Paris Jackson Asks Court to Release $600 Million From Late Father’s Estate for Family Trust
Paris Jackson Asks Court to Release $600 Million From Late Father's Estate for Family Trust
Paris Jackson Asks Court to Release $600 Million From Late Father’s Estate for Family Trust
Paris Jackson, daughter of late American music legend Michael Jackson, has asked a Los Angeles court to order the release of $600 million from her father’s estate into a family trust established for her and her two brothers.
The 28-year-old singer and actress filed the petition on October 29, 2026, arguing that the Michael Jackson Family Trust has remained unfunded more than 17 years after her father’s death in June 2009, despite the estate generating billions of dollars through business deals and property sales.
In the court filing, Paris said the trust was intended to provide financial support for Michael Jackson’s three children, Prince, Paris and Bigi. Under its terms, they were expected to begin receiving income from their respective shares at the age of 21, followed by further distributions of the trust’s principal at 30, 35 and 40.
However, Paris alleged that the executors had failed to fund the trust as intended, leaving the siblings dependent on decisions made by the estate’s remaining executor, John Branca, over when and how much money they receive.
She argued that the estate had sufficient funds to make a partial transfer, estimating that approximately $600 million could be made available after accounting for potential liabilities.
According to the filing, the estate held about $850 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2024. It also generated substantial revenue from major transactions, including the sale of its interest in EMI Music Publishing, the sale of Neverland Ranch and a $750 million deal with Sony involving Michael Jackson’s music and other intellectual property.
Paris has therefore asked the judge to approve an initial transfer of $600 million, or another amount the court considers appropriate, into the family trust.
Estate Executors Respond to the Allegations
The estate’s representatives have disputed Paris’s claims, saying the trusts cannot be fully funded until outstanding legal matters are resolved, particularly a tax dispute with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The IRS had sought approximately $700 million in taxes and penalties from the estate. However, the estate said it had secured a ruling that significantly reduced the amount, although the matter remained unresolved.
The estate also rejected claims that it had withheld or reduced payments to the beneficiaries, describing the allegations as false. Its representatives said more than $200 million had already been distributed for the benefit of Michael Jackson’s children.
Paris’s representative, however, maintained that the estate could have partially funded the trust much earlier and argued that she had been left with no choice but to seek the court’s intervention.
The dispute is part of a wider disagreement over the management of Michael Jackson’s estate, including questions surrounding financial records, payments and the responsibilities of the executors.
Michael Jackson, widely known as the King of Pop, died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. His three children are Prince Jackson, 29; Paris Jackson, 28; and Bigi Jackson, 24.
The court is expected to hear the petition on December 4, 2026. The request is yet to be decided, meaning the proposed $600 million transfer has not been approved.
Paris Jackson Asks Court to Release $600 Million From Late Father’s Estate for Family Trust
