Paris Jackson is asking a Los Angeles judge to order Michael Jackson’s estate to transfer approximately $600 million into the family trust established for her and her two brothers, Prince Jackson and Bigi Jackson.
In a petition filed on October 29, 2026, Paris argues that the Michael Jackson Family Trust has remained unfunded for more than 17 years since her father’s death in June 2009. Her legal team claims that the estate has generated substantial revenue through music rights, business agreements, and asset sales, making a partial transfer possible.
However, representatives for the estate dispute her allegations. They say unresolved legal matters, including an ongoing tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), prevent the trusts from being fully funded.
The petition is the latest development in a wider disagreement over how Michael Jackson’s estate is managed and when his children will receive their inheritance.
Why Is Paris Jackson Requesting $600 Million?
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Paris is not asking the court to award $600 million directly to her. Instead, she wants the money transferred into the Michael Jackson Family Trust, which was established to benefit her and her brothers, Prince and Bigi.
According to the petition, Michael Jackson intended his children to begin receiving income from their respective trust shares when they turned 21. The estate plan also provides for distributions of principal at later ages, including 30, 35, and 40.
Paris argues that the expected arrangements have not been carried out as intended. Her filing says the siblings have passed the age when they were supposed to begin receiving trust income, yet the family trust has not been funded.
Her attorneys also point to a previous statement from the estate’s executors in 2011 indicating that they were considering a preliminary distribution. Paris claims that no funding plan was subsequently presented to the court.
The petition asks the judge to order a $600 million transfer or approve another amount considered appropriate by the court.
How Much Money Has Michael Jackson’s Estate Generated?
The estate’s financial position is central to Paris’s request.
Since Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, his estate has continued generating revenue through music publishing, licensing, entertainment projects, and other commercial arrangements.
Paris’s legal team cites several major transactions in its petition, including:
- EMI Music Publishing: The estate sold its interest in the music publishing company to Sony in 2018 for a reported $287.5 million.
- Neverland Ranch: The property was sold in 2020 for approximately $22 million.
- Sony music and intellectual property deal: The estate later entered a major agreement involving Michael Jackson’s music catalogue and intellectual property.
According to the petition, these and other transactions generated substantial cash proceeds. Paris’s attorneys argue that approximately $600 million could be available for distribution after potential liabilities are considered.
The filing also refers to earlier valuations in which the estate was reportedly valued at between $2 billion and $3 billion.
These figures represent claims and valuations referenced in the legal filings, rather than a final court determination of how much money can currently be distributed.
Paris Jackson Accuses Estate Executor John Branca of Delaying the Trust
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Another major issue raised in the petition concerns the role of John Branca, the estate’s remaining executor.
Paris alleges that the children remain dependent on decisions made by the executor because the family trust has not been funded as she believes her father intended.
Her legal team argues that the lack of a clear funding plan has left the siblings without the trust arrangements described in Michael Jackson’s estate plan. The filing also questions how the estate has handled payments and financial oversight.
Paris has previously challenged the estate’s administration through separate court filings. Her latest request is part of an ongoing disagreement over transparency, management decisions, and the timing of distributions.
The allegations remain disputed, and the court has not yet ruled on the $600 million request.
Michael Jackson’s Estate Responds to Paris Jackson’s Petition
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Representatives for Michael Jackson’s estate have rejected Paris’s claims and say the trust cannot be fully funded until outstanding legal matters are resolved.
One major issue is the estate’s ongoing dispute with the IRS, which previously sought approximately $700 million in taxes and penalties.
The estate says it secured a ruling that substantially reduced the amount sought by the tax authority, but the matter remains unresolved and could still change.
The estate also rejected allegations that it withheld or reduced payments to the beneficiaries. Its spokesperson described those claims as a complete fabrication and said more than $200 million had already been distributed to or for the benefit of Paris and other beneficiaries.
The estate further maintains that Michael Jackson’s will does not provide for outright distributions of principal until his children reach their 30s.
Its position is that the trusts can be fully funded once the remaining legal and financial issues are resolved.
Paris Jackson’s Representative Disputes the Estate’s Explanation
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Paris’s representative has challenged the estate’s explanation, arguing that unresolved legal matters should not prevent a partial transfer into the family trust.
The spokesperson said Paris had previously called for the trust to receive partial funding and believes the executor could have taken steps to make that happen earlier.
The representative also said Paris felt compelled to take legal action after years of disagreement over the estate’s administration.
The two sides therefore have different positions on whether the outstanding tax and legal matters justify delaying the trust transfer.
Paris Jackson Also Challenges $109 Million in Estate Management Fees
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The $600 million petition is not the only recent legal challenge Paris has brought against the estate.
In a separate filing, she questioned approximately $109.2 million in combined compensation associated with John Branca, his legal team, and the late co-executor John McClain for 2023 and 2024.
According to reporting by Rolling Stone, Paris challenged the compensation request and questioned the financial accounting supporting it. She has also asked the court to reduce the management fee from 15% to 10% of qualifying gross entertainment-related income.
The estate disputes her objections. Its representatives have explained that the executors waived traditional executor compensation and instead received a separate, court-approved management fee for overseeing Michael Jackson’s entertainment business.
The disagreement over compensation is separate from Paris’s request to transfer money into the family trust, although both matters concern the estate’s financial management.
Paris also secured a court ruling in May 2026 concerning $625,000 in bonus payments made to outside law firms in 2018. The judge ordered the payments returned to the estate after sustaining her objection. The estate disagreed with the decision but said it would respect the ruling.
When Will the Court Hear Paris Jackson’s $600 Million Request?
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A Los Angeles judge is scheduled to consider Paris Jackson’s petition on December 4, 2026.
She is asking the court to order the transfer of approximately $600 million into the Michael Jackson Family Trust or approve another amount the judge considers appropriate.
The hearing will address whether the estate should make a partial distribution while other legal and tax matters remain unresolved.
The outcome could affect how and when the trust is funded for Michael Jackson’s three children. For now, the request remains a legal claim, and the court has yet to make a decision.