Michael Jackson Estate Clashes with Paris Over Big Law Firm Payouts
Oh great, another family feud over dollar signs nobody asked for. Paris Jackson has officially challenged her late father’s estate over so-called “premium payouts” to outside law firms, and the estate’s co-executors are not holding back their eye rolls. In a petition filed June 24, Paris, along with brothers Prince and Bigi, flagged roughly $625,000 in extra fees paid in 2018 for unrecorded attorney time. She claimed those “lavish gratuities” went to already well-paid counsel, and at least two firms received full payment despite a court order capping total fees without approval.
Paris argued that reimbursing attorneys without task-billed entries undermines any hope of oversight. “These irregular payments raise serious and substantial questions about Executors’ ability to effectively supervise counsel,” her filing stated, demanding clear explanations and tighter controls. The 27-year-old added that the bonus checks appear to be unsolicited gifts, disconnected from any recorded legal work, and settled long before the court could weigh in.
Fast forward to July 15, and John Branca and John McClain—the executors steering Michael Jackson’s estate—filed a pointed response. They reminded the court that when Michael died in 2009 at age 50, the estate was drowning in $500 million of debt. According to their filing, the top-tier law firms they hired turned that red ink into “unprecedented results,” thanks to “experience, negotiating skills, relationships, and knowledge of the entertainment and international music publishing and recording businesses.”
Branca and McClain emphasized that premium payments are standard in high-stakes entertainment litigation. They cited past court approvals and noted that attorneys of the caliber of Mr. Weitzman and Mr. Katz routinely earn supplemental fees beyond hourly rates. To underline their point, the co-executors argued that late objections should be tossed out. “The untimely nature of the Objections should lead the Court to summarily overrule them,” the filing declared, firmly putting the onus back on Paris.
Representatives for Paris Jackson and the executors have been contacted for comment, but no one has weighed in publicly. Meanwhile, Paris and her brothers Prince, 28, and Bigi “Blanket” Jackson, 23, all remain beneficiaries of the estate. The court has yet to issue a ruling, so the debate over those six-figure payouts is still very much alive.
It’s worth recalling that this isn’t the first time the Jackson clan has sparred over Michael’s legacy. From estate debts to blockbuster musicals and licensing deals, every penny seems to bring a fresh wave of drama. With the executors standing firm and Paris pushing for full transparency, the next court hearing could reveal more fireworks. Stay tuned.
And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
