47 Interesting Facts About Michael Jackson: Height, Weight, How he Died and more

Despite being gone for over a decade, Michael Jackson is still one of the most famous pop singers and entertainers of all time. He is known as the creator of some of the world’s biggest hits like “Beat It“, “Billie Jean”, and “Thriller“. Believe it or not, many people are still searching online for information about the singer, everything from Michael Jackson’s height, to his shoe size. 

To give the fans what they want, here are 47 facts about the King of Pop.

What year was Michael Jackson Born?

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958.

Where is Michael Jackson From?

Michael Jackson is from Gary Indiana.

Michael Jackson Height

According to the official autopsy report, Michael Jackson was 5’9”, or 69” tall when he died. This is considered to be the most accurate measure of his height, as he occasionally would wear shoes with a bit of a heel which would make him appear taller to fans.

As a child, Michael Jackson had worn his hair in an afro, which also appeared to make him look taller. But in 1984, his hair and scalp caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, causing the celebrity to have permanent hair loss.

Following that incident, he frequently wore a wig in public, which is what gave him the signature long-haired look he would become most famous for. He also had some tattoos along his hairline to cover other signs of balding. Many fans haven’t forgotten how he looked with an afro though, leading them to think he was taller than he actually was.

Michael Jackson wasn’t short, however, as 5’9” is actually the average height for a man in the United States, and he is still taller than many other famous artists like Justin Bieber who is only 5’8.” Although if you ask Bieber, he has been known to say he is 5’9” or 5’10” in an effort to appear taller for his fans.

He also was 9.5 in shoe size.

How did Michael Jackson Die?

Michael Jackson died from overdosing on a combination of sedatives and prescribed medication. Jackson’s in-home doctor, Conrad Murray, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

How Old was Michael Jackson When he Died?

Michael Jackson was 50 years old when he died, which may seem young, but when you watch the video of him practicing for his tour which was supposed to start later in 2009, it’s easy to see that the singer was not well.

Although he had always been skinny, he seemed to be even skinnier than normal, sweating and breathing with difficulty at even the simplest dance moves. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the singer died of cardiac arrest.

Pair this with the fact that he was prescribed drugs that were at too high of a dosage for him, and you have the perfect combination for premature death. The drugs found in the artist’s body when he died were propofol, anxiolytic lorazepam, midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine, and ephedrine.

If this sounds like a lot of drugs, it’s because it is. The doctor who prescribed all these drugs to Michael Jackson was later found guilty of manslaughter and served 2 of the 4 years he was sentenced to. But many feel that justice was not served. Unfortunately, there is no way to bring Michael Jackson back from the grave.

If the singer had not died in 2009, he would be 64 years old in the year 2022.

How Tall Was Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson was about 5’9” tall (175.3cm), which is crazy when you consider the artist weighed in at 132 pounds at the time of his death in 2009.

Five-foot nine inches may seem short when you compare Michael Jackson to other artists like Lil Nas X (6’1”) or Taylor Swift (5’10”) but the reality is 5’9” is the average height for men in the USA. Therefore Michael Jackson wasn’t short at all, simply average in height (the same can’t be said about his music).

Many fans assumed he was taller, likely because they were always watching him perform at a stage that was situated high above eye level. He also sometimes wore specific shoes, which he called ‘beetle boots’ that gave him an extra inch or two of height.

He denied ever wearing lifts in his shoes, which makes sense, as lifts would likely make it quite difficult for the artist to perform his famous moonwalk, and other dance moves. Therefore it is likely the ‘beetle boots’ the fans were thinking of when they accused him of wearing lists.

At least he was taller than fellow musician Prince who was only 5’3” though he often lied and said he was 5’6” because he was ashamed of his short stature.

Michael Jackson Weight

At the time of his death, the autopsy report listed that Michael Jackson’s weight was 132 pounds, which is actually in the normal range for his height. Many speculate, however, that he weighed much less than that during the late 1990s and 2000s.

Although the artist had always been quite skinny,(he listed his weight on his driver’s license as 120 pounds in the 1980s) he only seemed to get thinner in the years approaching his death. This is likely due to the cocktail combination of drugs his in-home doctor has prescribed to him.

Additionally, the artist faced a lot of stress due to legal troubles, body image issues, and financial problems. There was much speculation when he died regarding his diet. His publicist came forward and indicated that Jackson consumed a lot of turkey burgers, Chinese food, and vegetables. Even though he did avoid red meat, the artist was not a vegetarian as many fans speculated.

There have been reports that the famous singer and songwriter got down to 112 pounds at some point during his adult lifetime, these claims have not been confirmed, however, nor has it been confirmed that the artist actually did weigh 120 pounds when he received his driver’s license.

Most people underestimate/understate their weight so it is highly likely that Michael Jackson was around a healthy 130 pounds for his entire adult life.

His Death Crashed The Internet

On the day that Jackson died on June 25, 2009, Wikipedia, AOL, and Twitter all crashed at the same time at 3:15 pm.

Jackson’s Daughter Claimed Her Father Was Murdered

Jackson’s daughter, Paris, claimed that her father’s doctor at the time of his death murdered him, casting doubt on the professionalism of Conrad Murray.

Passed Away Owing Debts

Despite boasting assets of $1 billion at the time of his death, Jackson also allegedly owed $500 million in unpaid debts.

Michael Jackson’s Networth

Estimating Michael Jackson‘s net worth is difficult because the star is no longer alive. While he was alive, he made about $500 million over the course of his lifetime. About $100 million came from his own music, while the rest came from his portfolio of other artists’ songs, most notably the Beatles.  

But the reality is, despite being famous, the singer had a terrible overspending problem, thus he was actually in debt when he died.

Many estimate that his net worth at the time of his death in 2009 was almost $500 million but that the debts he owed were over $500 million, meaning he died broke. He got here by routinely overspending what he was making. Experts guess he was spending between $30 million and $50 million every year on his lifestyle alone.

Then there were his legal troubles. Lawyers aren’t cheap, especially with the types of allegations Michael Jackson was facing.

Add in the purchase of Neverland, which cost $17 million, $65 million on a video project, and a $12 million divorce settlement, and it’s easy to see how the artist got in the hole.

Following his death, the executors of his estate did their best to bring Michaels net worth back in the green. They accomplished this by creating the This is It film which grossed $500 million, as well as by selling the rights to Michael’s image and future music.

As of the writing of this article, Michael Jackson’s estate has netted hundreds of millions of dollars. After settling all debt and buying back the rights to Jackson’s music, the estate is said to be worth over $2.4 billion. This makes Michael Jackson the richest non-living person to date.

Royalty in Gabon

The residents of Gabon on the Ivory Coast gave Jackson the title of king in their village, making him royalty in this little corner of the world.

Favorite Type of Takeout Food

Jackson claims Mexican food was his favorite type of cuisine to order for takeout.

Racking Up the Fines

It was once reported that Jackson racked up over $1 million in library fines because of overdue books.

Could Not Leave Llamas

While many fans are familiar with Jackson’s treasured pet llamas, Louis and Lola, they may not know that he routinely took the pair with him to his recording studio in Los Angeles.

Medical Center in His Name

After being so impressed with the treatment he received at the Brotman Medical Center in California following the accident in the Pepsi commercial, Jackson donated $1.5 million to the hospital, resulting in the naming of the “Michael Jackson Burn Center.”

Michael Jackson’s Home Sold for a Low Price

The Neverland Ranch mansion was listed for $100 million in 2015 but was discounted several times until the Pittsburg Penguins co-owner purchased the estate for $22 million in 2019.

Honorary Director of Soccer Team

After becoming close with the co-chairman of Exeter City FC, Uri Geller, Jackson was named as an honorary director of the soccer club.

His Sister Claimed He Was a Pedophile

Not a stranger to controversy, Jackson’s own sister LaToya once said that she thought her brother was a pedophile.

Soft Spot for Pinocchio

The legendary singer said that his favorite animated character of all time was Disney’s Pinocchio.

Lost a Baby Brother

While the Jackson family is very well known, many people do not know that Marlon had a twin brother named Brandon who tragically died within 24 hours of his birth.

Top Security for Neverland

The security of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez, California required the employment of at least 40 security guards patrolling the grounds at one time.

Two Stars on the Walk of Fame

Jackson has not one, but two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, representing his work as a solo artist and as a part of the Jackson 5.

Married His Dermatologist’s Nurse

Although everyone knows that Jackson was once married to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, it is not as common knowledge that he also once married the nurse of his dermatologist.

Michael’s Father Played in a Blues Band

To earn extra money on the weekends, Joe Jackson performed in a blues band known as The Falcons.

Fearful of Father

Jackson said that he lived in fear of his father, saying that he would beat him with a belt when he made mistakes performing as a child in the family band.

Left His Father Out of Will

After Jackson’s death, it was revealed that he left his father and siblings out of his will, choosing to leave his estate to only his mother and his children instead.

“Bad” Was Originally Planned as a Duet

The hit song “Bad” was originally supposed to be a duet between Jackson and Prince, however, Prince turned down the opportunity due to the lyrics of the song.

He Lived in a Two-Bedroom House

While growing up, Jackson lived in a small two-bedroom home in Gary, Indiana, along with his eight siblings and parents.

Jackson and Siblings Got Start at the Chitlin’ Circuit

The Jackson 5 got their musical start at a group of nightclubs and music venues throughout the Deep South and the Midwest known as the Chitlin’ Circuit.

“Thriller” Preserved by US Library of Congress

“Thriller” is the only music video preserved for posterity by the US Library of Congress, recognizing its contribution to American media and culture.

Received Humanitarian Award

Because of his important work supporting various HIV/AIDS causes, Jackson was presented with a humanitarian award by former President Ronald Reagan.

First Public Song

The first song that Jackson ever crooned for the public was “Climb Every Mountain,” performed at the young age of five.

Cheap Costumes

While they may have looked as if they cost a fortune, the amazing costumes from the popular “Thriller” music video were all thrift shop bargains found at the Salvation Army.

Amazing 9/11 Story

Jackson was scheduled to be attending a meeting at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, however, he missed the event because he overslept.

Incredibly Shrinking Waist

Jackson’s longtime costume designer, Michael Bush, once revealed that the entertainer had a 28-inch waist that would sometimes shrink by an entire inch after performing particularly strenuous dance routines.

Dreams of Being Spiderman

Jackson dreamed of playing the role of Spiderman so much that he once tried to purchase Marvel Comics when it filed for bankruptcy just so he could cast himself as the character.

After his dream to play Spiderman went unfulfilled because of the failed bid to purchase Marvel Comics, Jackson unsuccessfully tried to win the role of Professor X in the X-Men movie franchise.

He has set multiple Guinness World Records

Michael has set an unprecedented 39 Guinness world records. He was also inducted into the dancing hall of fame and songwriters hall of fame.

This makes him the most awarded artist to this date with 800+ awards.

Micheal Jackson Did Karate

At the time of his death, he had a black belt in karate which he was awarded in the late 1990s in Japan. 

He sold out the Wembley Stadium 7 Times

The demand was such that he could have sold it 20 times in a row but his schedule intervened meaning he had to pick only 7 dates to perform. 

He has a Moon Crater Named After Him

The crater was previously called Posidonus J, but we suspect the crater likes its new name much better. 

He was Cast to Play Peter Pan

As a performer with Peter Pan Syndrome, or the desire to always be young, you may be surprised to find out Jackson actually turned down playing Peter Pan in the 1991 movie Hook. He simply felt his vision did not match what the director was looking for. 

One of His Albums is the Best Selling of All Time

His Thriller album is the best-selling album of all time selling over 66 million copies worldwide. Now the number stands over 100 million.

He’s Been Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Jackson was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, first in 1998, and again in 2003.

Micheal Jackson was Charitable

Jackson is considered the most charitable artist, as he gave over 500 million dollars to charity. He often gave without much fanfare so the actual amount maybe even more. 

He Has Billions of Fans

The number of his fans is considered 4.8 billion since the time he 1st performed on stage when he was 5 years old.

His Funeral was the Second Most Watched of All Time

His funeral was the 2nd most-watched funeral as it was watched by 2.4 billion ppl all over the world, which is almost half of the population. The only person whose funeral had more watchers was Princess Diana’s.

He Once had a Pet Monkey

No really, it’s true, and his name was Bubbles. 

Many Other Artists are Inspired by Him

Beyonce, Justin Bieber, The Weekend and so many other artists claimed that they were inspired to sing by Michael Jackson. And honestly, who wouldn’t be inspired by the man who is still such a legend even in death?

Did we miss any interesting facts? Let us know in the comments!