Paris Jackson has filed a court petition requesting $600 million from her late father Michael Jackson's estate to be transferred to a family trust intended for her and her two brothers. The 28-year-old singer alleges that estate executor John Branca has maintained an "iron grip" on the children's inheritance, preventing them from receiving funds to which they are entitled.
The petition, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, states that the trust, established to benefit Michael Jackson's three children—Prince, Paris, and Bigi—remains unfunded despite the estate generating billions of dollars since the singer's death in 2009. According to the trust's terms, the siblings were to begin receiving income at age 21, with portions of the principal distributed at ages 30, 35, and 40. Prince is due to turn 30 in four months, Paris will be 29 in April, and Bigi will turn 25 in February.
Jackson's legal team argues that the estate has substantial funds available, citing the 2018 sale of its stake in EMI Music Publishing for $287.5 million and the 2020 sale of Neverland Ranch for $22 million. As of December 2024, the estate reportedly held approximately $850 million in cash, with executors previously valuing the estate between $2 billion and $3 billion.
The filing also accuses Branca of controlling the amounts of money distributed to the siblings, claiming these sums have been smaller than stipulated by the trust. Paris asserts that the funds she and her brothers have received were reduced by millions after she made previous legal filings. Branca, who was hired by Jackson in 1985 and rejoined his team shortly before his death, was co-executor with John McClain until McClain's death in May 2026.
In a separate but related legal move, Paris has also sought to reduce Branca's compensation, alleging he has missed deadlines for submitting financial statements for 2023 and 2024. Her attorneys claim that Branca's "persistent incompetence" is intolerable and that he has shown a "longstanding refusal" to prioritize timely financial reporting, leading to prolonged litigation.
A spokesperson for the Michael Jackson Estate countered that Paris's counsel is aware of pending legal hurdles, including ongoing IRS litigation that initially sought $700 million in taxes and penalties. While the amount was significantly reduced, the matter remains unsettled. The estate denies that the executor has withheld or cut payments, stating that over $200 million has already been distributed to or for the benefit of Paris and the other beneficiaries. The estate anticipates fully funding the trusts once all issues are resolved.
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at age 50. His death was ruled a homicide due to acute propofol intoxication, administered by his personal doctor, Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.