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Paris Jackson accused John Branca, the sole executor of her late father Michael Jackson’s multibillion-dollar estate, of financially retaliating against her and her siblings after she challenged his handling of the King of Pop’s fortune.
Paris alleged in new court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, that she and her siblings experienced a multimillion-dollar reduction in payments while Branca maintained an “iron grip” over their inheritance.
She asked a Los Angeles court to order a $600 million distribution from her late father’s estate into the family trust after accusing Branca of mismanaging the funds.
PARIS JACKSON SAYS DAD MICHAEL’S UNUSAL RULE HELPED PROTECT HER CHILDHOOD
Paris Jackson asked a Los Angeles court to order a $600 million distribution from Michael Jackson’s estate to the family trust. (Alan Chapman/Getty Images)
Branca has been the sole executor of Jackson’s estate since 2009. The pop star died that year from acute propofol and sedative intoxication leading to cardiac arrest.
Branca’s alleged mismanagement of estate funds included non-contractual gifts to colleagues, aggressive litigation, public attacks and a multimillion-dollar reduction in payments to Jackson’s children.
“Without belaboring the point, when Paris began challenging the administration of the Estate last year through her objection to Executor Branca’s non-contractual gifts to his colleagues, her challenges were met with scorched earth litigation, public attacks, and a multimillion reduction in monies provided to her and her siblings by the Estate,” her legal team wrote. “This course of conduct and administration should not continue.”
Paris Jackson is the daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. (Swan Gallet/WWD/Getty Images)
In a separate filing obtained by Fox News Digital, Paris accused Branca of using estate resources for personal travel on private jets, improperly charging personal expenses to the estate and concealing the spending from beneficiaries.
She claimed Branca acknowledged taking multiple personal trips and reimbursed certain expenses only after she investigated them. Her attorneys characterized the conduct as “outright theft” and a breach of his fiduciary duties.
“Where the travel is of a purely personal nature, or in service of Mr. Branca’s other clients or business affairs, it constitutes outright theft,” the court filing stated.
Prince Jackson and Paris Jackson at the opening night of “MJ” The Michael Jackson Musical at Neil Simon Theatre on Feb. 01, 2022, in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Paris also accused Branca of using estate funds for personal gifts, questioned more than $604,000 in credit card charges and reimbursements, and challenged $9.4 million in executor compensation, $1.4 million in payments to his law firm and roughly $835,000 in public relations expenses.
She further alleged that Branca mismanaged more than $440 million in estate cash while pursuing entertainment projects that benefited him financially, including the Michael Jackson biopic, which reportedly required tens of millions of dollars in reshoots and rewrites.
Her legal team urged the court to reject Branca’s financial accounting and order him to provide a more detailed breakdown of the estate’s spending.
“Once again, Ms. Jackson’s legal team raises the same hollow complaints and fails to acknowledge the unique structure of the Estate, which is operated as a dynamic business, with customary costs and expenses,” a representative for the estate told Fox News Digital. “No rhetoric can hide the fact that the Executors have taken an Estate that was $500 million in debt when Michael died and turned it into the most successful Estate in history, producing $3 billion in revenue and the biggest biopic in movie history, with a box office exceeding $1 billion globally.”
(L-R) Michael Jackson’s kids Prince Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Paris Jackson, Latoya Jackson and Katherine Jackson attend Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Receives Michael Jackson Artwork Donation ceremony on Aug. 8, 2011, in Los Angeles. (Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
As for the $600 million distribution, Paris argued that her father’s estate plan entitled his children — Prince, Paris and Bigi — to trust income beginning at age 21 and portions of their inheritance beginning at age 30. She claimed the executor had never funded the trust, despite Michael Jackson’s death more than 17 years earlier.
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Paris Jackson accused Michael Jackson’s executor, John Branca, of retaliating against her and her siblings after she challenged his handling of the estate. (Rita Barros/Getty Images)
“Michael intended for his children to become the caretakers of his legacy,” the petition read. “As each child reached certain ages, Executors were to increasingly provide for each child’s independence.”
Paris’ filing cited more than $2.5 billion in gross estate earnings and approximately $850 million in cash or cash equivalents as of December 2024. She argued that the estate could distribute $600 million while retaining enough money to cover outstanding liabilities.
“Ms. Jackson’s counsel is well aware that the Estate is prevented from fully funding the philanthropic giving and individual trusts for the beneficiaries until several legal hurdles have been removed, including in particular the ongoing IRS litigation where they sought $700 million in taxes and penalties from the Estate,” a statement provided to Fox News Digital on behalf of Jackson’s estate said. “The Estate was able to secure a ruling to significantly reduce that amount, but the matter has not been settled and could still change.”
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Paris Jackson claimed her father’s estate plan entitled his children to trust income starting at age 21 and portions of their inheritance beginning at 30. Jackson died in 2009. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)
“Further, the claim that the executor has withheld or ‘cut’ payments is a complete fabrication,” the statement added. “In fact, more than $200 million has already been distributed for the benefit of Paris and the other beneficiaries. Michael Jackson’s will is clear. None of his children receive a distribution until they are in their 30s. The Estate looks forward to the time when all issues are resolved so that their trusts can be fully funded as Michael wanted.”
A court hearing on Paris’ request to transfer $600 million into the family trust is scheduled for Dec. 4.
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Paris Jackson’s court filing cited more than $2.5 billion in gross estate earnings and about $850 million in cash or cash equivalents as of Dec. 2024. (Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
Paris previously spoke about her childhood as the daughter of Michael Jackson. Behind the glitz of Jackson’s larger-than-life world, Paris said her father enforced strict rules to protect his children’s sense of normalcy.
The 28-year-old model recalled in an interview on “Call Her Daddy” that her father required his children to finish their homework and chores before enjoying weekend activities, limited their television and movie viewing, and had them wear masks in public to shield their identities from the intense spotlight surrounding his fame.
Paris said she understood that her father was famous. What she didn’t grasp was the sheer magnitude of his celebrity.
“I just didn’t know how famous … There was definitely part of me that, like when I looked out my hotel window, and it was one of the times where, like, the alias didn’t work and there’s just like a sea of people with signs and stuff — I’m not so naive to think, yeah, everyone experiences this, you know?” Paris said. “I just didn’t understand the lengths.”
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