Court Filing Inadvertently Reveals How Much Michael Jackson's Kids Have Been Paid Since His Death

When Michael Jackson died in 2009, his estate was more than $500 million in debt and teetering on the edge of financial ruin. Creditors were circling, lawsuits were piling up, and it looked like many of his most valuable assets—including his music catalogs and likeness rights—might have to be liquidated to settle the mountain of obligations. For a brief moment, the King of Pop's legacy appeared to be headed for total collapse.

But thanks to the shrewd and aggressive management of his estate's executors, John Branca and John McClain, the opposite happened. Over the years, the Jackson estate pulled off one of the most remarkable financial recoveries in entertainment history.

Branca and McClain restructured the debt, negotiated record-breaking deals, and transformed dormant intellectual property into a billion-dollar business.

In 2016, they sold Michael's 50% stake in the Sony/ATV catalog for $750 million. In 2024, they sold half of his Mijac Music publishing company for around $600 million. Altogether, the estate has generated more than $2 billion in revenue since 2009.

Michael's will left a 40% interest in his estate to his mother. He left 40% to his three children (13% each today). The remaining 20% was left to various children's charities. Upon Katherine's death, her 40% will go to Paris Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson, and Blanket Jackson, eventually giving them 80% control, or 26.7% each.

Over the last 15ish years, no one has really known how much each heir has actually received from the turnaround of Michael's estate… until now.

Prince Jackson, Paris Jackson, and Bigi Jackson aka Blanket Jackson (Photo by Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Paris' Lawsuit Reveals Income

In June 2025, Paris Jackson filed a formal objection in Los Angeles probate court, complaining about a set of "premium" payouts made by Michael Jackson's estate in 2018. According to her petition, the estate's co-executors, Branca and McClain, authorized $625,000 in bonus payments to three law firms for "unrecorded attorney time"—extra compensation that was not backed by itemized billing or specific tasks.

Paris was essentially accusing the executors of handing out six-figure gifts to already well-paid lawyers without proper court oversight, calling the payments excessive, opaque, and potentially in violation of a standing court order.

The executors pushed back a month later in a detailed response, defending the bonuses as standard practice in the entertainment industry. They argued that the firms involved had helped generate enormous value for the estate.

Earlier this month, Paris submitted another filing, doubling down on her objections, arguing that the executors had failed to explain why such large bonuses were paid in full without recorded time or detailed court review. In response, the estate filed a new motion defending its track record—one that, for the first time, offered a glimpse into just how much Paris Jackson herself has already received from her father's financial empire.

A newly submitted Branca/McClain filing went on the offense. In the filing, the lawyers argued that Paris was informed of the payments in advance AND that she waited over a year to complain. More importantly, as part of their defense, they included a previously undisclosed figure. According to the estate's own records, Paris Jackson has received approximately $65 million in financial benefits since her father's death.

Bigger Picture

If you'll recall from earlier, Paris and her siblings each own 13% of Michael's estate. If Paris received $65 million over the last 15 years, it's safe to assume Prince Michael and Blanket (who prefers to go by Bigi now) have also received $65 million. Mathematically, it also presumes that the aggregate distribution amount so far has been $500 million. Recall that Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, owns 40% and the final 20% goes to charity. Those numbers would break down as:

• Paris: $65 million
• Prince Michael: $65 million
• Blanket: $65 million
• Katherine: $200 million
• Various charities: $100 million

It's also generally understood that John Branca and John McClain receive 15-20% of whatever the estate generates before the distributions are made. Let's say it's 20%. Given the numbers above, by my estimate, the estate had $833 million before each lawyer took a 20% cut to leave $500 million left over for distribution. In other words, assuming 20%, each lawyer was paid $167 million.

Longterm Windfalls

Katherine Jackson is 95 years old. As we stated previously, upon her death, Paris/Prince and Blanket will absorb her 40% stake, bringing them each individually up to 26.7%. Michael's estate has already earned some of the biggest windfalls it will likely ever earn, but let's say over the next 20 years, there's another $1 billion for distribution. If that happens, the three children will make another $267 million, while $200 million goes to charity.

All of this underscores just how successful the turnaround of Michael Jackson's estate has been—and how much more value remains to be distributed. While the exact details of the estate's finances have been kept under tight wraps for years, this recent legal dust-up offered an unusually clear look behind the curtain. And if the current trajectory holds, Michael Jackson's children (and their children) are on track to inherit fortunes that should keep them extremely rich for generations to come.