By Isabelle Wilson-

Paris Jackson has taken legal action seeking the release of US$600 million (RM2.44 billion) from the estate of her late father, pop legend Michael Jackson, into a family trust established to provide financial security for her and her two brothers, Prince and Bigi, more than 17 years after the singer’s death.

In a court filing obtained by People, the 28-year-old alleged that despite the estate generating billions of dollars through business transactions, music-related deals and property sales since her father’s death, no funds have been transferred into the Michael Jackson Family Trust. The trust was specifically established to support the late singer’s three children and provide for their financial future as they reach different stages of adulthood.

Paris argued that the arrangement was supposed to allow each sibling to begin receiving income distributions at the age of 21, with further payments scheduled when they turned 30, 35 and 40. However, she claimed that these arrangements have not been implemented as intended, leaving the siblings dependent on smaller financial distributions determined by the estate’s remaining executor, John Branca. Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Paris pointed out that she is approaching her 29th birthday in April, while her older brother, Prince, is expected to turn 30 in four months and their younger brother, Bigi, will celebrate his 25th birthday in February. She argued that the continued absence of funding for the trust raises serious questions about when the children will receive the financial benefits their father intended for them.

“More than seventeen years after his passing, Michael Jackson’s family trust remains unfunded,” the petition stated, underlining the central grievance behind her legal challenge.

Paris has asked the court to order a partial distribution of the estate’s assets, maintaining that such a payment should be manageable given the substantial financial resources generated through several major transactions over the years. Among the deals highlighted in her filing was the 2018 sale of the estate’s interest in EMI Music Publishing for US$287.5 million (RM1.17 billion), followed by the sale of Neverland Ranch in 2020 for US$22 million (RM89.6 million). She also pointed to a major 2023 agreement with Sony involving Michael Jackson’s music catalogue and additional intellectual property, arguing that these transactions demonstrate the estate’s ability to generate considerable revenue. The estate has previously been valued at between US$2 billion (RM8.14 billion) and US$3 billion (RM12.2 billion), further strengthening her argument that funds should be made available for the family trust.

However, the estate has strongly defended its handling of the late singer’s finances, insisting that it cannot fully fund the trust until several outstanding legal matters have been resolved. Representatives explained that ongoing litigation with the Internal Revenue Service remains a significant obstacle, particularly following the agency’s demand for approximately US$700 million (RM2.85 billion) in taxes and penalties. The estate said it had successfully obtained a ruling that substantially reduced the amount being sought by the IRS, but stressed that the dispute has not been fully settled and could still have financial consequences. It maintained that releasing substantial funds before the outstanding matters are resolved could create complications for the administration of Michael Jackson’s estate.

The representatives also rejected allegations that the children had been denied financial support, claiming that more than US$200 million (RM814.5 million) had already been distributed for their benefit. Furthermore, the estate argued that Michael Jackson did not intend for his children to receive major distributions until they reached their 30s, presenting a different interpretation of the arrangements governing the trust. The disagreement has brought renewed attention to the complex financial administration of Michael Jackson’s estate, which has continued to generate substantial commercial value since the singer died on June 25, 2009. The King of Pop was 50 when he died at his rented mansion in Los Angeles following an accidental overdose of the anaesthetic propofol.

Following his death, John Branca and John McClain were appointed co-executors to oversee the estate and manage his financial affairs. However, McClain died in May, leaving Branca as the remaining executor responsible for its administration. With Paris now seeking judicial intervention, the dispute centres on how and when the financial resources accumulated through her father’s enduring legacy should be made available to his children. While she maintains that the family trust should finally receive substantial funding, the estate insists that outstanding legal and financial obligations must first be addressed. The court’s eventual decision could prove significant in determining the future distribution of one of the most valuable estates in entertainment history.