Paris Jackson has petitioned a Los Angeles court to compel the release of $600 million from the Michael Jackson estate. The 28-year-old actress alleges that executor John Branca has unfairly restricted funds intended for her and her siblings.
The $600 million push for the Jackson siblings' trust
Paris Jackson is seeking to move approximately $600 million into a family trust designed to secure the financial futures of herself, Prince Jackson, and Bigi Jackson. According to the report, the trust operates on a strict age-based distribution schedule: beneficiaries begin receiving income at 21, one-third of the principal at 30, half of the remainder at 35, and the final balance at 40.
The timing of this legal action is critical as Prince Jackson, now 29, is set to turn 30 in four months. This milestone triggers a major distribution of principal, making the current lack of funding in the trust a pressing issue for the heirs. Paris Jackson, who turns 29 in April, and Bigi Jackson, who is 24, are also beneficiaries of this structured payout system.
John Branca's 'iron grip' on the estate's billions
The petition specifically targets John Branca, the sole remaining executor of the Michael Jackson estate, accusing him of controlling the inheritance money with an "iron grip." Branca has a long history with the pop star, having been hired in 1985 and returning to the team in 2009, just days before Michael Jackson's death on June 25 , 2009. Branca assumed full control after the death of co-executor John McClain in May 2026.
Paris Jackson alleges that John Branca has arbitrarily decided the amounts her siblings receive, leading to payments that fall far short of the trust's mandates. Furthermore, the report says that Paris Jackson claims her and her brothers' payments were cut by millions of dollars following her previous legal attempts to secure the funds, a move she describes as unjustified.
From Neverland's $22 million sale to $850 million in cash
The financial dispute centers on the massive liquidity generated by the Michael Jackson estate through strategic asset liquidations. As reported,the estate sold its 10% stake in EMI Music Publishing to Sony for $287.5 million in 2018 and sold the Neverland Ranch for $22 million in 2020. These moves have contributed to a reported cash reserve of approximately $850 million as of December 2024.
This struggle reflects a broader trend in high-profile celebrity estates where professional executors prioritize long-term asset growth and tax mitigation over the immediate liquidity demands of heirs. while the executors have valued the total estate between $2 billion and $3 billion, the heirs are now challenging the decision to keep such a large cash reserve untapped while the trust remains underfunded.
The $700 million IRS dispute and the December 4 hearing
The Michael Jackson estate has countered these claims by citing a massive $700 million tax and penalty demand from the IRS. A spokesperson for the estate argues that Paris Jackson's legal team is aware of these hurdles and claims that over $200 million has already been distributed to the beneficiaries. While the estate secured a ruling to reduce the IRS claim, the matter remains unsettled.
Several critical questions remain unanswered, primarily whether the IRS litigation is the sole legitimate reason for withholding the $600 million or if it is being used as a convenient shield for the executor. Additionally, the estate has not detailed why payments were allegedly reduced after Paris Jackson's previous legal filings. the Los Angeles Superior Court will address these contradictions during the hearing scheduled for December 4.
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