The Michael Jackson estate has pulled in a staggering $287 million for its beneficiaries, according to a newly filed legal document.
Court papers submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court reveal that executors John Branca and John McClain are defending bonus payments made to top entertainment lawyers following the estate’s massive sale of its minority stake in EMI Publishing. The estate originally acquired the stake for just $47,500 in 2012, and flipped it in 2018 for a jaw-dropping $287.5 million—an incredible 6,000x return.
“This was not an asset Michael or the estate owned at the time of his death,” the filing states. “Rather, it was an asset the executors, with the assistance of their legal team, acquired through ingenuity and strategic negotiations.”
The EMI catalog includes hits from global superstars like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Drake. Branca and McClain credit attorneys Howard Weitzman and Donald Katz for playing key roles in closing the deal and argue that the extra $250,000 each received—beyond regular hourly fees—was standard practice for deals of this scale. They pointed to similar court-approved payouts during the estate’s earlier Sony/ATV sale.
However, lawyers representing Paris Jackson questioned whether these payouts exceeded approved limits. In response, executors cited a 2010 court order that allows them to hire and compensate legal counsel beyond the 70% cap that typically applies to routine estate administration.
Since Jackson’s passing in 2009, the estate has reportedly wiped out over $500 million in debt, settled numerous legal battles, and evolved into a multi-billion-dollar empire.
“No court orders have been violated,” the filing argues, calling the objections “untimely and without merit.” The executors are also open to an evidentiary hearing if needed but hope the matter can be resolved without further delays or legal costs.
At the time of his death, Michael Jackson was reportedly more than $500 million in debt and facing claims from over 60 creditors, as detailed in court documents obtained by PEOPLE in June 2024.
