Michael Jackson was one of the most influential and famous artists of all time. Often referred to as the “King of Pop”, his contributions to music, dance and fashion helped propel him to global fame and fortune. At the height of his career, Michael Jackson’s net worth was estimated to be over $500 million.
Early Life and The Jackson 5
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the eighth of ten children in the Jackson family. Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, was a devout Jehovah’s Witness and exposed him to music at a young age.
When Michael was just 5 years old, he joined his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon to form what would later become known as The Jackson 5. The group signed with Motown Records in 1968 and soon became a chart-topping phenomenon with Michael serving as the lead vocalist. Hits like “ABC,” “I’ll Be There” and “I Want You Back” showcased his prodigious singing talent to the world.
Going Solo and Thriller
After many years of success with his siblings, Michael pursued a solo career. His critically acclaimed 1979 album “Off the Wall” eventually sold over 20 million copies worldwide. It was Michael’s next studio album, however, that catapulted him to global superstardom.
Released in 1982, Thriller remains the best selling album of all time with estimated sales of over 70 million copies. It is considered by many critics and fans to be the greatest album ever made. Thriller firmly cemented Jackson’s status as the “King of Pop” and became a cultural phenomenon spawning hit singles such as “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.”
Peak Success and Endorsements
By the mid-1980s, Michael Jackson was arguably the most famous person on the planet with millions of fans worldwide buying his albums and emulating his signature dance moves. Hits like “Bad”, “Smooth Criminal” and “Dirty Diana” dominated the music charts as Jackson broke barrier after barrier including racial boundaries that had prevented African American artists from receiving regular airtime on MTV.
Major endorsement deals with companies like Pepsi also added tens of millions per year to Michael Jackson’s ballooning bank account. It’s estimated he earned $50 million from the landmark sponsorship deal with the soda company to use his song and image for advertising campaigns—an astronomical amount for the time.
Michael Jackson branded merchandise from jackets to lunchboxes also generated millions in sales enabling his advisors to aggressively invest his money into valuable publishing rights including much of The Beatles catalog. By 1987, Jackson’s net worth was estimated at over $100 million.
Health Issues, Legal Problems & Comeback Attempt
In the 1990s, stories began emerging about Jackson’s unusual lifestyle and health issues. Rumors of repeated plastic surgeries, lengthy isolation in hyperbaric chambers and uncommon cosmetic choices sparked increased scrutiny and gossip within tabloids. His lighter skin tone in particular fueled speculation of skin bleaching treatment.
Allegations of sexual abuse involving underage boys further damaged Jackson’s once squeaky clean reputation in the eyes of the public. Though he was never convicted of any abuse crimes and denied wrongdoing, just the accusations had already impacted his earning potential significantly not to mention the millions spent defending himself in court.
Despite the negative press, Michael Jackson’s musical legacy never waned even if his sales and heterosexual appeal did. In 2001, he celebrated the 30th anniversary of his seminal Thriller album and released a compilation remix album that topped charts in 11 countries.
Jackson then began conceptualizing an ambitious comeback concert tour to help regain his musical throne, pay off debts and boost his net worth back over the hundred million dollar mark. Tragically, it was not to be.
Death & Posthumous Success
At age 50 and in poor health, Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose on June 25, 2009, just weeks before his “This Is It” tour of London’s O2 Arena was set to begin.
Though obviously devastating personally to his three children and host of family members plus fans across the globe, Jackson’s unexpected death actually provided a boost to his income streams.
Offerings like the “This Is It” documentary of his tour preparation and rehearsals along with a movie soundtrack album of his hits generated nearly $500 million. By 2016, Michael Jackson’s estate had reportedly earned over $1 billion since his death thereby doubling the singer’s net worth in just a few years.Â
Even into the 2020s, Michael Jackson remains a fixture near the top of annual “highest-paid dead celebrities” lists tallying tens of millions each year from music sales and licensing for items like Halloween costumes bearing his iconic red leather jacket look.
At the time of his death, most sources estimate Michael Jackson’s net worth was around $500 million when accounting for robust album sales, extremely profitable concert tours plus his 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music catalog said to be worth over $1 billion alone. Factoring in posthumous earnings, some music industry insiders now believe Jackson’s estate holdings could be approaching nearly $2 billion thereby making Michael Jackson one of the wealthiest artists even decades after his death.
FAQs
How tall was Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson’s height was 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm).
How much did Michael Jackson weigh?
Michael Jackson’s weight fluctuated dramatically throughout his career as his appearance and health conditions changed. At the height of his fame in the 1980s, Jackson weighed around 120 pounds (54 kg). Towards the later years of his life, his weight increased to roughly 136 pounds.
What was Michael Jackson’s real skin color?
Michael Jackson was born with dark brown skin color and curly afro-textured hair. Persistent rumors that Jackson bleached his skin to appear lighter are unproven though he did admit to having the skin disease vitiligo which destroys pigmentation and may have accelerated irregular patches of light and dark skin.
What killed Michael Jackson?
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication after going into cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide as the drugs were administered by his personal doctor who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for recklessly supplying the pop star with excessive medications.
How many kids did Michael Jackson have?
Michael Jackson had three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (“Prince”, born February 13, 1997), Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (born April 3, 1998) and Prince Michael (“Blanket”) Jackson II (born February 21, 2002). Though Michael Jackson was only the biological father of his youngest son Blanket, he raised all three children. After his death, custody was awarded to his mother Katherine Jackson.