How Michael Jackson Spent His Million: Clothes, Snakes and More
Recently, we told you about how Michael Jackson was able to go from having millions of dollars of debt while he was alive to becoming worth over $3 billion in his death. But what exactly led to the King of Pop accruing all the debt in the first place?
Well, as we previously mentioned, for as much as Jackson made, he spent nearly the same amount, if not more. Yes, it’s true, the “Off the Wall” singer lived a truly lavish lifestyle. And if you wondered what exactly he spent his coins on all those years ago, well, you’re in luck because we’ve done some digging and found a handful of things he liked that kept him spending more and more. Keep reading for more!
Neverland Ranch
It should go without saying that one of Jackson’s biggest expenses was his Neverland Ranch in California, which cost him $19.5 million. The sprawling estate came equipped with a train station named after his mother, Katherine, a four-acre lake, a five-foot waterfall, six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a main house, a guest house, an amusement park with carnival rides, arcade games, a zoo, and more.
Stock in ATV/Sony Music Publishing
In 1985, he bought ATV Music publishing (before it merged with Sony) for $47.5 million, which housed the catalogues of numerous successful artists like The Beatles and more.
Exotic Pets
While we don’t know exactly how much Jackson paid for his most notable pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, we do know that the “Lady in My Life” singer spent coins on some exotic pets, including a giraffe, peacock, llama, multiple giant snakes, and more.
Foreign Cars
This vintage, 1967 Rolls-Royce was said to be one of the megastar’s favorite cars. His family could also be seen riding around and driving in it years ago. Jackson also reportedly owned: a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL, 1990 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II, 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, a 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1988 Lincoln Town Car Limousine, and more.
Odd Face Busts
These three busts of Jackson were specifically commissioned and created for the special effects of his 1997 short film “Ghosts.” Naturally, instead of doing away with them, the singer decided to keep them and have them on display inside his home in Neverland.
Gold Bust
When you’re the King of Pop, it’s only natural to have various sculptures and artwork in your likeness, right? Well, that’s exactly what this gold-painted bust was for.
Multiple Sparkly Gloves
Now it should go without saying that the “Billie Jean” singer had multiples of his signature sparkly gloves. But did you know he had them in various colors or that he would sometimes give them out to close friends and family as keepsakes? Others were either donated or auctioned off.
David Nordhal Paintings
Similar to the gold busts, Jackson clearly was a fan of art that depicted himself, so it would make sense that he’d regularly commission painter David Nordhal to give him some truly unique works like the one pictured above.
Numerous Toys and Games
It’s no secret that the “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” singer was a giant kid at heart. What also shouldn’t come as a surprise is the fact that he owned several arcade games, giant toys like race cars, rocking horses, and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg.
Norman Oak Paintings
While David Nordhal was Jackson’s go-to for paintings, the singer also famously paid Norman Oak some change to paint some gorgeous pieces like the one you see pictured above and to the left. It looks like our fave really leaned into the whole “king” persona, huh? (And honestly, can we blame him?)
Various Disney Character Statues
Similar to all the toys and games Jackson owned, he made sure to also tap into some of the characters we loved the most. While the entire home (Neverland Ranch) was a nod to one particular Disney character (Peter Pan), the “P.Y.T.” singer also collected other ones like Mickey Mouse, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Spiderman, E.T., Darth Vader from “Star Wars,” and more.
The Family Home in Encino
By the time the Jackson family got famous enough to leave 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana, the “Bad” singer’s success was able to buy them a pretty nice house in Encino, Calif. As crazy as it is to believe, Jackson lived in this house until he was nearly 30.
Multiple Custom Costumes and Clothing Items
While a lot of famous people get a lot of clothes sent to them, Jackson was a proponent of owning his items outright, specifically these military jackets, as well as other items.
