Joe Jackson Net Worth

What Was Joseph Jackson's Net Worth?

Joe Jackson was an American music manager who had a net worth of $500 thousand at the time of his death in 2018. Joe Jackson was best known as the patriarch of the Jackson family, one of the most famous families in entertainment history. A former boxer and steelworker in Gary, Indiana, he recognized the musical potential of his children early on and shaped them into one of the most successful pop groups of all time, The Jackson 5. Under his strict management, the group—featuring sons Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael—rose to fame in the late 1960s with Motown Records, producing a string of hits like "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There." Joe's ambition and discipline helped transform his children into global superstars, though his authoritarian style was often criticized for being physically and emotionally harsh.

Jackson married Katherine Scruse in 1949, and together they raised ten children. After early failures as a musician himself, he turned his energy to managing his sons' careers, eventually moving the family to Los Angeles as fame took hold. As his children matured, several pursued solo success—most notably Michael and Janet Jackson—both of whom became among the most influential entertainers in history. Though his management of The Jackson 5 ended in the late 1970s, Joe continued to guide other family members' careers and remained a visible, if controversial, figure in the entertainment world.

In later years, Jackson's legacy became more complicated. While many of his children credited his discipline and vision for their success, several also described years of abuse and controlling behavior. Despite the strained relationships, he remained involved in family matters until his death in 2018, leaving behind a complicated but undeniable legacy as the architect of the Jackson family's global fame.

Early Life

Joe Jackson was born on July 26, 1928, in Fountain Hill, Arkansas, to Crystal Lee and Samuel Joseph Jackson, a teacher. The eldest of five children, Joe grew up in a strict household and later described his father as domineering and emotionally distant. His childhood was marked by loneliness and instability. When his parents separated when he was 12, his mother moved with his siblings to East Chicago, Indiana, while Joe went with his father to Oakland, California. The split left him isolated and self-reliant at an early age. After his father remarried when Joe was 18, he rejoined his family in East Chicago, where he struggled to find direction and eventually dropped out of high school.

Family and Early Career

After returning to Indiana, Jackson took a job at Inland Steel Company to support himself. Outside of work, he pursued boxing and achieved some success in the Golden Gloves amateur circuit, even preparing for a professional career before life took a different turn. During this time, he met 17-year-old Katherine Scruse, a student at Washington High School in Gary. Although he was briefly married to another woman, that marriage was annulled so he could be with Katherine. The couple married in November 1949 and settled in a modest two-bedroom home in Gary, Indiana. They went on to have ten children: Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Michael, Randy, Janet, and Brandon (who died shortly after birth). Joe supported the family by working multiple jobs, including a position at American Foundries, while Katherine worked at Sears. Despite his responsibilities, Joe maintained his love for music, playing guitar in a local blues band called The Falcons with his brother Luther.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

The Jackson 5

In the early 1960s, Joe noticed his sons' growing musical talent and decided to form a family group. Beginning with Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine, he created The Jackson Brothers, later adding Michael and Marlon and renaming the group The Jackson 5. He managed them with intense discipline, organizing daily rehearsals and bookings at local talent shows, school events, and eventually larger venues. The group's big break came when Joe arranged performances at the Apollo Theater in New York, which caught the attention of industry professionals.

In 1967, The Jackson 5 signed their first deal with Steeltown Records in Gary and released their debut single, "Big Boy." Though it saw limited success, it led to a Motown contract in 1969. Joe moved the family to Los Angeles, closely overseeing recording sessions as the group skyrocketed to fame. Their first Motown single, "I Want You Back," became a No. 1 hit, followed by "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." The Jackson 5 quickly became one of the biggest acts in pop music, ushering in a new era of Motown success. In 1974, Joe founded his own label, Ivory Tower International Records, and managed several artists who toured as openers for his sons.

The family parted ways with Motown in 1975, signing with Epic Records under the new name The Jacksons after Berry Gordy retained the rights to their original name. As Michael and Jermaine began pursuing solo projects, Joe's focus expanded to his youngest daughter, Janet, helping her record her first demos and secure a deal with A&M Records in 1982—laying the groundwork for another global superstar in the family.

(Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Controversy and Legacy

Despite the family's extraordinary success, Joe Jackson's management methods were deeply controversial. His strict discipline, long rehearsals, and aggressive control over his children's careers later came under scrutiny. By the late 1970s, the family had severed professional ties with him. In the 1990s, Michael publicly accused his father of physical and emotional abuse, claims that some siblings corroborated and others denied. The allegations permanently altered Joe's public image and strained his relationship with several of his children.

Outside of the family's fame, Joe's personal life was tumultuous. His long marriage to Katherine survived multiple infidelities, including one that produced another daughter, Joh'Vonnie Jackson. Katherine filed for divorce twice but later withdrew both petitions.

When Michael Jackson died in 2009, his will notably excluded his father, leaving his estate to his mother and children. Joe lived out his later years largely in Las Vegas and passed away on June 27, 2018, from pancreatic cancer at age 89. Despite the controversy surrounding his methods, he remains an undeniably pivotal figure in American music history—the man who built the foundation for one of the most successful and influential families in entertainment.

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