Full Name: 

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist who became one of the most influential and popular entertainers of the 20th century. Known as the “King of Pop”, he revolutionized the music industry with his groundbreaking albums, videos, and performances. He also faced controversies and challenges in his personal life, including allegations of child abuse, health problems, and legal battles. He died in 2009 at the age of 50 from an overdose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic.

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Michael Joseph Jackson
  • Known As: The King of Pop
  • Nickname: MJ
  • Father: Joseph Walter Jackson
  • Mother: Katherine Esther Scruse
  • Siblings: Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (deceased), Randy, Janet
  • Wife: Lisa Marie Presley (1994-1996), Debbie Rowe (1996-2000)
  • Mistress: None confirmed
  • Daughter: Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson
  • Son: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (Prince), Prince Michael Jackson II (Blanket)
  • Age (Present): 50 (at the time of death)
  • Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
  • Weight: 136 lbs (62 kg)
  • Net Worth: $500 million (estimated in 2009)
  • Date of Birth: August 29, 1958
  • Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, USA
  • Date of Death: June 25, 2009
  • Death Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Cause of Death: Acute propofol intoxication
  • Remains: Buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, USA
  • Gender: Male
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo
  • Religion: Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, later converted to Islam (according to some sources)
  • Race or Ethnicity: African American
  • Education: Montclair College Preparatory School (graduated in 1979)
  • Nationality: American
  • Influenced: Countless artists across various genres and generations, such as Madonna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, etc.
  • Major Writings: Moonwalk (1988), Dancing the Dream (1992)
  • Occupation: Singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer
  • Social Media: N/A


Details

Career: Michael Jackson began his career as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a family group formed by his father in the early 1960s. The group signed with Motown Records in 1969 and achieved huge success with songs such as “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There”. Michael also launched his solo career in 1971 with the album Got to Be There. In 1975, the Jackson 5 left Motown and changed their name to the Jacksons. They continued to record and tour until 1984.

Michael’s solo career reached new heights in 1979 with the release of Off the Wall, a disco-pop album that sold over 20 million copies worldwide and spawned four top 10 hits: “Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough”, “Rock with You”, “Off the Wall”, and “She’s Out of My Life”. He collaborated with producer Quincy Jones on this album and on his next two albums: Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987). Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, with over 66 million copies sold. It also won eight Grammy Awards and featured seven top 10 singles: “The Girl Is Mine” (with Paul McCartney), “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, “Human Nature”, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”, and “Thriller”. Bad was also a huge success, selling over 35 million copies and producing five number one hits: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (with Siedah Garrett), “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror”, and “Dirty Diana”.

Michael’s music videos were also groundbreaking and influential. He pioneered the use of short films to promote his songs and showcase his dance moves. Some of his most iconic videos include “Thriller”, which was a 14-minute horror-themed mini-movie; “Beat It”, which featured a gang fight choreographed by Michael Peters; “Bad”, which was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Wesley Snipes; “Smooth Criminal”, which featured the famous anti-gravity lean; and “Black or White”, which used morphing technology to celebrate racial diversity.

Michael also performed on several historic occasions, such as the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special in 1983, where he debuted his signature moonwalk dance; the Live Aid concert in 1985, where he co-wrote and sang “We Are the World” with other artists to raise funds for famine relief in Africa; the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in 1993, where he drew a record-breaking audience of over 133 million viewers; and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration in 2001, where he reunited with his brothers for the first time in 17 years.

Michael’s later albums include Dangerous (1991), HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995), Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997), and Invincible (2001). He also released several compilation albums, such as Number Ones (2003), The Essential Michael Jackson (2005), and King of Pop (2008). He was working on a new album and preparing for a series of comeback concerts titled This Is It in 2009, but he died before he could complete them.


Early Life & Childhood: Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, a small industrial city near Chicago. He was the eighth of 10 children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. His father was a crane operator who also played guitar in a local R&B band called the Falcons. His mother was a homemaker who also played piano and sang. Michael inherited his musical talent from both of his parents and showed an interest in music from an early age. He sang along to records and mimicked the dance moves of James Brown and Jackie Wilson.

Michael’s childhood was not easy. He lived in a small two-bedroom house with his large family and faced poverty and racism. He also suffered from physical and emotional abuse from his father, who was strict and demanding. Joseph often beat Michael and his brothers with belts or cords if they did not perform well during rehearsals or shows. He also verbally insulted them and called them names. Michael later said that he was so afraid of his father that he would sometimes vomit or faint when he saw him.

Michael found solace in music and performing. He joined his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon in a group called the Jackson Brothers in 1964. He soon became the lead singer of the group, which changed its name to the Jackson 5 in 1966. The group performed at local clubs, talent shows, and competitions, winning several awards and attracting attention from record labels. They also toured across the Midwest as an opening act for established artists such as Bobby Taylor, Gladys Knight, and James Brown.


Personal Life & Family: Michael Jackson had a complicated and controversial personal life. He married twice and had three children, but he also faced accusations of child molestation, lawsuits, divorces, and scandals.

Michael’s first marriage was to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. They met in 1975 when Michael was 17 and Lisa Marie was 7. They reconnected in 1992 after Michael’s first allegations of child abuse surfaced. They married secretly in the Dominican Republic on May 26, 1994. They appeared together publicly at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1994, where they kissed on stage. However, their marriage was short-lived and troubled by media scrutiny, family pressure, and personal differences. They divorced in January 1996.

Michael’s second marriage was to Deborah Jeanne Rowe, a nurse who worked for his dermatologist. They met in 1986 when Michael was diagnosed with vitiligo, a skin disorder that causes loss of pigmentation. They became friends and Rowe supported Michael through his legal troubles and health issues. They married on November 14, 1996, in Sydney, Australia. Rowe gave birth to Michael’s first two children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., nicknamed Prince (born February 13, 1997), and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (born April 3, 1998). However, their marriage was also unhappy and arranged. Rowe later said that she offered to have Michael’s children as a gift and that they never had a sexual relationship. They divorced in October 1999.

Michael’s third child was Prince Michael Jackson II, nicknamed Blanket (born February 21, 2002). The identity of his mother is unknown. She was reportedly a surrogate who carried Michael’s biological child through artificial insemination. Michael caused a stir when he dangled Blanket over a balcony of a Berlin hotel in November 2002, prompting criticism and outrage from the public and the media.


Later Life & Death: Michael Jackson’s later life was marked by turmoil and tragedy. He faced multiple allegations of child molestation, which damaged his reputation and finances. He also struggled with health issues, addiction, and isolation. He died on June 25, 2009, from an overdose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic that he used to treat his insomnia.

The first accusation of child abuse against Jackson came in 1993, when a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler and his father Evan Chandler sued Jackson for sexual battery, seduction, and emotional distress. Jackson denied the allegations and claimed that he was the victim of extortion. The case was settled out of court in 1994 for an undisclosed amount, reportedly between $15 million and $25 million. Jackson also married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, but they divorced two years later amid rumors that their marriage was a publicity stunt to deflect attention from the scandal.

The second accusation of child abuse against Jackson came in 2003, when a 13-year-old boy named Gavin Arvizo and his family appeared in a documentary called Living with Michael Jackson, in which Jackson admitted to sharing his bed with children. The documentary sparked a public outcry and a criminal investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. Jackson was arrested and charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent. He pleaded not guilty and went on trial in 2005. The trial lasted five months and featured testimonies from both accusers and supporters of Jackson. The jury acquitted Jackson of all charges on June 13, 2005.

After the trial, Jackson moved to Bahrain, where he lived as a guest of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of the king. He also spent time in Ireland and Las Vegas, where he worked on new music projects. He returned to the United States in 2006 and settled in a rented mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. He also reconciled with his ex-wife Debbie Rowe, who had given up her parental rights to their two children in 2001. He regained custody of Prince and Paris, while Rowe received visitation rights and a settlement.

In 2008, Jackson faced financial difficulties due to his lavish spending habits and legal troubles. He was sued by several creditors and faced foreclosure on his Neverland Ranch, his famous estate in Santa Barbara County. He managed to save his property by striking a deal with Colony Capital LLC, a private equity firm that bought the loan on Neverland and agreed to co-manage it with Jackson.

In 2009, Jackson announced that he would perform a series of comeback concerts titled This Is It at the O2 Arena in London. The concerts were scheduled to start on July 13, 2009, and run until March 6, 2010. They sold out within hours of going on sale and were expected to earn Jackson over $50 million. Jackson hired Kenny Ortega as the director and producer of the shows and rehearsed extensively with a team of dancers, musicians, and technicians.

However, behind the scenes, Jackson was suffering from severe insomnia and anxiety. He relied on propofol, a powerful anesthetic that induces a deep sleep, to help him rest. He hired Dr. Conrad Murray as his personal physician to administer propofol to him every night at his home. Murray was paid $150,000 per month by AEG Live, the promoter of the concerts.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson did not wake up after receiving propofol from Murray. Murray tried to revive him with CPR and other drugs but failed. He also delayed calling 911 for about half an hour while he tried to conceal evidence of propofol use. Paramedics arrived at Jackson’s home at 12:26 p.m. and found him in cardiac arrest and not breathing. They transported him to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where doctors attempted to resuscitate him for over an hour but could not restore his heartbeat. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m.

Jackson’s death shocked the world and sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans, celebrities, politicians, and religious leaders. Millions of people watched his memorial service on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where his family members and friends spoke and performed in his honor. His casket was present at the service but was later moved to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where he was buried on September 3, 2009.

Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, which found that he died from acute propofol intoxication combined with benzodiazepines (sedatives). Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter for administering propofol without proper monitoring or equipment. He pleaded not guilty and went on trial in 2011. The trial lasted six weeks and featured testimonies from witnesses, experts, and Jackson’s family members. The jury found Murray guilty on November 7, 2011, and he was sentenced to four years in prison. He was released in 2013 after serving two years due to good behavior and overcrowding.

Jackson’s legacy lives on through his music, videos, and humanitarian work. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential artists of all time, with a record-breaking career that spanned four decades and crossed genres, cultures, and generations. He is the most awarded artist in history, with 15 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, 13 number one singles in the United States, and over 750 million records sold worldwide. He is also the most philanthropic pop star in history, having donated over $300 million to various charities and causes. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Dance Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. He has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Presidential Humanitarian Award, a Grammy Legend Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and many other accolades. He has inspired countless artists across various genres and generations, such as Madonna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, etc.


Some Unknown Information:

  • Jackson had a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles, who lived with him at Neverland Ranch and accompanied him on tours and public appearances.
  • Jackson suffered from vitiligo, a skin disorder that causes loss of pigmentation. He also had several plastic surgeries to alter his appearance.
  • Jackson was a fan of comic books and superheroes. He once tried to buy Marvel Comics in order to play Spider-Man in a movie.
  • Jackson was friends with several celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, Brooke Shields, Eddie Murphy, Macaulay Culkin, etc.
  • Jackson was interested in spirituality and mysticism. He studied various religions and beliefs, such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.
  • Jackson was an avid reader and had a large collection of books on various topics. He also wrote poetry and short stories.
  • Jackson was a vegetarian for most of his life. He also avoided alcohol and drugs (except for prescription medications).
  • Jackson was a prankster and loved to play jokes on his friends and family. He also enjoyed watching comedy shows and movies.
  • Jackson was fascinated by ancient Egypt and its culture. He visited the pyramids and the Sphinx in 1992 and wore an Egyptian-inspired outfit for his HIStory album cover.
  • Jackson was passionate about environmental issues and animal rights. He wrote songs such as “Earth Song”, “Heal the World”, “We Are the World”, etc., to raise awareness and funds for these causes.