Overview
- In an Oct. 9 court filing, executors John Branca and John McClain said Paris Jackson has received roughly $65 million in benefits from Michael Jackson’s estate since 2009.
- Paris challenges about $625,000 in 2018 “premium” payments to three law firms as undisclosed and extra‑contractual, seeks discovery, and asks the court to rescind a 2010 order allowing fee payments without prior approval.
- The estate defends the bonuses as rewards for extraordinary services, citing a transformation from heavy debt to a roughly $2 billion estate and nearly $300 million in 2018 earnings.
- Executors warn that restricting legal fee payments could destabilize the estate and impair its defense against separate lawsuits by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who seek about $400 million.
- The estate also raises procedural defenses, including California’s anti‑SLAPP statute, and no ruling has been issued ahead of the Oct. 16 Los Angeles probate hearing.