Paris Jackson is asking a Los Angeles judge to order $600 million moved into the Michael Jackson Family Trust — before her older brother Prince turns 30 on February 13, 2027, just over three months away. The petition, filed October 29, is the latest escalation in an increasingly contentious dispute between Paris and the people who manage her father’s estate.
Quick Facts
| Petitioner | Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson |
| Amount sought | $600 million into the Michael Jackson Family Trust (or another amount the judge considers appropriate) |
| Petition filed | October 29, 2026 |
| Hearing scheduled | December 4, 2026 |
| Trigger date | Prince Jackson turns 30 on February 13, 2027 |
Why Prince’s 30th Birthday Matters
Under the inheritance plan Michael Jackson established before his death in 2009, each of his three children was supposed to begin receiving income from their trust interests at age 21, followed by distributions of the underlying principal: one-third at age 30, half of what remains at age 35, and the rest at age 40.
Prince reaches the first major principal-distribution milestone on February 13, 2027. Paris follows on April 3, 2028, and Bigi — formerly known as Blanket — on February 21, 2032. But according to Paris, more than 17 years after their father’s death, the family trust that is supposed to fund those inheritances still hasn’t received a single dollar from Michael’s estate.
To illustrate what is at stake, consider what would happen if Paris succeeds in getting $600 million transferred into the family trust. If that money were allocated according to the reported 40/40/20 inheritance formula, the three children would collectively be entitled to $240 million, or $80 million each. In 102 days from the petition, Prince would receive one-third of his principal — $26.7 million outright — at age 30, followed by $26.7 million at 35 and $26.7 million at 40, assuming the value never increased or decreased.
What Paris Is Arguing
Paris’s attorneys argue that even after setting aside sufficient funds to cover outstanding liabilities, approximately $600 million could be transferred into the family trust. The argument rests on the estate’s own financial accounting: as of December 2024, the estate held $850 million in cash and cash-equivalent assets.
Her representatives have accused the estate of using its legal disputes to justify years of unnecessary delay. Paris is not asking the court to ignore those liabilities or immediately terminate the estate’s administration — she is arguing that, with hundreds of millions in available cash, there is no longer a compelling reason to postpone every transfer until every remaining dispute has been resolved.
What the Estate Says
The estate’s explanation for the delay centers on unresolved litigation, particularly its longstanding dispute with the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS initially sought approximately $700 million in estate taxes and penalties. Although the estate secured a favorable U.S. Tax Court ruling that dramatically reduced the disputed valuation, representatives say the matter remains unresolved.
The estate maintains that the ongoing legal uncertainty prevents the complete funding of the family trust and the individual beneficiary trusts. An August 2024 California Court of Appeal opinion explicitly acknowledged that no estate assets had been distributed to the Michael Jackson Family Trust because of the IRS dispute and other litigation — while also affirming the executors’ broad authority to manage and sell estate assets while probate continues.
The estate also says the children have not gone without support. According to the estate’s attorneys, Paris alone has received $65 million in lifetime benefits, a figure her legal team disputes. In response to her latest petition, the estate says more than $200 million has already been distributed to or spent for the benefit of Paris and the other beneficiaries. Court filings show payments to the three children in selected years: in 2021, Paris received $3.27 million, Prince $2.13 million and Bigi $1.05 million; in 2022, $3.2 million, $3.1 million and $939,000 respectively; and in 2024, $6.3 million, $6.4 million and $3.1 million.
The estate draws an important distinction between that financial support and income generated by assets held in a funded trust. The money above represents support provided by the estate — different from income generated by assets held in a trust of the child’s own.
How the Estate Recovered
When Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, he was burdened by roughly $500 million in debt and other obligations. His valuable music catalogs, including his stake in the publishing business that owned hundreds of Beatles songs, were at risk.
Executors John Branca and John McClain restructured debt, negotiated new entertainment deals, and developed projects that would continue generating revenue for years. In 2016, the estate sold Michael’s remaining 50% interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing to Sony for $750 million. In 2018, it sold its interest in EMI Music Publishing for $287.5 million. Another enormous Sony transaction, announced in 2024, involved a 50% interest in Jackson’s remaining recorded-music and publishing assets, with the deal reported at $600 million or more.
The estate also collected $22 million from the 2020 sale of Neverland Ranch and developed lucrative projects including “This Is It,” Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson ONE,” and the Broadway production “MJ the Musical.” Between 2009 and 2024 alone, the estate generated more than $2.5 billion in gross earnings, and it generated $140 million in earnings in 2026 alone.
Another Battle Over $109 Million in Compensation
The new petition follows another major challenge by Paris to the estate’s management. On October 29, Celebrity Net Worth detailed Paris’s objection to $109.2 million in combined compensation submitted for approval for 2023 and 2024. That total includes compensation associated with Branca, McClain, and legal professionals. Paris has questioned the adequacy of financial disclosures supporting the payments and asked the court to reduce the management fee from 15% to 10% of qualifying gross entertainment income for the periods at issue.
The estate maintains that its management compensation was approved by the court and that Branca and McClain waived ordinary statutory executor fees in favor of a separate arrangement reflecting the substantial business operations they oversee.
Paris also secured a victory earlier in 2026 when a judge ordered $625,000 in bonus payments made to outside law firms returned to the estate after sustaining her objections. The estate disagreed with the ruling but said it would respect the decision. McClain died in May 2026, leaving Branca as the estate’s remaining executor.
What Happens Next
A Los Angeles probate judge is scheduled to hear Paris’s $600 million petition on December 4, 2026. She is asking the court to order the transfer of $600 million into the family trust, or another amount the judge considers appropriate. The estate is expected to maintain that unresolved tax and legal obligations complicate any major distribution.
The timing creates an unusually significant moment for the Jackson family. Prince will turn 30 just ten weeks after the scheduled hearing, becoming the first of Michael’s children to reach the age at which their father intended a substantial portion of their inheritance to become available.
Net worth and inheritance figures are estimates only, based on public sources.
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