Michael Jackson’s Estate Reportedly Earned Almost $2 Billion Since His Death

The King of Pop still reigns a decade after his death. The estate of the late Michael Jackson has reportedly earned more than $1.7 billion since the top of the year. This shocking revelation was made in an accounting document of MJ’s estate, which was filed with the L.A County Court, according to the legal documents obtained by The Blast.

Although Jackson died in 2009 with more than $400 million in debt, his music has been generating millions on a yearly basis. The superstar singer generated $400 million in 2018, earning him the No.1 spot on Forbes’ Highest-Paid Dead Celebrity list. Meanwhile, Jackson’s executor and lawyers have been working to rebuild the superstar’s brand and rebound his finances since his untimely death.

“With the assistance of their counsel, the Executors have successfully rebuilt and enhanced Michael Jackson’s image, solidified the MJJ business as a significant entity in the entertainment industry, entered into and continue to enter into unprecedented business deals that have produced, and will in the future produce, significant revenues for the Estate,” his team wrote in the filing.

Jackson’s estate is currently involved in a legal battle with HBO over the Leaving Neverland documentary. His estate claims that HBO broke a 1992 arbitration agreement stating that the network cannot make disparaging remarks about the singer or harm his reputation. Billboard reports that the 1992 agreement states that “HBO shall not make any disparaging remarks concerning [Michael Jackson] … or do any act that may harm or disparage or cause to lower in esteem the reputation of [Jackson.]” In addition, the agreement contained a clause stating that all disputes regarding the agreement would be handled in arbitration. The network, however, argues that the 27-year-old agreement, which was signed when HBO aired Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour, no longer applies.

Months after Jackson died from an apparent drug overdose on June 25, 2009, his death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Coroner in August of that year. Law enforcement officials arrested and charged his personal doctor, Conrad Murray—who had supplied him with propofol, lorazepam, and midazolam—with involuntary manslaughter in 2010.

The singer left his fortune to his three children, Prince, 22, Paris, 21, and Blanket, 17, and his mother, Katherine.