Paris Jackson is taking Michael Jackson’s estate to court, seeking $600 million for a family trust she claims has remained unfunded for more than 17 years.
The 28-year-old daughter of the late King of Pop has filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court asking a judge to order the transfer of funds into a trust established for her and her brothers, Prince and Bigi.
In her court papers, Paris argues that the estate has generated billions through major business deals and asset sales, yet the trust has not received the money she believes it is entitled to.
Among the transactions she cites are the $287,5 million sale of EMI Music Publishing in 2018, the sale of Neverland Ranch in 2020 and a major Sony deal reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
Paris also takes issue with the estate’s financial management, questioning spending on private jet travel, legal fees and executive compensation.
She alleges that she and her brothers remain reliant on discretionary payments controlled by estate executor John Branca.
The estate has strongly disputed her claims.
In a statement, its legal representatives described allegations of withheld payments as a “complete fabrication”, saying more than $200 million has already been distributed for the benefit of Michael’s children.
The executors maintain that unresolved legal matters are preventing the full transfer of funds. These include an ongoing tax dispute with the IRS, which initially sought $700 million in taxes and penalties.
The estate has also argued that the terms of Michael’s will provide for distributions to his children at specified ages, with the remaining principal due in stages.
A court hearing is scheduled for December 4, where a judge will consider Paris’s request.
The dispute adds another chapter to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the late music icon’s fortune, with the outcome potentially affecting how his children access their inheritance. —IOL Entertainment
