UPDATE Michael Jackson rushed to the hospital (He Has Died)

[Kurby]

:: I think that he still owns Neverland Ranch and if they turn it into a tourist destination like Graceland it can bring in Millions.\.

no he doesn't - apparently he sold it 2 or 3 years ago for about half what he paid for it - whatever that was.

 

[lovetoscrap]

no he doesn't - apparently he sold it 2 or 3 years ago for about half what he paid for it - whatever that was.

Bummer. I wonder who owns it now?

ETA: Looked it up. Apparently he transferred title in 2008 to a holding/investment company that he partially owned. So it is still partially in his estate. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-11-13-michael-jackson_N.htm Who every controls it would be nuts not to restore it to its former "glory" and turn it into the Graceland of LA.

 

[LoraJ]

9 out of 10 of the top albums on itunes right now are Michael Jackson.

I admit to buying Thriller and the Jackson 5 Anthology yesterday. I had them on on LP and cassette, don't even know where they are now.

 

[DebbieB]

Rumor has it that he willed his portion of the Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney.

 

[Kurby]

hummmm i doubt that. he could have sold them to paul years ago. i would think he would want to make sure his kids got the rights.

it was a brilliant business move but personally it sucked. that would be like fighting for custody of paul children i always thought he shouldn't have done it - it was paul (and john's) work and michael didn't have any right to it. poor form on michael's part but still a brilliant business and financial move

 

[DebbieB]

hummmm i doubt that. he could have sold them to paul years ago. i would think he would want to make sure his kids got the rights.

it was a brilliant business move but personally it sucked. that would be like fighting for custody of paul children i always thought he shouldn't have done it - it was paul (and john's) work and michael didn't have any right to it. poor form on michael's part but still a brilliant business and financial move

The story I heard last night was that he had a change of heart earlier this year (he and Paul were not getting along) and he changed his will. I guess we will not find out until the will is actually filed.

Update, found this:
http://www.spinner.com/2009/01/06/jackson-leaving-beatles-songs-to-mccartney-in-will/

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Bummer. I wonder who owns it now?

ETA: Looked it up. Apparently he transferred title in 2008 to a holding/investment company that he partially owned. So it is still partially in his estate. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-11-13-michael-jackson_N.htm Who every controls it would be nuts not to restore it to its former "glory" and turn it into the Graceland of LA.

that is correct.

On November 11, 2008 Jackson transferred the title to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC, and neighbors reported immediate activity on the property including removal of the amusement rides. Jackson still owned an unknown stake in the property, since Sycamore Valley Ranch was a joint venture between Jackson (represented by attorney L. Londell McMillan) and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC (an investment company run by billionaire Thomas Barrack, Jr). The Santa Barbara County Assessor's Office stated Jackson sold an unknown proportion of his property rights for $US35 million.

It is a gold mine!

 

[CPT Tripss]

9 out of 10 of the top albums on itunes right now are Michael Jackson.

snip

So what's the other one?

 

[Ohiodislover]

He owns the rights to his songs and 1/2 of the Beatles. All those royalties go go to him/his estate--every time you have heard his songs on the radio today??? KaChing! Every playing is money to the estate. Yes he is about 400 million in debt but he was a compulsive big spender. Without him around to spend it all it will amass and after the debts are paid the kids will have $$$$ for the rest of their lives and beyond. Just the surge in sales in this immediate period after his death will help pay off his debts. I think that he still owns Neverland Ranch and if they turn it into a tourist destination like Graceland it can bring in Millions.

And there are now stories that there may be 100 more songs already recorded and never released. That could be worth many more millions. And licensing of his image and name in the future. He will continue to bring in a fortune, and is probably worth more in death than he was in life. Sad, but true.

Rumor has it that he willed his portion of the Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney.

I heard that they would probably go back to Paul. Didn't hear the will part.

Elvis also died w/ not a ton of $$, but is the #1 money making "dead celeb". They were saying last night that MJ would probably overtake that role, be able to pay the debts, and his kids still not have to worry about much.

So what's the other one?

I believe it is Black Eyed Peas. I know they still had the top song, but 6 of the top ten were MJ.

ETA: Now Man in the Mirror is #1, and MJ songs are 7 out of the top 10. He also has the top 9 albums, with Black Eyed peas at #10.

 

[JimFitz]

He still owns part of neverland and has an option to buy the other portion back.

 

[tinatark]

Anyone else think the funeral may be at Neverland? I can see it being over-the-top, like James Brown's was... okay, not making a few stops, changes of clothing, like James was, but I think it will (should) be very extravagant, as was his performing style... Or, like his real-life persona, it may be ultra private.

 

[Shutterbug]

So many radio stations playing all his songs today. I forgot how many great songs he had.

Sirius/Xm satellite radio is broadcasting his music for the next coupe days:

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=Genre&cid=1245038449962

SIRIUS|XM celebrates The King Of Pop with The Michael Jackson Tribute Channel. Hear music from Michael Jackson’s entire career from The Jackson 5 to his solo music from June 27 through June 29 on Heart & Soul on SIRIUS Ch. 51 and XM Ch. 62.

 

[Kathymcbain]

TMZ is saying that Debbie Rowe isn't in line for custody since she gave up all of her parental rights. It says she is the mom of his two older children. Who is the mom/parents of the youngest (Blanket?)--was he adopted?

Michael never said who the mother of the youngest was - she was a surrogate. Debbie Rowe could fight for custody and very possibly get it even though she gave up her parental rights to the children. First of all, she was likely coerced to do it - even though she's never said so in the past....really, who was going to fight the Jackson machine? Plus, a court's main concern is the best interest of the children - and if they think being with her would be more beneficial to them than being with Michael's parents (or whoever else steps up and wants custody), she'll get them back. And, most courts feel that children are best with their parents, unless they have a compelling reason to feel otherwise.

My oldest daughter's dad gave up his parental rights - she was adopted by my husband, but my attorney made it VERY clear to me that should I die, he COULD come back and fight for custody of her. Whether or not he would get it is another question, especially since my DD had been adopted with his blessing....but it could have happened. In the case with Michael's kids, there is no other parent - adoptive or otherwise.

 

[DebbieB]

Anyone else think the funeral may be at Neverland? I can see it being over-the-top, like James Brown's was... okay, not making a few stops, changes of clothing, like James was, but I think it will (should) be very extravagant, as was his performing style... Or, like his real-life persona, it may be ultra private.

They showed overhead shots of Neverland last night, it's a mess, it has not been kept up since he left.

 

[diznygirl]

Everything of course is just speculation, but here is what TMZ reports as fact about Debbie Rowe's parental rights:

http://www.tmz.com/page/2/
**********
It has been widely reported Debbie Rowe gave up her parental rights to Paris and Michael Jr. That is not true.

During the custody fight that Rowe had with Jackson in 2005, she attempted to give up her parental rights, saying Michael was the greatest father ever. Retired Judge Stephen Lachs, who presided over the hearing, initially ruled her rights were terminated ... but then Lachs reversed his decision.

Here's what happened. We spoke with Lance Spiegel, the lawyer who repped Jackson at the time. Spiegel says under the law, the Department of Children and Family Services must conduct a parental fitness investigation before parental rights are terminated and that didn't happen with Rowe.

***********


TMZ is also saying that the children want to be with their grandmother. I think keeping the children in familiar surroundings right now is a very good idea. I'm hoping this all turns out well for them.

 

[SamRoc]

Sirius/Xm satellite radio is broadcasting his music for the next coupe days:

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=Genre&cid=1245038449962

SIRIUS|XM celebrates The King Of Pop with The Michael Jackson Tribute Channel. Hear music from Michael Jackson’s entire career from The Jackson 5 to his solo music from June 27 through June 29 on Heart & Soul on SIRIUS Ch. 51 and XM Ch. 62.

Thank you. I forgot what a beautiful song "She's out of my life" is. And so many more. He was truly talented.

 

[snels]

I just went through my old pile of albums. I found the very first Jackson 5 album. "Diana Ross presents The Jackson 5"
It has one of my favorite Jackson 5 songs-I want you back.

Now I have to get my old turntable out to see if it still plays.

 

[Ppufi]

Did anyone see that article about Even Chandler, saying that he basically confessed that he lied about being molested? It's only on one site, so I'm still a tad skeptical, but if it proves to be true I hope MJ will finally get his closure.

 

[diznygirl]

Did anyone see that article about Even Chandler, saying that he basically confessed that he lied about being molested? It's only on one site, so I'm still a tad skeptical, but if it proves to be true I hope MJ will finally get his closure.

Saw that, except Evan is the father and Jordan is his son, the one who was allegedly molested. The story mixes up the names. That doesn't help the credibility of the story.

 

[Ppufi]

Oooh, that's not good then. Awwe well.