Michael Jackson Estate: Paris Received $65M in Benefits Amid Executor Dispute

Michael Jackson’s estate executors said that his daughter Paris has gotten around $65 million in proceeds from the estate in the 16 years since his death.

The disclosure came via an October 9 motion in which executors John Branca and John McClain answered back to Paris’ questioning of their handling of the late King of Pop’s business affairs.

‘Few have benefited more from the Executors’ business judgment than [Paris] herself, who has received roughly $65 million from the Estate in benefits,’ attorneys for Branca and McClain said in the motion reviewed by People.

The executor said that their business savvy allowed Paris to reap major financial windfalls that would not have been possible otherwise.

‘She would have never received that had the executors followed a typical playbook for an Estate like this one in July 2009,’ the executors said.

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Paris and the executors for further comment on the story. 

Paris, who is the middle child of Jackson – her brothers are Prince, 28, and Bigi, 23 – had previously sought to put legal scrutiny on the executors in a June 24 filing reviewed by People, flagging what she called questionable bonuses and ‘premium’ payouts the estate made in 2018.

In their motion, the executors said that they were able to take a sad song and make it better when it came to Jackson’s brand and business in the near two decades they have been running the show.

They incorporated words of praise a judge previously gave them for their business savviness in Sheppard in the estate from a debt-ridden disaster to ‘a powerhouse and a force in the music business today.’

Attorneys for Branca and McClain said in the motion that ‘the Executors’ business judgment has taken an estate that “started out as nothing but debt and substantial ongoing obligation” and “turned [it] into a $2 billion estate.”‘

Attorneys for Paris said in the filing in a petition filed this past June that $625,000 in ‘gifts’ and ‘gratuities’ were dispersed to three law firms for what was described as ‘uncaptured time,’ People reported after reviewing court docs. 

Lawyers for Paris said in the filing that the executors made no effort to make sense of ‘why counsel was incapable of recording unbilled time, or why such a failure should not preclude payment.’

Attorneys for Paris in the filing said that two of the firms involved had gotten ‘premium payments’ in breach of the ‘Court’s order allowing only partial payment of attorneys’ fees until Court approval is obtained.

‘Even worse, these payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel.’

In the executors’ October 9 motion, lawyers said language used by Paris’ legal team was ‘knowingly false’ in terms of how bonus payments are dispersed, as well as the legalities of such under the current arrangement.

‘Bonuses are not paid without consideration; they are paid for extraordinary services and results,’ the executors’ legal team said in the motion.

They noted that ‘the bonuses are not complete divestments of control’ and are indeed ‘subject to probate court approval.’

Executors in July filings the outlet reviewed previously praised legal firms they worked with for being ‘instrumental and critical’ throughout a number of transactions which achieved ‘unprecedented results for the Estate.’

The series of deals included ‘without limitation, the more than $287 million return on the EMI investment,’ lawyers for the executors said. 

In 2018, Sony purchased the estate’s shares of the company EMI, during a time when executives asked for an extra $625,000 to pay the three firms.

The lawyers ‘cannot be adequately measured or fairly compensated by an hourly rate fee payment’ in relation to the complicated series of business maneuvers, lawyers for the estate said.

Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009 after suffering cardiac arrest in the Los Angeles mansion he was living in.

Authorities in February 2010 deemed his death as the result of acute propofol intoxication.

Jackson had been administered the powerful drug by his personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, who told investigators that the singer called the substance (which he took via an IV drip) ‘milk’ and said he needed it to sleep.

Jackson’s death spurred a tidal wave of international tributes from fans both in person and on burgeoning social media platforms. 

Jackson’s family, including his three children – who had not been seen publicly without masks on prior to that time – was on hand for a highly-viewed July 7, 2009 memorial at the Crypto.com Arena (then known as the Staples Center) in Los Angeles.

‘I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine – and I just wanted to say I love him so much,’ Paris, then 11, said at the emotional service.

A private funeral for Jackson’s family and friends was held in Glendale, California at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. 

Eventually, Murray’s care of Jackson fell under scrutiny after the singer’s death, amid questions about his judgment in giving Jackson the substance in certain doses, and not meeting safety precautions in administering the drug. 

Jackson’s death was ultimately deemed a homicide by investigators and in November of 2011 – more than two years after his death – Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.

Jackson had an unprecedented career in music, as one of the best-selling artists of all-time, who won 13 Grammys over 38 nominations.

Honors included Best Male R&B Vocal Performance on Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough in 1980, Album of the Year for Thriller in 1984 and Record of the Year for Beat It the same year.

He was also given the Grammy Legend Award in 1993, and posthumously, The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. He had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.