Fifteen years after Michael Jackson's death, his three children—Prince, Paris, and Blanket (now known as Bigi)—made a rare public appearance together in London for the opening of MJ: The Musical. While Prince and Paris appeared relaxed, Bigi looked tense, reflecting his central role in a fresh family dispute over the singer's estate.
The conflict pits Bigi, supported by his siblings, against their grandmother Katherine Jackson, 93, who was their legal guardian after Michael's death. The disagreement stems from a deal that sold half of Jackson's music catalogue to Sony Music Group for at least $600 million, valuing the entire catalogue at $1.2 billion.
Katherine and Bigi initially opposed the deal, arguing the estate should wait for higher value. However, after a California judge approved the sale, Katherine wants to appeal, while Bigi believes it is a waste of resources. 'Bigi decided not to waste his resources to participate in an appeal,' his lawyers stated, adding that Katherine's decision is 'not for the benefit of the heirs.'
The legal battle also involves Katherine's request for $500,000 in legal fees from the estate, which Bigi opposes. Since Michael's death, Katherine has received over $55 million from a family trust, along with lifestyle perks including a driver, personal chef, and 24-hour security.
A family source alleged that Bigi believes Katherine is out of her depth in business matters and that some relatives are using her to extract more money from the estate. The source said, 'Katherine is still letting herself be...' (the quote is incomplete in the source). The Jackson family's history of rivalries and egos appears to be fueling this latest legal confrontation.
