Paris Jackson Wants $600 Million From Her Father’s Estate — 17 Years After Michael Jackson’s Death

Paris Jackson is asking a Los Angeles court to order $600 million from her late father’s estate into the family trust. The trust was set up for her and her brothers. The Paris Jackson $600 million petition was filed on October 29. It argues the Michael Jackson Family Trust has never been funded. Michael Jackson died more than 17 years ago.

In the filing, Jackson accuses longtime executor John Branca of keeping an “iron grip” on the money. She says he decides when the siblings get paid. The estate strongly denies that. It says the trust cannot be fully funded until a long tax fight with the IRS ends. It also calls the withholding claim “a complete fabrication.”

What the Paris Jackson $600 Million Petition Actually Asks For

The petition centers on the trust Michael Jackson created for his children. Under its terms, the children were to start receiving income at 21, with principal portions available at 30, 35, and 40. Those milestones have passed or are near. Prince is nearing 30, Paris turns 29 in April, and Bigi turns 25 in February.

“More than seventeen years after his passing, Michael Jackson’s family trust remains unfunded,” the filing states. It also says the executors “have never presented any plan for funding the Michael Jackson Family Trust to the Court.” The petition also claims the executors paid themselves more than $200 million while the trust sat empty.

For Paris, the argument is simple. The estate has earned well over $1 billion since her father’s death in June 2009. So the trust should not still hold nothing. Her lawyers cite an estate accounting showing about $850 million in cash at the end of 2024, and estimate roughly $600 million is available after liabilities.

Paris Jackson on stage in Paris, March 2022. Photo: Eb59 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Money at the Center of the Fight

The table below lays out the key figures from the court filing and the estate’s accounting.

That billion-dollar total comes from a string of major deals. The estate sold its EMI Music Publishing stake for $287.5 million in 2018. It sold Neverland Ranch for $22 million in 2020. And it struck a Sony deal over Michael Jackson’s music in 2023. The 2025 biopic Michael added another hit.

Why the Trust Is Still Unfunded After 17 Years

The estate’s answer comes down to one word: taxes. When Michael Jackson died in 2009, the IRS claimed the estate owed about $700 million in taxes and penalties. The claim centered on his music catalog and likeness. The estate says it has won a ruling that sharply reduces that bill, but the case is still not settled. Until it is, the estate argues, it cannot safely move hundreds of millions into the trust.

Paris’s side sees it differently. Her filing argues the executors could and should have started funding the trust long ago. And the tax case is no excuse for 17 years of delay. This is not her first clash with the estate’s managers, either. She previously challenged more than $109 million in estate-related compensation, and in 2025 she questioned $600,000-plus in “premium payments” to law firms.

So the December hearing is about more than one transfer. As a result, it is the latest round in a years-long fight over who controls the Jackson fortune.

What the Estate Says in Response

However, the estate has pushed back firmly. A spokesperson told PEOPLE the withholding claim is “a complete fabrication.” The spokesperson also noted that more than $200 million has already gone to or for the benefit of the children. The estate also points to the trust’s own timetable: distributions of principal are not due until the children reach their 30s.

On taxes, the estate says the IRS dispute is real and unresolved. It has secured a ruling that cuts the amount owed, but the case is not over. In its view, funding the trust in full first would be reckless. It could leave the estate short if the final bill comes in high.

So the judge must weigh two competing stories. On one side, a trust that has waited 17 years for its first dollar. On the other, an estate that says prudence — not stinginess — is the reason for the wait.

Paris Jackson in her “WILTED” music video. Photo: Stéphane Davi / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

What Happens Next in the Paris Jackson Estate Case

The court will hear the matter on December 4, 2026. The judge could order the full $600 million transfer, pick a smaller figure, or give the estate more time. Paris is also asking the court to order the estate to reimburse her legal expenses.

Whatever the judge decides will set the tone for the rest of the dispute. A win for Paris would move a huge sum into the trust at once, shifting control toward the children. A win for the estate would keep Branca in charge, likely pushing the next fight to the children’s 30th birthdays.

Why This Case Matters Beyond the Jackson Family

The Jackson case is also a cautionary tale about estate planning. A trust is only as good as the plan to fund it. And a 17-year delay shows how easily even a careful will can stall when executors, taxes, and family interests collide.

Reality television has supplied plenty of public family money fights. Take the 90 Day Fiancé couples whose marriages ended in court, or the Vanderpump Rules cast rebuilding after splits. Amy Slaton has also seen divorce and custody battles become part of her storyline. But few cases involve sums this large, or a legacy this famous.

In the end, the question is straightforward. Did the estate protect the children’s inheritance by waiting, or keep the money from them for too long? Finally, on December 4, the Jackson family — and everyone watching — will get an answer.

Sources

• FemaleFirst — Paris Jackson asks judge to release $600 million to family trust
• Law Commentary — Paris Jackson Demands $600 Million From Michael Jackson’s Estate
• Grazia USA — Paris Jackson Asks Court to Move $600 Million Into Michael Jackson’s Trust

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