Paris Jackson's legal team alleges that the executors of Michael Jackson's estate have paid themselves over $200 million (£148 million). Meanwhile, they note that the family trust for Paris and her brothers remains unfunded.
This dispute comes amid broader concerns about the estate's financial management and Paris Jackson's petition seeking a hefty transfer to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Her representatives argued the estate has sufficient assets, noting it has been 17 years since her father's death.
$600 Million Trust Request
The said petition was filed on 29 October in Los Angeles Superior Court. It seeks a court-ordered transfer of $600 million (£445 million) from the estate, or an alternative amount the judge determines.
The trust was established for the benefit of Michael's three children: Paris, Prince Jackson, 29, and Bigi Jackson, 24. According to the filing, Michael intended his children to begin receiving income from their respective trust shares at age 21. The petition states that the siblings were also meant to receive one-third of their trust principal at age 30, half of the remainder at 35, and the final balance at 40.
🚨17 YEARS AFTER MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEATH, HIS CHILDREN ARE STILL FIGHTING OVER A $600 MILLION INHERITANCE TRUST.
— B’s Spin🐝 (@BsSpin) November 3, 2026
And what Paris Jackson is alleging in court is raising some serious questions.
Paris, 28, has asked a Los Angeles judge to order $600 MILLION transferred from her…
However, since the trust remains unfunded, they depend on executor John Branca for funds. Paris' legal team argues the estate can make a partial distribution without risking its financial obligations.
Branca and John McClain were appointed co-executors after Michael's death on 25 June 2009. McClain passed away in May 2026, leaving Branca as the sole executor of Michael Jackson's estate.
Estate's Finances Under Scrutiny
The petition points to several major transactions. These include the sale of the estate's EMI Music Publishing stake for over $287 million (£213 million), the sale of Neverland Ranch for $22 million (£16.3 million), and a 2023 Sony deal for $750 million (£557 million).
'These transactions alone resulted in pre-tax, pre-expense liquidity for the estate exceeding $1 billion (£742 million),' the filing states. It also notes approximately $850 million (£631 million) in cash as of December 2024 and claims the estate has generated over $2.5 billion (£1.86 billion) in earnings.
Michael Jackson's termination letter to John Branca head of MJ estate who sold the MJ catalog to Sony. Also, a letter to Branca saying he doesn’t want to lose the catalog. First MJ was murdered, next his Beatles catalog was sold to Sony & now his own music catalogue. Tragic. pic.twitter.com/yKVJJHOQAf
— Keya Morgan (@KeyaMorgan) February 11, 2024
However, the estate maintains that outstanding legal issues, including an IRS dispute over $700 million (£519 million) in taxes and penalties, have delayed full funding of the family trust. Its representative called allegations of withheld beneficiary payments a 'complete fabrication' and stated that over $200 million (£148 million) has already been distributed to or for the beneficiaries.
According to a New York Times report, Paris' representative disputed the estate's position, stating, 'The executors had the ability and obligation to begin funding the trust long ago. Instead, they have paid themselves over $200 million (£148 million). It's time to act in the best interest of Michael's beneficiaries as he intended.'
Previous Estate Disputes
The petition also references an earlier dispute over gifts Branca gave to colleagues. It alleges that after Paris raised objections, she faced aggressive litigation, public criticism, and a significant reduction in estate distributions to the family.
Following Paris' challenge, in May 2026, a Los Angeles judge ordered the return of $625,000 (£464,000) in bonus payments made to outside law firms in 2018. These payments were made to the firms instead of directly to the executors.
Paris has also contested a separate compensation arrangement involving about $109.2 million (£81 million) in payments for estate management and legal services, including Branca's management fee. A hearing on her $600 million petition and a separate compensation challenge is scheduled for 4 December 2026.
