From the mid-1980s, Jackson came under public scrutiny due to changes inhis appearance,relationships, behavior, and lifestyle. Hewas accused of sexually abusing the child of a family friend in 1993. In 2005, Jacksonwas tried and acquitted of further such allegations and other charges. While preparing forThis Is It, a series of comeback concerts,he died in 2009 from an overdose ofpropofol administered by his personal physicianConrad Murray, whowas convicted ofinvoluntary manslaughter in 2011. Jackson's death triggered global reactions, creating unprecedented surges of internet traffic and a spike in his music sales.His televised memorial service, held at theStaples Center in Los Angeles, is estimated to have been viewed by more than 2.5 billion people.
In 1964, Michael and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers—a band formed by their father which included Jackie, Tito and Jermaine—as backup musicians playingcongas andtambourine.[21][22] Michael said his father physically and emotionally abused him during rehearsals; he recalled that Joe often sat in a chair with a belt in his hand, ready to punish any mistakes.[16][23] Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped Michael.[24] Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon denied that their father was abusive and said that the whippings, which had a deeper impact on Michael because he was younger, kept them disciplined and out of trouble.[25] Michael said that during his youth he was lonely and isolated.[26]
Later in 1965, Michael began sharing lead vocals with Jermaine, and the group's name was changed tothe Jackson 5.[27] In 1965, the group won a talent show; Michael performed the dance toRobert Parker's 1965 song "Barefootin'" and sangthe Temptations' "My Girl".[28] From 1966 to 1968, the Jacksons 5 toured theMidwest; they frequently played at a string of black clubs known as theChitlin' Circuit as the opening act for artists such asSam & Dave,the O'Jays,Gladys Knight andEtta James. The Jackson 5 also performed at clubs and cocktail lounges, wherestriptease shows were featured, and at local auditoriums and high school dances.[29][30] In August 1967, while touring theEast Coast, they won a weekly amateur night concert at theApollo Theater inHarlem.[31]
Jackson in 1969 (left) and as a teenager in 1974
The Jackson 5 recorded several songs for a Gary record label,Steeltown Records; their first single, "Big Boy", was released in 1968.[32] Bobby Taylor ofBobby Taylor & the Vancouvers brought the Jackson 5 toMotown after they opened for Taylor at Chicago'sRegal Theater in 1968. Taylor produced some of their early Motown recordings, including a version of "Who's Lovin' You".[33] After signing with Motown, the Jackson family relocated to Los Angeles.[34] In 1969, Motown executives decidedDiana Ross should introduce the Jackson 5 to the public—partly to bolster her career in television—sending off what was considered Motown's last product of its "production line".[35] The Jackson 5 made their first television appearance in 1969 in theMiss Black America pageant, performing a cover of "It's Your Thing".[36]Rolling Stone later described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts" who "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer".[37]
Jackson (center) as a member ofthe Jackson 5 in 1972. The group were among the firstAfrican American performers to attain a large following.[38]
Michael maintained ties to the Jackson 5.[42] The Jackson 5 were later described as "a cutting-edge example of blackcrossover artists".[44] They were frustrated by Motown's refusal to allow them creative input.[45] Jackson's performance of their top five single "Dancing Machine" onSoul Train popularized therobot dance.[46][47]
Move to Epic andOff the Wall (1975–1981)
Jackson (left) andQuincy Jones (right) appear withDiana Ross on her upcoming special,Diana, in March 1981.
The Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, signing withEpic Records and renaming themselves the Jacksons.[48] Their younger brother Randy joined the band around this time; Jermaine stayed with Motown and pursued a solo career.[49] The Jacksons continued to tour internationally, and released six more albums between 1976 and 1984. Michael, the group's main songwriter during this time, wrote songs such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (1978), "This Place Hotel" (1980), and "Can You Feel It" (1980).[50]
Jackson's fifth solo album and first album as an adult,Off the Wall (1979), established him as a solo performer and helped him move from thebubblegum pop of his youth to more complex sounds.[41] It produced four top 10 entries in the US: "Off the Wall", "She's Out of My Life", and the chart-topping singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You".[56] The album reached number three on the USBillboard 200 and sold over 20million copies worldwide.[57] He also won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for 1979 with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".[58] At theAmerican Music Awards during the 1980s, he won Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and two consecutive awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Album as well as Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.[59][60] In 1981, Jackson was the American Music Awards winner for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.[61]
Jackson feltOff the Wall should have made a bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.[62] In 1980, he secured the highestroyalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.[63]
Thriller,Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Pepsi incident (1982–1984)
Jackson's sixth studio album, titledThriller, was released on November 29, 1982. It was the best-selling album worldwide in 1983;[68][69] it eventually became the best-selling album of all time in the US[70] and thebest-selling album in history worldwide, selling an estimated70 million copies.[71][72] It topped theBillboard 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to produce sevenBillboard Hot 100 top-10 singles, including the number-one songs "Billie Jean" and "Beat It".[73]
On March 25, 1983, Jackson reunited with his brothers forMotown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, an NBC television special. The show aired on May 16 to an estimated audience of47 million, and featured the Jacksons and other Motown stars.[74] Jackson's solo performance of "Billie Jean" earned him his firstEmmy Award nomination.[75] Wearing a glove decorated withrhinestones,[76] he debuted hismoonwalk dance, whichJeffrey Daniel had taught him three years earlier, and it became his signature dance in his repertoire.[77] Jackson had originally turned down the invitation to the show, believing he had been doing too much television. At the request of Motown founderBerry Gordy, he performed in exchange for an opportunity to do a solo performance.[78] His performance was heavily praised:Rolling Stone's Mikal Gilmore called the performance "extraordinary";[41]Anna Kisselgoff ofThe New York Times praised the perfect timing and technique involved in the dance;[79] and Gordy was "mesmerized" by the performance.[80]
Jackson at the26th Grammy Awards, where he won eight awards, breaking the record for the most wins in a single night
At the26th Annual Grammy Awards, Jackson received 12 nominations, the most in a single night (later tied withBabyface), and won 8 awards, breaking the record for most wins in a single night (later tied bySantana).[58]Thriller received 13 nominations, the most for any album, and won 8 awards, including Best Engineered Recording (Non-Classical) forBruce Swedien's work.[81] Jackson won seven awards related to the album, including Album of the Year forThriller and Record of the Year for "Beat It", and also won an award for theE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial storybook.[58] At the11th Annual American Music Awards, Jackson won another eight awards and became the youngest artist to win the Award of Merit.[82] He also won Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, and Favorite Pop/Rock Artist. "Beat It" won Favorite Soul/R&B Video, Favorite Pop/Rock Video and Favorite Pop/Rock Single. The album won Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Album.[82][83]Thriller's sales doubled after the release of an extended music video forits title track, which sees Jackson dancing with a horde of zombies.[84][85]
The success transformed Jackson into a dominant force in global pop culture,[85] and the album "conquered racial divides".[86] He had the highest royalty rate in the music industry at that point, with about $2 for every album sold (equivalent to $6 in 2024), and was making record-breaking profits. Dolls modeled after him appeared in stores during May 1984 for $12 each.[87] In the same year,The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, a documentary about the music video, won a Grammy for Best Music Video (Longform).[58]Time described Jackson's influence at that point as "star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style and color too."[87]The New York Times wrote "in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else".[88]
In November 1983, Jackson and his brothers partnered withPepsiCo in a $5million promotional deal that broke records for a celebrity endorsement (equivalent to $15.8 million in 2024). The firstPepsi campaign, which ran in the US from 1983 to 1984 and launched its "New Generation" theme, included tour sponsorship, public relations events, and in-store displays. Jackson helped to create the advertisement, and suggested using his song "Billie Jean", with revised lyrics, as itsjingle.[89]
On January 27, 1984, Michael and other members of the Jacksons filmed a Pepsi commercial overseen byPhil Dusenberry,[90] aBBDO ad agency executive, andAlan Pottasch, Pepsi's Worldwide Creative Director, at theShrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. During a simulated concert before a full house of fans, pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson's hair on fire, causingsecond-degree burns to his scalp. Jackson underwent treatment to hide the scars and had his third rhinoplasty shortly thereafter.[91] Pepsi settled out of court, and Jackson donated the $1.5million (equivalent to $4.5 million in 2024) settlement to theBrotman Medical Center inCulver City, California; its now-closed Michael Jackson Burn Center was named in his honor.[92][93] Jackson signed a second agreement with Pepsi in the late 1980s for $10million (equivalent to $27.7 million in 2024). The second campaign covered 20 countries and provided financial support for Jackson'sBad album and 1987–1988 world tour. Jackson had endorsements and advertising deals with other companies, such asLA Gear,Suzuki, andSony, but none were as significant as his deals with Pepsi.[89]
TheVictory Tour of 1984 headlined the Jacksons and showcased Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans. It was the last tour he did with his brothers.[94] Followingcontroversy over the concert's ticket sales, Jackson donated his share of the proceeds, an estimated$3 to 5 million, to charity.[95] During the last concert of the Victory Tour at theDodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Jackson announced his split from the Jacksons during "Shake Your Body".[96]
"We Are the World" and other commercial activities (1985)
Jackson (second from bottom left) withUSA for Africa in 1985
WithLionel Richie, Jackson co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" (1985), which raised money for the poor in the US and Africa.[97][98] It earned $63million (equivalent to $184 million in 2024),[98] and became one of thebest-selling singles of all time, with 20million copies sold.[99] It won four Grammy Awards in 1985, including Song of the Year for Jackson and Richie.[97] Jackson, Jones, and the promoter Ken Kragen received special awards for their roles in the song's creation.[97][100][101][102]
Jackson collaborated withPaul McCartney in the early 1980s, and learned that McCartney was making $40million a year from owning the rights to other artists' songs.[98] By 1983, Jackson had begun buying publishing rights to others' songs, but he was careful with his acquisitions, only bidding on a few of the dozens that were offered to him. Jackson's early acquisitions ofmusic catalogs and song copyrights such as theSly Stone collection included "Everyday People" (1968),Len Barry's "1-2-3" (1965), andDion DiMucci's "The Wanderer" (1961) and "Runaround Sue" (1961). In 1984,Robert Holmes à Court announced he was selling theATV Music Publishing catalog comprising the publishing rights to nearly 4,000 songs, including most ofthe Beatles' material.[103] In 1981, McCartney had been offered the catalog for £20million ($40million) (equivalent to $138 million in 2024).[98][104] Jackson submitted a bid of $46million (equivalent to $139 million in 2024) on November 20, 1984.[103] When Jackson and McCartney were unable to make a joint purchase, McCartney did not want to be the sole owner of the Beatles' songs, and did not pursue an offer on his own.[105][104] Jackson's agents were unable to come to a deal, and in May 1985 left talks after having spent more than $1million and four months ofdue diligence work on the negotiations.[103]
In June 1985, Jackson and Branca learned thatCharles Koppelman's andMartin Bandier's The Entertainment Company had made a tentative offer to buy ATV Music for $50million; in early August, Holmes à Court contacted Jackson and talks resumed. Jackson's increased bid of $47.5million (equivalent to $139 million in 2024) was accepted because he could close the deal more quickly, having already completed due diligence.[103] Jackson agreed to visit Holmes à Court in Australia, where he would appear on theChannel Seven Perth Telethon.[106] His purchase of ATV Music was finalized on August 10, 1985.[98][103]
Jackson's skin had been medium-brown during his youth, but from the mid-1980s gradually grew paler. The change drew widespread media coverage, including speculation that he had beenbleaching his skin.[107][108][109] His dermatologist,Arnold Klein, said he observed in 1983 that Jackson hadvitiligo,[110] a condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. He also identifieddiscoid lupus erythematosus in Jackson. He diagnosed Jackson with lupus that year,[110] and with vitiligo in 1986.[111] Vitiligo's drastic effects on the body can cause psychological distress. Jackson used fair-colored makeup,[112] and possibly skin-bleaching prescription creams,[113] to cover up the uneven blotches of color caused by the illness. The creams would depigment the blotches, and, with the application of makeup, he could appear very pale.[114] Jackson said he had not purposely bleached his skin and could not control his vitiligo, adding, "When people make up stories that I don't want to be who I am, it hurts me."[115] He became friends with Klein and Klein's assistant,Debbie Rowe. Rowe later became Jackson's second wife and the mother of his first two children.[116]
In his 1988 autobiography and a 1993 interview, Jackson said he had had tworhinoplasty surgeries and acleft chin surgery but no more than that. He said he lost weight in the early 1980s because of a change in diet to achieve a dancer's body.[117] Witnesses reported that he was often dizzy, and speculated he was suffering fromanorexia nervosa. Periods of weight loss became a recurring problem later in his life.[118] After his death, Jackson's mother said that he first turned tocosmetic procedures to remedy his vitiligo, because he did not want to look like a "spotted cow". She said he had received more than the two cosmetic surgeries he claimed and speculated that he had become addicted to them.[119]
In 1986, it was reported that Jackson slept in ahyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow aging. He denied the story,[120] although it was alleged that Jackson leaked an image of him sleeping in a glass chamber (according to Jackson, this was a promotional shot froman upcoming space opera featuring himself) toThe National Enquirer.[121] It was also reported that Jackson took female hormone shots to keep his voice high and facial hair wispy, proposed toElizabeth Taylor and possibly had a shrine of her, and had cosmetic surgery on his eyes. Jackson's managerFrank DiLeo denied all of them, except for Jackson having a chamber. DiLeo added "I don't know if he sleeps in it. I'm not for it. But Michael thinks it's something that's probably healthy for him. He's a bit of a health fanatic."[122]
When Jackson took his pet chimpanzeeBubbles to tour in Japan, the media portrayed Jackson as an aspiringDisney cartoon character who befriended animals.[123] It was also reported that Jackson had offered to buy the bones ofJoseph Merrick (the "Elephant Man").[124] In June 1987, theChicago Tribune reported Jackson's publicist bidding $1million for the skeleton to theLondon Hospital Medical College on his behalf. The college maintained the skeleton was not for sale. DiLeo said Jackson had an "absorbing interest" in Merrick, "purely based on his awareness of the ethical, medical and historical significance".[125]
Jackson worked withGeorge Lucas andFrancis Ford Coppola on a 17-minute $30million3D film,Captain EO, which ran from 1986 atDisneyland andEpcot, and later atTokyo Disneyland andEuro Disneyland.[126] After having been removed in the late 1990s, it returned to the theme park for several years after Jackson's death.[127] As a Jehovah's Witness, Jackson would evangelize door-to-door while donning a disguise.[128]In 1987,Ebony reported that Jackson had disassociated himself from the Jehovah's Witnesses.[129] Katherine Jackson said this might have been because some Witnesses strongly opposed theThriller video,[130] which Michael denounced in a Witness publication in 1984.[131] While former members are usually shunned by their families, Jackson's mother kept in contact with him.[132] In 2001, Jackson told an interviewer he was still a Jehovah's Witness.[133]
Bad won the 1988 Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and the 1990Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone".[58][137] Jackson won an Award of Achievement at the American Music Awards in 1989 afterBad generated five number-one singles, became the first album to top the charts in 25 countries and the best-selling album worldwide in 1987 and 1988.[138][139] TheBad tour ran from September 12, 1987, to January 27, 1989.[140] In Japan, the tour had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record for a single tour.[141] The 504,000 people who attended seven sold-out shows atWembley Stadium set a newGuinness World Record.[142]Bad cemented Jackson's status as a dominant music force;[143] the album has sold over 35 million copies worldwide, which ranks it amongst thebest-selling albums of all time.[144][145]
In 1988, Jackson released his autobiography,Moonwalk, with input from Stephen Davis andJacqueline Kennedy Onassis.[146] It sold 200,000 copies,[147] and reached the top ofThe New York Times Best Seller list.[148] Jackson discussed his childhood, the Jackson 5, and the abuse from his father.[149] He attributed his changing facial appearance to three plastic surgeries, puberty, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hairstyle, and stage lighting.[150][117] In June, Jackson was honored with the Grand VermeilMedal of the City of Paris by the then Mayor of ParisJacques Chirac during his stay in the city as part of the Bad tour.[151][152] On July 20, he became the firstcommoner in history to enter London'sGuildhall through the building's Royal Entrance.[153] In October, Jackson released a film,Moonwalker, which featured live footage and short films starring Jackson andJoe Pesci. In the US it was releaseddirect-to-video and became the best-selling video cassette in the country.[154][155] TheRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it as eight times Platinum in the US.[156]
In March 1988, Jackson purchased 2,700 acres (11 km2) of land nearSanta Ynez, California, to build a new home,Neverland Ranch, at a cost of $17million (equivalent to $45 million in 2024).[157] He installed aFerris wheel, acarousel, a movie theater and a zoo.[157][158][159] A security staff of 40 patrolled the grounds.[158] Shortly afterwards, he appeared in the first Western television advertisement in theSoviet Union.[160] Jackson became known as the "King of Pop", a nickname that Jackson's publicists embraced.[23][161][162] WhenElizabeth Taylor presented him with the Soul Train Heritage Award in 1989, she called him "the true king of pop, rock and soul".[163] PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush designated him the White House's "Artist of the Decade".[164] At the 38thBMI Awards in 1990, Jackson was the first person to be honored with an award named after its recipient.[165] From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $455,000 to theUnited Negro College Fund,[166] and all profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.[167] His rendition of "You Were There" atSammy Davis Jr.'s 60th birthday celebration won Jackson a second Emmy nomination.[75] Jackson was the best-selling artist of the 1980s.[168]
In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65million (equivalent to $150 million in 2024), arecord-breaking deal at the time.[169] In 1991, he released his eighth album,Dangerous, co-produced withTeddy Riley.[170] It was certified eight times platinum in the US, and by 2018 had sold 32million copies worldwide.[171][172] In the US, the first single, "Black or White", was the album's highest-charting song; it was number one on theBillboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and achieved similar chart performances worldwide.[173] The second single, "Remember the Time" peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100 singles chart.[174] At the end of 1992,Dangerous was the best-selling album of the year worldwide and "Black or White" the best-selling single of the year worldwide at theBillboard Music Awards.[168] In 1993, he performed "Remember the Time" at theSoul Train Music Awards in a chair, saying he twisted his ankle during dance rehearsals.[175] In the UK, "Heal the World" made No. 2 on the charts in 1992.[176]
Jackson foundedHeal the World Foundation in 1992. The charity brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch to use the theme park rides, and sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war, poverty, and disease. That July, Jackson published his second book,Dancing the Dream, a collection of poetry. Jackson embarked on theDangerous World Tour, his second world tour, to raise money for his Heal the World Foundation.[177] The tour ran from June 1992 to November 1993, grossing$100 million (equivalent to $220 million in 2024) from 69 concerts outside the US, attracting over 3.5 million people.[178][179] Jackson sold the broadcast rights for his October 1, 1992, concert in Bucharest toHBO for $20million (equivalent to $45 million in 2024), then the highest fee ever paid for a concert performer to appear on television.[180] He donated a portion of the fee to aid Romanian children.[181]
Following the death ofHIV/AIDS spokesperson and friendRyan White, Jackson pleaded with the Clinton administration atBill Clinton's inaugural gala to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research[182][183] and performed "Gone Too Soon", a song dedicated to White, and "Heal the World" at the gala.[184] Jackson visited Africa in early 1992; on his first stop in Gabon he was greeted by more than 100,000 people, some of them carrying signs that read "Welcome Home Michael",[185] and was awarded an Officer of theNational Order of Merit from PresidentOmar Bongo.[186][187] During his trip to Ivory Coast, Jackson drew larger crowds thanPope John Paul II on his previous visits.[188] He was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief in the Ivorian village ofKrindjabo, where he thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed documents formalizing his kingship, and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.[185]
In January 1993, Jackson performed at theSuper Bowl XXVII halftime show in Pasadena, California. TheNational Football League (NFL) sought a big-name artist to keep ratings high during halftime following dwindling audience figures.[189][190] With 133.4 million viewers, it was the first Super Bowl whose halftime show drew greater audience figures than the game.[191] Jackson played "Jam", "Billie Jean", "Black or White", and "Heal the World".Dangerous rose 90 places in the US albums chart after the performance.[107]
Jackson gavea 90-minute interview withOprah Winfrey on February 10, 1993. He spoke of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood, and said that he often cried from loneliness. He denied tabloid rumors that he had bought the bones of the Elephant Man, slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, or bleached his skin, and stated for the first time that he had vitiligo. After the interview,Dangerous re-entered the US albums chart in the top 10, more than a year after its release.[23][107] The interview became themost-watched television interview in US history to date, with more than 90 million viewers.[192]
In January 1993, Jackson won threeAmerican Music Awards: Favorite Pop/Rock Album (Dangerous), Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("Remember the Time"), and was the first to win the International Artist Award of Excellence.[193][194] In February, he won the "Living Legend Award" at the35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.[58] He attended the award ceremony withBrooke Shields.[195]Dangerous was nominated for Best Vocal Performance (for "Black or White"), Best R&B Vocal Performance ("Jam") and Best R&B Song ("Jam"), and Bruce Swedien and Teddy Riley won the Grammy for Best Engineered – Non Classical.[137]
First child sexual abuse accusations and first marriage (1993–1995)
In 1993, Jackson befriended 13-year-old Jordan Chandler through the boy's stepfather, whom he met after renting a vehicle from him.[196] On July 8, 1993, Evan Chandler, Jordan's father and a Los Angeles dentist, was recorded threatening to "destroy" Jackson's career with a "carefully planned plot, with people in place ready to set it in motion" if Jackson did not meet his demands: "If I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose".[197][198] On July 9, Jackson's investigator, Anthony Pellicano, met Jordan, who denied any abuse or inappropriate touching by Jackson.[199] Evan Chandler's lawyer would later call Beverly Hills psychiatrist Dr. Mathis Abrams and present him with a hypothetical situation. In reply and without having met either Jordan Chandler or his parents, Abrams sent Rothman a two-page letter in which he states that "reasonable suspicion would exist that sexual abuse may have occurred".[200] After receiving the letter from Dr. Abrams, Evan Chandler allegedly received a confession from his son Jordan,[200] and demanded $20million from Jackson on August 4, 1993, without going to law enforcement regarding the reports of the abuse that was claimed to have taken place, but Jackson refused.[197] From August 9–13, 1993, Evan Chandler and his legal team made various counter-offers to secure a settlement from Jackson, escalating their financial demands after his refusal to pay the initial $20million, with Evan later filing a civil suit in September demanding $30million for alleged damages[201] which were all denied by Jackson, prompting Chandler to go public with the claims of child molestation.[202][203][204] Jackson's older sister La Toya accused him of being apedophile;[205] she later retracted this, saying she had been forced into it by her abusive husband.[206]
Prosecutors raided Neverland Ranch and other places of residency while Jackson was on tour in August, but no leads were found as the investigators ruled that there was no medical or physical evidence. Hundreds of children were interviewed; all denied abuse or improper behavior.[207] Attention was later brought to two legal art books depicting featuring young boys playing, running, and swimming in various states of undress. However, Jackson denied knowing of the books' content and claimed if they were there, someone had to have sent them to him and he did not open them. Nochild pornography or other incriminating evidence was found.[208][209] In December 1993, ProsecutorThomas W. Sneddon Jr. filed a court order to conduct a strip search of Jackson, based on a drawing provided by the accuser and submitted to authorities. According toReuters andUSA Today, the description of Jackson's genitalia did not match the photographs taken during the police investigation. Prosecutors sought testimony from Jackson's doctors and family members. The grand jury subsequently subpoenaed Jackson's mother, reportedly to assess whether there were any physical alterations compared to the description.[210][211][212] In November 1993, Jackson requested that the civil trial be postponed until after the criminal hearing was completed due to a violation of hiscivil rights, under the circumstances of having to defend himself underdouble jeopardy. This motion was denied and in January 1994, the civil lawsuit was settled for $15,331,250, with separate payments of $1.5million for Evan and June Chandler coming out to a total of $18.3million allocated to the Chandler family, lower than the initial demand of $20–30million requested by Evan Chandler.[213][214] The document shows that the Chandlers dropped the child molestation allegations from their complaint with Jackson's settlement being filed over claims of negligence. It was later revealed that this settlement did not prevent the Chandlers from testifying in the criminal case[215] The police never pressed criminal charges.[216] The prosecution continued to investigate Jackson from January to June 1994 with Jordan Chandler continuing to co-operate with investigators.[217] By July 1994 multiple grand juries had been called; jurors remarked that no damaging evidence was heard against Jackson. "The [Santa Barbara] grand jury in Michael Jackson's case was dismissed and one juror said he heard no evidence against [Jackson]... Another juror toldCNN that he heard no evidence against him [Jackson] during the hearing."[218] On September 21, 1994, after 400 witnesses had been investigated with another 30 called in front of the grand juries, the investigation was closed. A few potential leads had been found but all of them turned out to be false.[219]
Jackson had been takingpainkillers for his reconstructive scalp surgeries, administered due to the Pepsi commercial accident in 1984, and became dependent on them to cope with the stress of the sexual abuse allegations.[220] On November 12, 1993, Jackson canceled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour due to health problems, stress from the allegations and painkiller addiction. He thanked his close friendElizabeth Taylor for support, encouragement and counsel. The end of the tour concluded his sponsorship deal with Pepsi.[221]
In late 1993, Jackson proposed toLisa Marie Presley, the daughter ofElvis Presley, over the phone.[222] They were married inLa Vega, Dominican Republic, in May 1994 by civil judge Hugo Francisco Álvarez Pérez.[223] The tabloid media speculated that the wedding was a publicity stunt to deflect away from Jackson's sexual abuse allegations and jump-start Presley's career as a singer.[223][224] Their marriage ended little more than a year later, and they separated in December 1995.[225] Presley cited "irreconcilable differences" when filing for divorce the next month and only sought to reclaim her maiden name as her settlement.[224][226] After the divorce, Judge Pérez said, "They lasted longer than I thought they would. I gave them a year. They lasted a year and a half."[223] Presley later said she and Jackson had attempted to reconcile intermittently for four years following their divorce, and that she had traveled the world to be with him.[227]
Jackson composed music for theSega Genesis video gameSonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994), but left the project around the time the sexual abuse allegations surfaced and went uncredited. Jackson's involvement was the subject of fan speculation for decades untilSonic co-creatorYuji Naka confirmed it in 2022.[228][229]Sega Technical Institute director Roger Hector andSonic co-creatorNaoto Ohshima said that Jackson was terminated and his music reworked following the allegations.[230][231] However, Jackson's musical directorBrad Buxer and other members of Jackson's team said he went uncredited because he was unhappy with how the Genesis replicated his music.[232] The game's credits theme served as the basis for Jackson's 1996 song "Stranger in Moscow".[233]
HIStory, second marriage, fatherhood andBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1995–1997)
In June 1995, Jackson released the double albumHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. The first disc,HIStory Begins, is agreatest hits album (reissued in 2001 asGreatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I). The second disc,HIStory Continues, contains 13 original songs and two cover versions. The album debuted at number one on the charts and has been certified for eight million shipments in the US.[234] It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with 20million copies (40million units) sold worldwide.[173][235]HIStory received a Grammy nomination forAlbum of the Year.[58]The New York Times reviewed it as "the testimony of a musician whose self-pity now equals his talent".[236]
The first single fromHIStory was "Scream/Childhood". "Scream", a duet with Jackson's youngest sister Janet, protests the media's treatment of Jackson during the 1993 child abuse allegations against him. The single reached number five on theBillboard Hot 100,[174] and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals".[58] The second single, "You Are Not Alone", holds the Guinness world record for the first song to debut at number one on theBillboard Hot 100 chart.[237] It received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance" in 1995.[58]
In 1995 theAnti-Defamation League and other groups complained that "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me,kike me, don't you black or white me", the original lyrics of "They Don't Care About Us", wereantisemitic. Jackson released a revised version of the song.[238] In late 1995, Jackson was admitted to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance, caused by a stress-relatedpanic attack.[239] In November, Jackson merged his ATV Music catalog with Sony's music publishing division, creatingSony/ATV Music Publishing. He retained ownership of half the company, earning $95million up front (equivalent to $196 million in 2024) as well as therights to more songs.[240][241]
"Earth Song" was the third single released fromHIStory, and topped theUK Singles Chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995.[176] It became the 87th-best-selling single in the UK.[242] At the1996 Brit Awards, Jackson's performance of "Earth Song" was disrupted byPulp singerJarvis Cocker, who was protesting what Cocker saw as Jackson's "Christ-like" persona. Jackson said the stage invasion was "disgusting and cowardly".[243][244]
In 1996, Jackson won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form, for "Scream" and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.[58][245] In July 1996, Jackson performed forSultan Hassanal Bolkiah's fiftieth birthday atJerudong Park Amphitheater, which was specifically built for that birthday concert.[246] Jackson was reportedly paid $17 million (equivalent to $34 million in 2024).[247] Jackson promotedHIStory with theHIStory World Tour, from September 7, 1996, to October 15, 1997. He performed 82 concerts in five continents, 35 countries and 58 cities to over 4.5million fans, his most attended tour. It grossed$165 million (equivalent to $323 million in 2024).[140] During the tour, in Sydney, Australia, Jackson marriedDebbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant, who was six months pregnant with his first child.[248]
Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (commonly known as Prince) was born on February 13, 1997. His sisterParis-Michael Katherine Jackson was born on April 3, 1998.[249] Jackson and Rowe divorced in 2000, Rowe conceded custody of the children, with an $8.5million settlement (equivalent to $15.5 million in 2024).[250] In 2004, after thesecond child abuse allegations against Jackson, she returned to court to reclaim custody. The suit was settled in 2006.[251]
The release ofInvincible was preceded by a dispute between Jackson and his record label, Sony Music Entertainment. Jackson had expected the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him in the early 2000s, after which he would be able to promote the material however he pleased and keep the profits, but clauses in the contract set the revert date years into the future. Jackson sought an early exit from his contract.[266]Invincible was released on October 30, 2001. It was Jackson's first full-length album in six years, and the last album of original material he released in his lifetime.[266] It debuted at number one in 13 countries, and went on to sell eightmillion copies worldwide, receiving double-platinum certification in the US.[171][267][268]
On January 9, 2002, Jackson won his 22nd American Music Award for Artist of the Century.[269][270]Later that year, an anonymoussurrogate mother gave birth to his third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed "Blanket"[nb 3]), who had been conceived byartificial insemination.[271] On November 20, Jackson briefly held Blanket over the railing of his Berlin hotel room, four stories above ground level, prompting widespread criticism in the media. Jackson apologized for the incident, calling it "a terrible mistake".[272] On January 22, promoter Marcel Avram filed a breach of contract complaint against Jackson for failing to perform two planned 1999 concerts.[273] In March, a Santa Maria jury ordered Jackson to pay Avram $5.3million (equivalent to $9.3 million in 2024).[274][275] On December 18, 2003, Jackson's attorneys dropped all appeals on the verdict and settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.[276]
On April 24, 2002, Jackson performed atApollo Theater. The concert was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and former President Bill Clinton.[277] The money collected would be used to encourage citizens to vote. It raised $2.5million (equivalent to $3.8 million in 2024).[278] The concert was calledMichael Jackson: Live at the Apollo and was one of Jackson's final on-stage performances.[279]
In July 2002, atAl Sharpton'sNational Action Network in Harlem, Jackson called the Sony Music chairmanTommy Mottola "a racist, and very, very, very devilish", and accused him of exploiting black artists for his own gain. The accusation prompted Sharpton to form a coalition investigating whether Mottola exploited black artists.[280] Jackson charged that Mottola had called his colleagueIrv Gotti a "fatnigger".[281] Sony issued a statement calling the accusations "ludicrous, spiteful, and hurtful" and said Mottola had championed Jackson's career for years.[280] Sony refused to renew Jackson's contract and said that a$25 million (equivalent to $43.7 million in 2024) promotional campaign had failed because Jackson refused to tour in the US forInvincible.[253]
Documentary,Number Ones, second child abuse allegations and acquittal (2002–2005)
Beginning in May 2002, a documentary film crew led byMartin Bashir followed Jackson for several months.[272] The documentary, broadcast in February 2003 asLiving with Michael Jackson, showed Jackson holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a twelve-year-old boy.[282][283] He discussed seeing nothing wrong with having sleepovers with minors and sharing his bed and bedroom with various people, which aroused controversy. He insisted that the sleepovers were not sexual and that his words had been misunderstood.[284][285]
On December 18, 2003, Santa Barbara authorities charged Jackson with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of intoxicating a minor withalcoholic drinks.[288] Jackson denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.[289] ThePeople v. Jackson trial began on January 31, 2005, inSanta Maria, California, and lasted until the end of May. Jackson found the experience stressful and it affected his health. If convicted, he would have faced up to twenty years in prison.[290] On June 13, 2005, Jackson was acquitted on all counts.[291]FBI files on Jackson, released in 2009, revealed the FBI's role in the 2005 trial and the 1993 allegations, and showed that the FBI found no evidence of criminal conduct on Jackson's behalf.[292][293]
Final years, financial problems,Thriller 25 and This Is It (2005–2009)
After the trial, Jackson became reclusive.[294] In June 2005, he moved toBahrain as a guest ofSheikh Abdullah.[295] In early 2006, it was announced that Jackson had signed a contract with a Bahrain startup, Two Seas Records. Nothing came of the deal, and the Two Seas CEO,Guy Holmes, later said it was never finalized.[296][297] Holmes also found that Jackson was on the verge of bankruptcy and was involved in 47 ongoing lawsuits.[295] By September 2006, Jackson was no longer affiliated with Two Seas.[297]
In April 2006, Jackson agreed to use a piece of his ATV catalog stake, then worth about $1billion, ascollateral against his $270million worth of loans fromBank of America. Bank of America had sold the loans toFortress Investments, an investment company that buys distressed loans, the year before. As part of the agreement, Fortress Investments provided Jackson a new loan of $300million with reduced interest payments (equivalent to $470 million in 2024). Sony Music would have the option to buy half of his stake, or about 25% of the catalog, at a set price. Jackson's financial managers had urged him to shed part of his stake to avoid bankruptcy.[241][298] The main house at Neverland Ranch was closed as a cost-cutting measure, while Jackson lived in Bahrain at the hospitality of Abdullah.[299] At least thirty of Jackson's employees had not been paid on time and were owed $306,000 in back wages. Jackson was ordered to pay $100,000 in penalties.[241] Jackson never returned to Neverland after his acquittal.[300]
In mid-2006, Jackson moved toGrouse Lodge, a residential recording studio nearRosemount, County Westmeath, Ireland. There, he began work on a new album with the American producerswill.i.am andRodney Jenkins.[301] That November, Jackson invited anAccess Hollywood camera crew into the studio in Westmeath.[173] On November 15, Jackson briefly joined in on a performance of "We Are the World" at theWorld Music Awards in London, his last public performance, and accepted the Diamond Award for sales of100 million records.[173][302] He returned to the US in December, settling in Las Vegas. That month, he attendedJames Brown's funeral inAugusta, Georgia, where he gave a eulogy calling Brown his greatest inspiration.[303]
An aerial view of part of Jackson's 2,800-acre (11 km2)Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos, California, showing the rides
In 2007, Jackson and Sony bought another music publishing company,Famous Music LLC, formerly owned byViacom. The deal gave Jackson the rights to songs byEminem andBeck, among others.[304][305] In a brief interview, Jackson said he had no regrets about his career despite his problems and "deliberate attempts to hurt me".[306] That March, Jackson visited a US Army post in Japan,Camp Zama, to greet more than 3,000 troops and their families.[307][308] As of September, Jackson was still working on his next album, which he never completed.[309]
In 2008, for the 25th anniversary ofThriller, Jackson and Sony releasedThriller 25, with two remixes released as singles: "The Girl Is Mine 2008" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008".[310]Thriller 25 was the last recorded work released during his life which he was extensively involved with, with Jackson co-producing the album's remix tracks. For his 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a series of greatest hits albums,King of Pop, with different tracklists for different regions.[311] That July, Fortress Investments threatened toforeclose on Neverland Ranch, which he had used as collateral for his loans. Fortress sold Jackson's debts toColony Capital LLC.[312] In November, Jackson transferred Neverland Ranch's title to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC, a joint venture between Jackson and Colony Capital LLC. The deal earned him$35 million.[313] In 2009, Jackson arranged to sell a collection of his memorabilia of more than 1,000 items throughJulien's Auction House, but canceled the auction in April.[314]
In March 2009, amid speculation about his finances and health, Jackson announced a series of comeback concerts,This Is It, at a press conference atthe O2 Arena.[315] The shows were to be his first major concerts since the HIStory World Tour in 1997. Jackson suggested he would retire after the shows. The initial plan was for ten concerts in London, followed by shows in Paris, New York City and Mumbai. Randy Phillips, the president and chief executive ofAEG Live, predicted the first ten dates would earn Jackson £50million.[316]
The London residency was increased to fifty dates after record-breaking ticket sales; more than one million were sold in less than two hours.[317] The concerts were to run from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. Jackson moved to Los Angeles, where he rehearsed in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of the choreographerKenny Ortega, whom he had worked with during his previous tours. Rehearsals took place atthe Forum and theStaples Center owned by AEG.[318] By this point, Jackson's debt had grown to almost $500 million. By the time of his death, he was three or four months behind payments on his home in San Fernando Valley.[319][320]The Independent reported that Jackson planned a string of further ventures designed to recoup his debts, including a world tour, a new album, films, a museum and a casino.[315]
Fans placed flowers and notes on Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the day of his death.
On June 25, 2009, less than three weeks before his concert residency was due to begin in London, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died from cardiac arrest, caused by apropofol andbenzodiazepine overdose.[321][322]Conrad Murray, his personal physician, had given Jackson various medications to help him sleep at his rented mansion inHolmby Hills, Los Angeles. Paramedics received a911 call at 12:21 pmPacific time (19:21 UTC) and arrived at the property four minutes later.[323] Jackson was not breathing andCPR was performed.[324] Resuscitation efforts continued en route toRonald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and for more than an hour after Jackson's arrival there, but were unsuccessful,[325][326] and he was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm Pacific time (21:26 UTC).[327][328] Murray had administered propofol,lorazepam, andmidazolam;[329] Jackson's death was caused by a propofol overdose.[322][326]
News of his death spread quickly online, causing websites to slow down andcrash from user overload,[330] and it put unprecedented strain[331] on many services and websites includingGoogle,[332]AOL Instant Messenger,[331]Twitter[332] andWikipedia.[332] Overall,web traffic rose by between 11% and 20%.[333][334] MTV andBET airedmarathons of Jackson's music videos,[335] and Jackson specials aired on television stations around the world.[336] MTV briefly returned to its original music video format,[11] and they aired hours of Jackson's music videos, with live news specials featuring reactions from MTV personalities and other celebrities.[337]
Fans visiting the makeshift memorial set up outside the Neverland Ranch entrance shortly after Jackson's death
Jackson's memorial was held on July 7, 2009, at theStaples Center in Los Angeles, preceded by a private family service atForest Lawn Memorial Park's Hall of Liberty. Over 1.6million fans applied for tickets to the memorial; the 8,750 recipients were drawn at random, and each received two tickets.[338] The memorial service was one of the most watched events instreaming history,[339] with an estimated US audience of 31.1million[340] and a worldwide audience of an estimated 2.5 to 3 billion.[341][342]
In August 2009, theLos Angeles County Coroner ruled that Jackson's death was ahomicide.[349][350] Law enforcement officials charged Murray withinvoluntary manslaughter on February 8, 2010.[351] In late 2011, he was found guilty of said charge[352] and held without bail to await sentencing.[353] Murray was sentenced to four years in prison, but was released after one year and eleven months.[354]
Posthumous sales
At the2009 American Music Awards, Jackson won four posthumous awards, including two for his compilation albumNumber Ones, bringing his total American Music Awards to 26.[355][356] In the year after his death, more than 16.1million copies of Jackson's albums were sold in the US alone, and 35million copies were sold worldwide, more than any other artist in 2009.[357][358] He became the first artist to sell one millionmusic downloads in a week, with 2.6million song downloads.Thriller,Number Ones andThe Essential Michael Jackson became the first catalog albums to outsell any new album.[359] Jackson also became the first artist to have four of the top-20 best-selling albums in a single year in the US.[360] Within the year following his death, Jackson sold over 75 million records worldwide.[361] By the end of 2013, Jackson had sold over 50 million albums worldwide since his death.[362]
Following the surge in sales, in March 2010, Sony Music signed a $250million deal (equivalent to $360 million in 2024) with theJackson estate to extend their distribution rights to Jackson's back catalog until at least 2017; it had been due to expire in 2015. It was themost expensive music contract for a single artist in history.[363][364] They agreed to release ten albums of previously unreleased material and new collections of released work.[363][365] The deal was extended in 2017.[366] That July, a Los Angeles court awardedQuincy Jones $9.4million of disputed royalty payments forOff the Wall,Thriller, andBad.[54] In July 2018, Sony/ATV bought the estate's stake in EMI for $287.5million.[367]
In 2015,Thriller became the first album to be certified for 30million shipments by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[368] A year later, it was certified 33× platinum afterSoundscan added streams and audio downloads to album certifications.[369][nb 4]
In February 2024, Sony Music acquired half of Michael Jackson's publishing rights and recording masters for $600 million. The deal includes assets from Jackson'sMijac publishing catalog, but excludes royalties from several Jackson-related productions, such as theMJ Broadway musical and theMichael biopic. This transaction is possibly the largest for a single musician's work.[371][372]
Posthumous releases and productions
Jackson's posthumous releases and productions are administered by theestate of Michael Jackson, which owns Jackson's trademarks and rights to his name, image and likeness.[373] The first posthumous Jackson song, "This Is It", co-written in the 1980s withPaul Anka, was released in October 2009. The surviving Jackson brothers reunited to record backing vocals.[374] It was followed by a documentary film about the rehearsals for the canceled This Is It tour,Michael Jackson's This Is It,[375] anda compilation album.[376] Despite a limited two-week engagement, the film became the highest-grossing documentary or concert film ever, with earnings of more than$260 million worldwide.[377] Jackson's estate received 90% of the profits.[378] In late 2010, Sony released the first posthumous album,Michael, and the lead single "Hold My Hand", a duet withAkon. The Jackson collaborator will.i.am expressed disgust, saying that Jackson would not have approved the release.[379]
In 2012, in an attempt to end a family dispute, Jackson's brother Jermaine retracted his signature on a public letter criticizing executors of Jackson's estate and his mother's advisors over the legitimacy of his brother's will.[384] T.J. Jackson, the son of Tito Jackson, was given co-guardianship of Michael Jackson's children after false reports of Katherine Jackson going missing.[385]Xscape, an album of unreleased material, was released on May 13, 2014.[386] The lead single, a duet between Jackson andJustin Timberlake, "Love Never Felt So Good", reached number 9 on the USBillboard Hot 100, making Jackson the first artist to have a top-10 single on the chart in five different decades.[387]
In 2013, choreographerWade Robson filed a lawsuit alleging that Jackson had sexually abused him for seven years, beginning when he was seven years old (1989–1996).[396] In 2014, a case was filed by James Safechuck, alleging similar sexual abuse over a four-year period starting when Safechuck was ten (1988–1992).[397][398][399] Both had previously testified in Jackson's defense during the 1993 allegations; Robson did so again in 2005.[400][401] In 2015, Robson's case against Jackson's estate was dismissed as it had been filed too late. Safechuck's claim was also time-barred.[402]
In 2017, it was ruled that Jackson's corporations could not be held accountable for his alleged past actions.[403][404] The rulings were appealed. On October 20, 2020, Safechuck's lawsuit against Jackson's corporations was again dismissed. The judge ruled that there was no evidence that Safechuck had had a relationship with Jackson's corporation, nor was it proven that there was a special relationship between the two.[405][406][407][408] On April 26, 2021, Robson's case was dismissed because of a lack of supporting evidence that the defendants exercised control over Jackson.[409]
Robson and Safechuck's allegations were the subject of the documentary filmLeaving Neverland, released in March 2019.[410] Radio stations in New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands removed Jackson's music from their playlists.[411][412][413] Jackson's family condemned the film as a "public lynching",[414] and the Jackson estate released a statement calling the film a "tabloid character assassination [Jackson] endured in life, and now in death".[415] Close associates of Jackson, such asCorey Feldman,Aaron Carter, Brett Barnes, andMacaulay Culkin, defended Jackson in the wake of the documentary's release, saying that Jackson had never molested them.[416][417][418]
Documentaries such asSquare One: Michael Jackson,Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary andMichael Jackson: Chase the Truth, presented information countering the claims suggested byLeaving Neverland.[419][420][421] Jackson's album sales increased following the documentary screenings.[422]Billboard senior editor Gail Mitchell said she and a colleague interviewed about thirty music executives who believed Jackson's legacy could withstand the controversy.[423] In late 2019, some New Zealand and Canadian radio stations re-added Jackson's music to their playlists due to "positive listener survey results".[424][425]
On February 21, 2019, the Jackson estate sued HBO for breaching a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract. The suit sought to compel HBO to participate in a non-confidential arbitration that could result in $100million or more in damages awarded to the estate.[426] HBO said they did not breach a contract and filed an anti-SLAPP motion against the estate. In September 2019, JudgeGeorge H. Wu denied HBO's motion to dismiss the case, allowing the Jackson estate to arbitrate.[427] HBO appealed, but in December 2020 the appeals court affirmed Wu's ruling.[428]
In 2020, a state law passed in California which granted plaintiffs in child sex abuse cases an additional period to file lawsuits. In October 2020 and again in April 2021, theLos Angeles County Superior Court ruled that MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc. employees were not legally obligated to protect the two men from Jackson. In August 2023, California's Second District Court of Appeal overturned the ruling, and the case was approved to move forward totrial court.[429]
Jackson at theWhite House in 1984. PresidentRonald Reagan described him as "one of the most talented, most popular and most exciting superstars".[430]
Jackson has been referred to as the "King of Pop" for having transformed the art of music videos and paving the way for modern pop music. For much of Jackson's career, he had an unparalleled worldwide influence over the younger generation.[431] His influence extended beyond the music industry; he impacted dance, led fashion trends, and raised awareness for global affairs.[432] Jackson's music and videos fostered racial diversity in MTV's roster and steered its focus from rock to pop music and R&B, leading to the discontinuation of thealbum-oriented rock format previously dominant on the channel.[41][433] In songs such as "Black or White", "Heal the World", "Earth Song" and "They Don't Care About Us", Jackson's music emphasizedracial integration andenvironmentalism and protested injustice.[434][435] He is considered one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century,[436] and his contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.[437][438][439][440]
Jackson's meteoric rise in the 1980s catapulted him to global stardom, and his influence transcended borders. In Africa, his influence was compared toNelson Mandela for his ability to inspire and unite diverse audiences through his music.[441][442] Similarly, in India, Jackson was likened toMahatma Gandhi, with his art championing themes of social justice andhumanitarianism,[443] and his influence extending toBollywood where it was said that anyone who danced well was compared to Jackson.[441] In Europe, Jackson's impact was compared to that of thePope; huge crowds gathered to see him in public and even more attended his concerts, which spread messages of love and healing during rough economic and political times.[444] His presence in the Middle East was considered as widespread asCoca-Cola, symbolizing a shared global culture through his music.[445] Additionally, Jackson is considered the backbone of theK-pop industry in South Korea, influencing countless artists and shaping the genre's development.[446][447]
So vast, far-reaching and was his impact—particularly in the wake ofThriller's colossal and heretofore unmatched commercial success—that there weren't a whole lot of artists whoweren't trying to mimic some of the Jackson formula.
Danyel Smith, chief content officer of Vibe Media Group and the editor-in-chief ofVibe, described Jackson as "the greatest star".[449] Steve Huey of AllMusic called him "an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the skills to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility and loads of sheer star power".[10] BET said Jackson was "quite simply the greatest entertainer of all time" whose "sound, style, movement and legacy continues to inspire artists of all genres".[450] In 1984,Time pop criticJay Cocks wrote that Jackson was the biggest phenomenon since the Beatles and Elvis Presley, while possibly "the most popular black singer ever". Cocks declared him a "star of records, radio, rock video" and the "dancer with the fanciest feet".[87] In 2003,The Daily Telegraph writerTom Utley described Jackson as "extremely important" and a "genius".[451] At Jackson's memorial service on July 7, 2009, Motown founder Berry Gordy called Jackson "the greatest entertainer that ever lived".[452][453] Jackson is recognized as the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" byGuinness World Records.[454][455] He has also appeared onRolling Stone's lists of the "Greatest Singers of All Time".[456][457]
Craig Glenday, the editor-in-chief ofGuinness World Records, called Jackson the most famous person in the world in 2006. Following Jackson's death, Glenday wrote in an obituary that Jackson had maintained this status up until his death,[458] later remarking that his fame had exceeded that ofConfucius.[459]The Guardian wrote that he was in a league of his own in terms of fame, noting that Jackson had become so famous that the number of people who might not know who he was had become statistically insignificant.[460] Due to his unprecedented influence, Jackson is widely recognized as one of the most famous and globally renowned figures in history.[461] Reports of his fame extend from the Middle East,[462][463] Africa,[441][464] India,[465][466] and China[467][468] to tribes in the Amazon.[469] His influence even reached remote corners of the world such asSão Tomé and Príncipe, orTristan da Cunha, where tribute artists keep his legacy alive by celebrating his music.[470][471]
A mural of Jackson in Vienna, Austria
In 2018, theNational Portrait Gallery named Jackson the most depicted cultural figure of the century,[472] later stating that Jackson's influence on art rivaled that ofJesus Christ.[473]Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery and curator of theMichael Jackson: On the Wall exhibition, described Jackson's impact on art as unprecedented and claimed in 2018 that Jackson was the most depicted figure in the history ofcontemporary art.[474] In 2014, a comprehensive study conducted by researcher Young-Ho Eom at theUniversity of Toulouse identified Jackson as one of the most influential people of all time.[475] The study utilized advanced ranking methods, including 2D Rank and PageRank algorithms, to analyze the impact of historical figures. Jackson was prominently placed on the list of top influencers, alongside Swedish botanistCarl Linnaeus,Adolf Hitler, and Jesus Christ. Another study conducted in 2013 also identified Jackson as one of the most influential people of all time. This study ranked Jackson at the top of the list, alongsideNapoleon Bonaparte, highlighting the extraordinary influence and global recognition that Jackson achieved throughout his career.[476] Additionally, numerous publications and academic studies[477] have recognized Michael Jackson as one of the most influential figures in history, noting his impact beyond music in fields such as psychology, law, chemistry, and engineering.[478][479][480]
PresidentRonald Reagan rewarding Jackson in 1984 for his support of alcohol and drug abuse charities
Jackson is widely regarded as having been a prolific philanthropist and humanitarian.[481][482][483][484] Jackson's early charitable work has been described byThe Chronicle of Philanthropy as having "paved the way for the current surge in celebrity philanthropy",[485] and by theLos Angeles Times as having "set the standard for generosity for other entertainers".[481]
By some estimates, he donated over $500 million, not accounting for inflation, to various charities over the course of his life.[481] In 1992, Jackson established hisHeal the World Foundation, to which he donated several million dollars in revenue from hisDangerous World Tour.[486]
Jackson's philanthropic activities went beyond just monetary donations. He also performed atbenefit concerts, some of which he arranged.[487] He gifted tickets for his regular concert performances to groups that assist underprivileged children.[488] He visited sick children in hospitals around the world.[489]
Jackson donated valuable, personal and professional paraphernalia for numerous charity auctions. He received various awards and accolades for his philanthropic work, including two bestowed by American presidents. The vast breadth of Jackson's philanthropic work has earned recognition in theGuinness World Records.[481][490][491]
On May 14, 1984, PresidentRonald Reagan gave Jackson an award recognizing his support of alcohol and drug abuse charities,[492] and in recognition of his support for theAd Council's and theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Drunk Driving Prevention campaign. Jackson allowed the campaign to use "Beat It" for its public service announcements.[493]
Jackson was known as an expressive vocalist withabsolute pitch.[494][495][496] Critics describe his vocal theatricality as having a range from clear and soft to harsh and aggressive,[497][498][499][500] depending on the genre sung. Principally in history, Jackson is the sole recipient to receiveGrammy Awards for three different genres of vocal performance (as a soloist), winningPop Vocal for "Thriller",Rock Vocal for "Beat It", andRhythm and Blues Vocal with both "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".Bruce Swedien, his long-time sound engineer, emphasized that a critical element of their vocal recordings are of him and Jackson trying numerous approaches to rhythmic, emotional and technical distinctions to consummate a "sonic character".[501] His stylings, such as common use ofstaccato,legato,falsetto as well asvocal hiccups,[502] adlibs, wailings and growls, are all signature to his sound.[503][504]
Jackson sang from childhood, and over time his voice and vocal style changed. Between 1971 and 1975, it descended from boysoprano to lyrictenor.[505] He was known for his intonation and vocal range.[456] Through each music release, his vocal development and changes were positively narrated by music journalists. With the arrival ofOff the Wall in the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities in hiscoming-of-age period hadRolling Stone comparing his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder, and wrote that "Jackson's feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startlingfalsetto that's used very daringly."[506] By the time of 1982'sThriller,Rolling Stone wrote that Jackson was singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".[507] The turn of the 1990s saw the release of the introspective albumDangerous.The New York Times noted that on some tracks, "he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth" and he had a "wretched tone". When singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to "smooth" vocals.[508] OfInvincible,Rolling Stone wrote that, at age 43, Jackson still performed "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies".[509]Joseph Vogel notes Jackson's ability to use non-verbal sounds to express emotion.[510]Neil McCormick wrote that Jackson's unorthodox singing style "was original and utterly distinctive".[511]
Jackson's vocal technique was influenced by Diana Ross; his use of theoooh interjection from a young age was something Ross had used on many of her songs withthe Supremes.[516] She was a mother figure to him, and he often watched her rehearse.[517] He said he had learned a lot from watching how she moved and sang, and that she had encouraged him to have confidence in himself.[518]
ChoreographerDavid Winters, who met Jackson while choreographing the 1971 Diana Ross TV specialDiana!, said that Jackson watched the musicalWest Side Story almost every week, and it was his favorite film; he paid tribute to it in "Beat It" and the "Bad" video.[519][520][521]
Musicianship
Jackson had no formal music training and could not read or writemusic notation. He is credited for playing guitar, keyboard, and drums, but was not proficient in them.[522] When composing, he recorded ideas bybeatboxing and imitating instruments vocally.[522] Describing the process, he said: "I'll just sing the bass part into thetape recorder. I'll take that bass lick and put the chords of the melody over the bass lick and that's what inspires the melody." These were shown in his demos for "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" where he vocalized the melody, bass instrumentals as well as lead and backing vocals by overlaying each component. The engineer Robert Hoffman recalled that after Jackson came in with a song he had written overnight, Jackson sang every note of every chord to a guitar player. Hoffman also remembered Jackson singing string arrangements part by part into a cassette recorder.[522]
Dance
Jackson danced from a young age as part of the Jackson 5,[523] and incorporated dance extensively in his performances.[523] According to Sanjoy Roy ofThe Guardian, Jackson would "flick and retract his limbs like switchblades, or snap out of a tornado spin into a perfectly poised toe-stand".[523] Themoonwalk, taught to him byJeffrey Daniel,[77] was Jackson's signature dance move and one of the most famous of the 20th century.[524] Jackson is credited for coining the name "moonwalk" for this street dance move, previously known as the "backslide".[525][526] His other moves included therobot,[47][527] crotch grab, and the "anti-gravity" lean of the "Smooth Criminal" video.[523]
Themes and genres
Jackson during hisBad tour in Vienna, Austria, in June 1988
WithOff the Wall,The Guardian's Tom Ewing wrote that Jackson's "vocal tics – the gasps and shudders that punctuate almost every song" evoke "a singer desperate to cut loose and express himself in movement."[503] Christopher Connelly ofRolling Stone commented that, withThriller, Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme ofparanoia and darker imagery.[507] AllMusic'sStephen Thomas Erlewine noted this on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".[532] In "Billie Jean", Jackson depicts an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered her child,[10] and in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media.[507] "Beat It" decried gang violence in a homage toWest Side Story, and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey.[10][37] He observed that "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of thesupernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona.[10]
InBad, Jackson's concept of the predatory lover is seen on the rock song "Dirty Diana".[534] The lead single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a traditional love ballad, and "Man in the Mirror" is a ballad of confession and resolution. "Smooth Criminal" is an evocation of bloody assault, rape and likely murder.[134] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine states thatDangerous presents Jackson as a paradoxical person.[535] The first half of the record is dedicated to new jack swing, including songs like "Jam" and "Remember the Time". It was the first Jackson album in which social ills became a primary theme; "Why You Wanna Trip on Me", for example, protests world hunger, AIDS, homelessness and drugs.Dangerous contains sexually charged songs such as "In the Closet". The title track continues the theme of the predatory lover and compulsive desire. The second half includes introspective, pop-gospel anthems such as "Will You Be There", "Heal the World", and "Keep the Faith".[508] In the ballad "Gone Too Soon", Jackson gives tribute to Ryan White and the plight of those with AIDS.[536]
HIStory creates an atmosphere of paranoia.[537] In the new jack swing-funk rock tracks "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie", and the R&B ballad "You Are Not Alone", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs his anger at the media.[538] In the introspective ballad "Stranger in Moscow", Jackson laments his "fall from grace"; "Earth Song", "Childhood", "Little Susie", and "Smile" are operatic pop songs.[537][538] In "D.S.", Jackson attacks lawyerThomas W. Sneddon Jr., who had prosecuted him in both child sexual abuse cases; he describes Sneddon as a white supremacist who wanted to "get my ass, dead or alive".[539]Invincible includes urban soul tracks such as "Cry" and "The Lost Children", ballads such as "Speechless", "Break of Dawn", and "Butterflies", and mixes hip hop, pop, and R&B in "2000 Watts", "Heartbreaker", and "Invincible".[540][541]
Music videos and choreography
Jackson released "Thriller", a 14-minute music video directed byJohn Landis, in 1983.[542] Thezombie-themed video "defined music videos and broke racial barriers" onMTV, which had launched two years earlier.[41] BeforeThriller, Jackson struggled to receive coverage on MTV, allegedly because he was African American.[543] Pressure from CBS Records persuaded MTV to start showing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", which led to a lengthy partnership with Jackson, and helped other black music artists gain recognition.[544] The popularity of his videos on MTV helped the relatively new channel's viewing figures, and MTV's focus shifted toward pop and R&B.[544][545] His performance onMotown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever changed the scope of live stage shows, making it acceptable for artists to lip-sync to music video on stage.[546] The choreography inThriller has been copied inIndian films andprisons in the Philippines.[547]Thriller marked an increase in scale for music videos, and was named the most successful music video ever by theGuinness World Records.[237]
In "Bad"'s 19-minute video—directed byMartin Scorsese—Jackson used sexual imagery and choreography, and touched his chest, torso and crotch. When asked by Winfrey in the 1993 interview about why he grabbed his crotch, he said it was spontaneously compelled by the music.Time magazine described the "Bad" video as "infamous". It featuredWesley Snipes; Jackson's later videos often featured famous cameo roles.[548][549] For the "Smooth Criminal" video, Jackson experimented with leaning forward at a 45-degree angle, beyond the performer's center of gravity. To accomplish this live, Jackson and designers developed a special shoe to lock the performer's feet to the stage, allowing them to lean forward. They were grantedU.S. patent 5,255,452 for the device.[550] The video for "Leave Me Alone" was not officially released in the US, but in 1989 was nominated for threeBillboard Music Video Awards[551] and won a Golden Lion Award for its special effects. It won a Grammy forBest Music Video, Short Form.[58]
Jackson (center) performing a dance sequence of "The Way You Make Me Feel" at the Bad World Tour in 1988
He received theMTV Video Vanguard Award in 1988; in 2001 the award was renamed in his honor.[552] The "Black or White" video simultaneously premiered on November 14, 1991, in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500million people, the largest audience ever for a music video at the time.[173] Along with Jackson, it featuredMacaulay Culkin,Peggy Lipton, andGeorge Wendt. It helped introducemorphing to music videos.[553] It was controversial for scenes in which Jackson rubs his crotch, vandalizes cars, and throws a garbage can through a storefront. He apologized and removed the final scene of the video.[162]
"In the Closet" featuredNaomi Campbell in a courtship dance with Jackson.[554] "Remember the Time" was set inancient Egypt, and featuredEddie Murphy,Iman, andMagic Johnson.[555] The video for "Scream", directed byMark Romanek and production designer Tom Foden, gained a record 11MTV Video Music Award Nominations, and won "Best Dance Video", "Best Choreography", and "Best Art Direction".[556] The song and its video are Jackson's response to being accused of child molestation in 1993.[557] A year later, it won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form. It has been reported as themost expensive music video ever made, at $7million;[558] Romanek has contradicted this.[559] The "Earth Song" video was nominated for the 1997 Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form.[560]
In December 2009, theLibrary of Congress selected "Thriller" as the only music video to be preserved in theNational Film Registry, as a work of "enduring importance to American culture".[564][565] Huey wrote that Jackson transformed the music video into an artform and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameos, while breaking down racial barriers.[10]
Jackson and PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush at the White House on April 5, 1990. It was the second time that Jackson had been honored by a president of the US.
Jackson is one of thebest-selling music artists in history,[566] with sales estimated of over 500 million records worldwide.[567][568][569][Note 2] He had 13number-one singles in the US over his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era at the time of his death.[570] He was invited and honored by a president of the US at theWhite House three times. In 1984, he was honored with a "Presidential Public Safety Commendation" award byRonald Reagan for his humanitarian endeavors.[571] In 1990, he was honored as the "Artist of the Decade", which was awarded by theNational Children's Museum, byGeorge H. W. Bush.[572] In 1992, he was honored as a "Point of Light Ambassador" by Bush for inviting disadvantaged children to hisNeverland Ranch.[573]
Jackson's star on theHollywood Walk of Fame on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of his death
In 1988,Fisk University honored him with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.[585] In 1992, he was invested as atitular king ofSanwi, a traditional kingdom located in the south-east ofIvory Coast.[586] In July 2009, the Lunar Republic Society named a crater on the Moon after Jackson.[587] In August, for what would have been Jackson's 51st birthday, Google dedicated theirGoogle Doodle to him.[588] In 2012, the extinct hermit crabMesoparapylocheles michaeljacksoni was named in his honor.[589] In 2014, theBritish Council of Cultural Relations deemed Jackson's life one of the 80 most important cultural moments of the 20th century.[590]World Vitiligo Day has been celebrated on June 25, the anniversary of Jackson's death, to raise awareness of the auto-immune disorder that Jackson suffered from.[591]
In 1989, Jackson's annual earnings from album sales, endorsements, and concerts were estimated at $125million.[237]Forbes placed Jackson's annual income at $35million in 1996 and $20million in 1997.[592] Jackson has been one of the wealthiestcelebrities andmusical artists; estimates of Jackson's net worth during his life range from negative $285million to positive $350million for 2002, 2003 and 2007.[593][594]Forbes reported in August 2018 that Jackson's total career pretax earnings in life and death were $4.2billion.[595][596] Sales of his recordings through Sony's music unit earned him an estimated $300million in royalties. He may have earned another $400million from concerts, music publishing (including his share of the Beatles catalog), endorsements, merchandising and music videos.[597]
In 2013, the executors of Jackson's estate filed a petition in theUnited States Tax Court as a result of a dispute with theInternal Revenue Service (IRS) overestate taxes.[598] The executors claimed that it was worth about $7million, while the IRS that it was worth over $1.1billion. In February 2014, the IRS reported that Jackson's estate owed $702million; $505million in taxes, and $197million in penalties.[599] In 2021, the Tax Court issued a ruling in favor of the estate, ruling that the estate's total combined value was $111.5 million and that the value of Jackson's name and likeness was $4 million.[600]
In 2016,Forbes estimated annual gross earnings by the Jackson estate at $825million, the largest ever recorded for a celebrity, mostly due to the sale of the Sony/ATV catalog.[601] In 2018, the figure was $400million,[602] and by 2024, it rose to $600 million,[603] bringing Jackson's postmortem total to $3.3billion.[603]Forbes has consistently recognized Jackson as one of thetop-earning dead celebrities, placing him at the top spot from 2010 to 2024, except for 2012, 2021, and 2022.[604][605]
^abcdefghijk"Michael Jackson". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. February 15, 2019.Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. RetrievedApril 7, 2019.
^Durkee, Cutler (September 14, 1987)."Unlike Anyone, Even Himself".People. Vol. 28, no. 11.Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. RetrievedJune 29, 2019.
^Goldberg, Michael; Handelman, David (September 24, 1987)."Is Michael Jackson for Real?".Rolling Stone. Archived fromthe original on May 9, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 4, 2017.
^Jackson, Katherine (October 1990)."Mother of Jackson Family Tells All".Ebony. Vol. 45, no. 12. p. 66.ISSN0012-9011.In 1987, he left the Jehovah's Witnesses. There was strong opposition to his "Thriller" video on the part of some Witnesses. Perhaps the controversy figured into his decision to leave. But I don't know that for a fact because I didn't talk to him about what he'd done. I couldn't. Witnesses do not discuss spiritual matters with a person who has disassociated himself from the Witnesses, including family members. But I want to stress that, contrary to published reports, I was not required to "shun" my son. Our relationship is as loving today as it was when he was a Witness. I just can't ask him, "Why, Michael?"
^Cashmore, Ellis (2022).The Destruction and Creation of Michael Jackson. Bloomsbury. p. 235.ISBN978-1-5013-6356-6.
^"The Man in the Mirror".TV Guide. November 10–16, 2001. p. 20.TVG: How did you avoid self-destruction? MJ [Michael Jackson]: I think religion entered in? TVG: Are you still a Jehovah's Witness? MJ: Yeah.
^"Michael Jackson Paid $15.3 M to Boy in '90s".ABC News. February 25, 2025. Archived fromthe original on February 25, 2025. RetrievedMay 3, 2025.Jackson agreed to set up a trust fund of $15,331,250 for the boy, Court TV reported, citing the document. The singer also agreed to pay $1.5 million to each of the boy's parents. (18.3 Million total paid to the Chandler family)
^Spolar, Christine; Wexler, Kathryn (September 22, 1994)."JACKSON CASE DROPPED".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286. RetrievedMay 3, 2025.430 witnesses had been interviewed in both counties and several leads were explored "which later turned out to be false.
^Living with Michael Jackson (television). ITV. February 6, 2003. Event occurs at 0:51.Who's the criminal? Who's the jack-the-ripper in the room?... I'm sleeping on a sleeping bag on the floor. I give him the bed, 'cause he has a brother named Star. So him and Star took the bed. And I'm on the floor on the sleeping bag.
^"Thriller 40 – A Double CD Set Of Michael Jackson's Original Masterpiece Thriller & Bonus Disc Out Now". Legacy Recordings. November 18, 2022. RetrievedNovember 19, 2022.Immersive audio mixes of Thriller are now available at various DSPs, including 360 Reality Audio on Amazon, Spatial Audio on Apple Music, mixed by Serban Ghenea from the original masters for immersive audio, with the immersive mixes by John Hanes.
^"Michael Jackson outdraws Pope in Prague".The Gainesville Sun. September 4, 1996.Michael Jackson is bigger than the Pope here. Thousands of skrieking fans welcomed the King of Pop at the airport Tuesday as he arrived to kick off his History World Tour.
^Glenday, Craig (2013).Guinness World Records 2013. Random House.ISBN978-0-345-54711-8. p. 408:The Five leading names are Jesus, Muhammad, Isaac Newton, Buddha and Confucius, clearly significant figures. However who among us could quote more lines from Confucius than a Michael Jackson song, the man Guinness named the most famous person on earth in 2006
^Sources calling Michael Jackson the most famous person of all time or one of the most famous people in history:Vieira, Meredith (September 26, 2009)."Children 'saved me,' Michael Jackson said". NBC News. RetrievedSeptember 12, 2025.He may well have been the most famous celebrity of all timeGreene, Al (January 21, 2014)."Michael Jackson - Biography (Rhino)".Rhino Entertainment. RetrievedSeptember 12, 2025.He remains an object of adoration, fascination and speculation even after his death in 2009. Indeed, Jackson surpassed all previous notions of fame to attain a level of iconic attention that was not only awe-inspiring but also daunting and, on some levels, damaging. He has been proclaimed "the biggest-selling artist of all time," "the single most awarded entertainer the world has ever known," "the most popular artist in the history of show business," and "the world's most famous man."Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (June 25, 2014)."Michael Jackson: Five years after his death, how his influence lives on".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077. RetrievedSeptember 12, 2025.technically it should be easy to get as famous as Jackson – you can be adored from the Mongolian steppes to the Madagascan rainforest, all via YouTube. But in reality, fame is diluted by the internet as everyone makes their own collaged personal vision of global culture, and so that Jackson-level fame, an omnipresence mediated via the restricted channels of radio, TV and recorded sound, is unlikely ever to be repeated"18 Documentaries About Your Favorite Celebrities That Will Make You Look At Them In All New Ways".Bustle. February 23, 2017. RetrievedSeptember 12, 2025.The world simply could not function without a solid documentary of Michael Jackson, arguably the most famous person of all time.Grundey, Adam (June 29, 2019)."Wanted dead or alive: Despite 'Leaving Neverland,' Michael Jackson's star seems undiminished in the Middle East".Arab News. RetrievedSeptember 12, 2025.Jackson was idolized around the world. He became an enormous part of people's lives — and arguably the most recognizable person in historyKisuule, Vanessa (September 12, 2024).Neverland: The Pleasures and Perils of Fandom. Canongate Books.ISBN978-1-83885-708-0.Söderström observed: "They didn't know about the moon landing and were concerned about the negative impact it could have for conditions on Earth. They couldn't understand modern warfare and appeared to be shocked by the footage of the 9/11 attacks in New York. Neither did they know France's most famous soccer star of the day. However, all the young members of the (Amazonian) tribe were familiar with Michael Jackson."Vogel, Joseph (September 24, 2017)."Michael Jackson's Forgotten Humanitarian Legacy".HuffPost. RetrievedOctober 20, 2025.He was the most famous person on the planet. Everywhere he travelled, he created mass hysteria. The day after his sold-out concert at Prater Stadium in Vienna, an AP article ran, "130 Fans Faint at Jackson Concert." If the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, as John Lennon once claimed, Jackson had the entire Holy Trinity beat.
^Ghazal, Rym."'He meant so much to Arabs'".The National. RetrievedDecember 7, 2024.I don't think MJ knew just how much his music shaped a whole generation of Arabs, just how many fans he had here and just how devoted they remained throughout his ordeals. We might not have heard of the Beatles or Elvis Presley, but we sure knew Michael Jackson. There were fears among the religious police about his "influence" on the young mind, he was a symbol of America as a land of opportunity, especially for a generation of Arabs that had grown up in conflict. People named their cars after him, not to mention their pets - my own white-and-black cat is called MJ, I cannot think of another foreign artist who has infiltrated our culture so much as him.
^"Michael Jackson continua vivo em São Tomé e Príncipe" (in Brazilian Portuguese).Universo Online. RetrievedJuly 25, 2024.The 'King of Pop' is still alive in a remote and unknown location on the planet: on the small African islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. Damião Mendes Marques is known only as 'Michael' and became a local celebrity. Always dressed as his idol, he attracts crowds with his performance and dreams one day of being able to meet the Jackson family.
^Kerr, Jim; Squibb, Shirley."Tristen De Cunha Performing Arts Show". Tristan da Cunha Government. RetrievedDecember 7, 2024.The show started with a dance to Thriller, zombies appeared from all directions and danced with Nathan Swain, the island's Michael Jackson lookalike.
^Stansfield, Ted (June 28, 2018)."How Michael Jackson Impacted the World of Art".Another Man. RetrievedNovember 8, 2024.Few have permeated the realm of art like Michael Jackson. Aside from Jesus Christ, there aren't many people who have inspired creative practitioners to the degree that the MJ has.
^Stevens, Hampton (June 24, 2010)."Michael Jackson's Unparalleled Influence".The Atlantic. RetrievedMarch 10, 2025.Jackson was the single most influential artist of the 20th century
^Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (June 25, 2014)."Michael Jackson: Five years after his death, how his influence lives on".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077. RetrievedMarch 10, 2025.The panopticon of the internet means that today it should technically be easy to get as famous as Jackson – you can be adored from the Mongolian steppes to the Madagascan rainforest, all via YouTube. But in reality, fame is diluted by the internet as everyone makes their own collaged personal vision of global culture, and so that Jackson-level fame, an omnipresence mediated via the restricted channels of radio, TV and recorded sound, is unlikely ever to be repeated.
^Swedien, Bruce; Jackson, Michael (2009).In the studio with Michael Jackson. New York: Hal Leonard Books. pp. 8–10,119–126.ISBN978-1-4234-6495-2.OCLC316825874.
^Inglis 2006, pp. 119, 127: "That Jackson lip-synced 'Billie Jean' is, in itself, not extraordinary, but the fact that it did not change the impact of the performance is extraordinary; whether the performance was live or lip-synced made no difference to the audience."
^Gold, Scott; Lee, Chris; Harriet, Ryan (June 26, 2009)."King of Pop is dead at 50".Los Angeles Times. RetrievedNovember 4, 2024.Sold more than half a billion copies.
^Frazza, Luke (June 25, 2024)."Il y a 15 ans, Michael Jackson nous quittait" (in Canadian French). Radio-Canada. RetrievedNovember 1, 2024.500 millions - C'est le nombre de disques vendus dans le monde par Michael Jackson, qui se classe parmi les trois plus gros vendeurs [500 million - This is the number of records sold worldwide by Michael Jackson who ranks among the three best selling artists of all time]
Boepple, Leanne (1995). "Scream: Space Odyssey, Jackson-Style. (video production; Michael and Janet Jackson video)".TCI: Theatre Crafts International.29. Theatre Crafts International.ISSN1063-9497.
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