Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," was one of the best-selling and most influential entertainers in history. Born August 29, 1958, he died on June 25, 2009, at age 50, reportedly around $500 million in debt — yet today his estate is valued at approximately $2 billion. He was married twice, to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, and had three children. In 2026, the estate-backed biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, premiered in cinemas worldwide and crossed $1 billion at the global box office.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Date of Birth | August 29, 1958 |
| Date of Death | June 25, 2009 |
| Age at Death | 50 |
| Birthplace | Gary, Indiana, USA |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Producer |
| Known For | "King of Pop"; Thriller, the best-selling album of all time |
| Wives | Lisa Marie Presley (1994–1996); Debbie Rowe (1996–2000) |
| Children | 3 (Prince, Paris, Bigi) |
| Estate Value | ~$2 billion (estimate, 2026) |
| Biopic | Michael (2026), starring nephew Jaafar Jackson |
Early Life and Jackson 5
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the eighth of ten children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson. His father, a steelworker and aspiring musician, recognized his children's talent early and formed the family group.
Michael made his public debut in 1964 at just six years old as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, alongside brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. The group became a sensation in the late 1960s with hits like "I Want You Back" and "ABC." Michael also released four solo albums with Motown between 1972 and 1975 while still in the group.
Solo Career
Breakthrough
Jackson's solo breakthrough came with Off the Wall (1979), the first album by a solo artist to produce four top-10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Then came Thriller (1982), which became the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of 70 million copies worldwide.
Global Dominance
The music videos for "Thriller," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean" redefined the medium and helped popularize MTV, breaking racial barriers on music television. His debut of the moonwalk during the 1983 Motown 25 special became one of the most famous moments in pop history.
Bad (1987) produced five U.S. number-one singles — a first — and Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995) were also international blockbusters. Across his career, Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, and 39 Guinness World Records.
Later Years
From the mid-1980s, Jackson faced intense public scrutiny over his appearance, lifestyle, and relationships. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of child molestation allegations and other charges. While preparing for his This Is It comeback concert series, he died on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray.
Marriages and Family
Jackson was married twice. His first marriage was to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, in 1994; they divorced in 1996. His second marriage was to Debbie Rowe, a dermatology nurse, from 1996 to 2000.
Jackson had three children: Prince (Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.), Paris, and Bigi (Prince Michael Jackson II, formerly known as "Blanket"). His children, along with his mother Katherine Jackson, are the primary beneficiaries of his estate trust.
Where His Children Are Today
Prince (born February 13, 1997) graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a business degree in 2019 and runs the charity Heal Los Angeles, continuing his father's humanitarian legacy. He has also worked in media production, producing music videos, and announced his engagement to his long-term partner, Molly, in August 2025.
Paris (born April 3, 1998) has built her own career as a model, actress and singer — she has appeared in series including American Horror Stories and fronts the band The Soundflowers — and has spoken openly about her mental-health journey and the importance of privacy. She chose not to participate in the 2026 Michael biopic.
Bigi (born February 21, 2002) is the most private of the three siblings. He has shown an interest in filmmaking behind the camera, and his short film Rochelles won an award at a Santa Monica film festival.
Net Worth and Estate
At Death: ~$500 Million in Debt
At the time of his death in 2009, Jackson was reportedly around $500 million in debt, according to court documents and testimony from his accountants. Despite earning $50–100 million a year at his peak, extravagant spending, legal battles, and heavy borrowing — including a $270 million loan against his 50% stake in the Sony/ATV music catalog — left him asset-rich but cash-poor.
Today: A ~$2 Billion Estate
Under executors John Branca and John McClain, the estate engineered one of entertainment's greatest financial turnarounds. Key deals include Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson ONE, the Broadway hit MJ: The Musical, and a landmark 2024 agreement in which Sony Music bought half of Jackson's catalog in a deal valuing his musical assets above $1.2 billion.
By 2026, the estate is widely estimated to be worth around $2 billion, with annual earnings often exceeding $100 million — making Jackson consistently the highest-earning deceased celebrity. The estate's beneficiaries include his three children (40% share combined), his mother Katherine (40%), and charity (20%).
The February 2024 Sony agreement was reported by Billboard as the largest single-artist catalog deal ever: Sony paid at least $600 million for half of Jackson's publishing and recorded masters, valuing the assets at $1.2–$1.5 billion. The deal included Jackson's Mijac publishing catalog — home to roughly 250 Sly & the Family Stone songs plus works by Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield and others — though it excluded royalties from MJ: The Musical. Katherine Jackson attempted to block the sale, arguing it went against her son's wishes, but a California appeals court ruled in August 2024 that executors John Branca and John McClain had the authority to sell.
Forbes' Highest-Paid Dead Celebrity
Jackson topped Forbes' 2025 list of highest-paid deceased celebrities, earning an estimated $105 million over the previous year — his 13th time at No. 1 in the 16 full calendar years since his death. Forbes estimates the estate has generated $3.5 billion since 2009. The income comes from streaming royalties, five touring productions of MJ: The Musical and the long-running Las Vegas show Michael Jackson ONE, plus the 2009 concert film This Is It, which grossed $267 million at the box office. One estate lawyer told Forbes there was "an enormous canyon" between Jackson and everyone else on the list.
Legacy and the "Michael" Biopic
Jackson's legacy received formal recognition when the "Thriller" music video became, in 2009, the first music video ever selected for the Library of Congress's National Film Registry, which called it "the most famous music video of all time."
In April 2026, the estate-backed biopic Michael — directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan — premiered in Berlin on April 10 and was released in U.S. theaters and IMAX on April 24 (Lionsgate in the U.S., Universal internationally). Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson stars in the title role, alongside Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and Mike Myers. The film traces Jackson's rise from the Jackson 5 through the Bad era, and became the first biopic in history to cross $1 billion at the global box office, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody as the highest-grossing music biopic ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Michael Jackson's net worth?
At his death in 2009, Jackson was reportedly about $500 million in debt. Today, his estate is estimated at around $2 billion — one of the most remarkable posthumous financial turnarounds in history.
Who was Michael Jackson's wife?
He was married twice: to Lisa Marie Presley (1994–1996) and to Debbie Rowe (1996–2000).
How many children did Michael Jackson have?
Three: Prince (Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.), Paris, and Bigi (Prince Michael Jackson II).
How did Michael Jackson die?
He died on June 25, 2009, at age 50, from acute propofol intoxication administered by his personal physician while preparing for his This Is It concert series.
What is Michael Jackson's best-selling album?
Thriller (1982), the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 70 million copies sold worldwide.