Court filings reveal escalating legal dispute between Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, and estate executors over payments, bonuses, and management decisions.
A deepening legal rift has emerged between Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson, and the executors of the late Pop Icon’s estate, who claim she has received about $65 million in financial benefits since her father’s death in 2009.
The figure was disclosed in a motion filed on October 9, 2025, by executors John Branca and John McClain, who are defending their management of the estate against accusations of financial mismanagement raised by Paris’ legal team earlier this year.
Attorneys for the executors said that “few have benefited more” from their business decisions than Paris herself, crediting their stewardship for transforming the estate from “nothing but debt and substantial ongoing obligations” into a $2 billion enterprise. They argued that their strategy allowed Jackson’s heirs to reap long-term rewards from revived licensing, publishing, and music ventures.
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In their filing, the executors cited a judge’s earlier praise for their work in turning a financially troubled estate into “a powerhouse and a force in the music business today.” The court documents, reviewed by People magazine, also defended $625,000 in payments to three law firms, describing them as legitimate bonuses for “extraordinary services and results” that required court approval.
However, Paris Jackson’s attorneys allege that those payments were unauthorized “gratuities” to already well-compensated legal teams, violating a court order that limits attorney fees until judicial approval is granted. They also questioned why some firms billed for “unrecorded or unbilled time,” suggesting the payments lacked transparency.
The dispute centers on how the estate handles attorney bonuses, investment profits, and executive oversight. Paris’ legal team contends that the executors’ explanations fail to justify the scale of payments made to certain law firms, some of which were involved in multimillion-dollar transactions — including a $287 million return from the estate’s investment in EMI Music Publishing.
Branca and McClain rejected the claims, insisting that all disbursements were lawful and performance-based. “Bonuses are not paid without consideration,” they stated. “They reward exceptional results, not routine services.”
Michael Jackson, known globally as the “King of Pop,” died at age 50 on June 25, 2009, from cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. Sixteen years later, his legacy remains both a cultural and financial powerhouse — but one still mired in legal complexities among those closest to it.
