estate’s administrators. The King of Pop’s heir questions the transparency of the management and alleges that million-dollar payments were made without proper court approval. The case highlights the complexity of administering large posthumous fortunes and focuses on the legal battle for control and oversight.
The legal dispute occurs at a time when Jackson’s estate is generating significant profits. The singer’s estate, which in 2009 accumulated debts of over US$ 500 million (approximately R$ 2.7 billion), was turned into a profitable business by the executors.
The administrators claim to have reversed the deficit into a lucrative empire, with billions in revenue from copyrights, licensing, and music deals.
Questioning of payments
Paris Jackson, 27, initiated the action by questioning the legality and necessity of payments made to law firms.
The heir alleges that bonuses totaling US$ 625,000 (about R$ 3.4 million) were distributed as “unjustified gratuities” for unspecified work hours.
The payments, according to Paris’s judicial request, violate a 2010 order that required certain expenses to have prior court approval.
Details of the financial turnaround
The estate executors deny the accusations and argue that the bonuses granted were justified by the results achieved in managing the assets. They emphasize that their work was crucial in:
- Reversing a debt situation of hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Generating over US$ 3 billion in gross revenues since the artist’s death.
- Securing a return of US$ 287 million from the investment in EMI, a relevant music catalog.
The administrators’ defense argues that the compensation was appropriate for the “extraordinary services” that transformed a failed estate into a globally profitable business.
Estate and assets history
Michael Jackson’s fortune was set up to benefit his three children — Paris, Prince, and Bigi — and his mother, Katherine Jackson, with equal divisions in the receipt of rights and profits. The division, according to documents from the time, was an expressed wish of the artist.
Since 2009, the heirs have collectively received an estimated amount of over R$ 11 billion, primarily through music copyrights and other ventures linked to the Michael Jackson brand. This continuous flow of resources demonstrates the strength of the King of Pop’s financial legacy.
Next steps in the controversy
The focus of the lawsuit, besides spending transparency, is the revocation of the 2010 court order that allows administrators to pay legal fees without prior approval. Paris Jackson seeks greater scrutiny of the accounts to ensure the preservation of the estate.
The next hearing is scheduled and may determine the future of the estate’s financial control. Uncertainty looms over the final determination of the singer’s total assets for tax purposes, which has kept a portion of the inheritance under legal restriction.
