LOS ANGELES: Paris Jackson has challenged the financial management of her late father Michael Jackson’s estate, questioning millions of dollars in expenses, including private jet travel, legal fees and payments to its executors.
In court documents filed in Los Angeles, the 28-year-old singer’s lawyers objected to a 2022 financial report submitted by longtime executor John Branca.
They argued that it lacked sufficient details about the finances of 18 businesses owned by the estate.
Paris’ legal team questioned more than US$604,000 (about RM2.45mil) in credit card and law firm charges, US$3.8 mil (about RM15.4 mil) in legal fees, and about US$9.4mil (RM38.1mil) in compensation paid to Branca and the late co-executor John McClain.
They also raised concerns over public relations costs and private jet trips allegedly unrelated to estate business.
Her lawyers claimed this spending was wasteful and broke Branca’s legal duty to protect the beneficiaries’ interests.
A representative for Paris said: “No rhetoric can hide the fact that Mr Branca has used Estate funds to create a lavish lifestyle complete with charging personal trips on private jets to the Estate.”
The estate rejected the claims and defended its handling of the late pop star’s finances.
A representative said Paris’ lawyers were raising “the same hollow complaints” and failing to recognise that the estate runs as a major entertainment business with high operating costs.
The representative added that Michael left behind US$500mil (RM2.03bil) in debt when he died in 2009, but the executors had since generated US$3 bil (RM12.15 bil) in revenue.
The representative added that Michael had left behind an estate with The dispute also involves Paris’ separate request for a Los Angeles judge to order the transfer of US$600mil (RM2.43bil) into the Michael Jackson Family Trust, established for her and her brothers, Prince and Bigi.
The estate maintained that unresolved financial issues—including a US$700mil (roughly RM2.84bil) tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service—have prevented it from fully funding the trust.
It also denied claims that US$200mil (approximately RM810mil) had already been paid out for the children’s benefit.
Michael, who died in June 2009 aged 50, left behind three children: Paris, his only daughter, and sons Prince and Bigi.
According to the estate, his will states that the children are to receive their inheritance in stages once they reach their 30s.
But Paris’ lawyers argue the trust should have been partially funded earlier to support their future independence, as their father intended.
Her legal team is asking the court to reject the current financial report and order Branca to provide a more detailed breakdown.
The challenge adds to ongoing disagreements between Paris and the estate’s management, with a court hearing set for Dec 7.