Paris Jackson Demands 600 Million Dollars From Michael Jackson Estate
Paris Jackson has petitioned a court to transfer 600 million dollars from Michael Jackson's estate to the family trust, accusing executor John Branca of withholding funds. Estate representatives denied the claims, citing ongoing IRS disputes.
Seventeen years after his death, the legal battle over Michael Jackson's estate continues to intensify as his daughter, Paris Jackson, has filed a petition in a Los Angeles court demanding the transfer of 600 million dollars to the family trust designated for her and her brothers, Prince and Biggie.
According to the legal filing, the late pop star stipulated in his will that his children would begin receiving income from their allocated shares upon turning 21. However, Paris contends that this has never happened, with her and her siblings instead receiving much smaller sums at the discretion of estate co-executor John Branca, whom Michael Jackson first hired in 1985. The petition accuses Branca of maintaining an iron grip on the beneficiaries, alleging that her previous challenges to his management resulted in aggressive legal maneuvering, public attacks, and millions of dollars being withheld from their stipends.
Timeline and Financial Disputes
The dispute also involves a strict timeline established in the will, under which each child was scheduled to receive one-third of their personal trust fund upon turning 30, half of the remaining balance at 35, and the full amount at 40. With Prince approaching 30 in four months, Paris turning 29 in April, and Biggie reaching 25 in February, Paris argues that even the funds originally designated for distribution at age 21 remain unpaid.
Estate representatives have strongly pushed back against the claims. A spokesperson for the executors stated that Paris's legal team is well aware that the full transfer of funds is legally impossible until ongoing tax disputes with the Internal Revenue Service are completely resolved. The spokesperson dismissed allegations of withheld payments as entirely fabricated, emphasizing that more than 200 million dollars have already been distributed to the children in strict accordance with the pop star's final wishes.
Transparency and Past Struggles
The court filing follows a separate legal move reported days earlier regarding Branca's legal fees and a perceived lack of financial transparency. Representatives for the estate countered that the executors waived their basic fees and that the compensation they receive consists strictly of court-approved management fees for running the pop star's extensive business empire.
Amidst the ongoing financial friction, Paris recently offered a candid look into her past. During an August appearance on Alex Cooper's podcast Call Her Daddy, she reflected on her unconventional childhood at Neverland Ranch, noting that the famous amusement park rides were built primarily for underprivileged and terminally ill children rather than the Jackson siblings. She also opened up about her early struggles with substance abuse following her father's death at age 11, celebrating six years of sobriety.
