Despite being gone for over a decade, Michael Jackson is still one of the most famous pop singers and entertainers of all time. Here are 31 facts about the King of Pop.
1. Birthdate
Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958.
2. 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.
3. Favorite Type of Takeout Food
Jackson claims Mexican food was his favorite type of cuisine to order for takeout.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Racking Up the Fines:
It was once reported that Jackson racked up over $1 million in library fines because of overdue books.
8. 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.
9. 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.”
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. Soft Spot for Pinocchio
The legendary singer said that his favorite animated character of all time was Disney’s Pinocchio.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Married His Dermatologist’s Nurse
Although everyone knows that Jackson was once married to Lisa Marie Presley, it is not as common knowledge that he also once married the nurse of his dermatologist.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. “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.
23. 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.
24. Jackson and Siblings Got Start at the Chitlin’ Circuit
The Jackson 5 got their musical start at a group of nightclubs and musical venues throughout the Deep South and the Midwest known as the Chitlin’ Circuit.
25. “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.
26. 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.
27. First Public Song
The first song that Jackson ever crooned for the public was “Climb Every Mountain,” performed at the young age of five.
28. 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.
29. Michael Jackson was almost killed in the 9/11 Attack
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.
30. 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.
31. Michael Jackson Height
Michael Jackson had a larger than life stage presence, however, he was only 5′ 9″ and a 9.5 shoe size
Did we miss any interesting facts? Let us know in the comments!
Author: Bo Weber
Positive energy-seeking Minnesotan who finds joy in songwriting, graphic design, writing, videography, eating plants, and living in a van down by the river.
It should be noted that Michael’s sister latoya later stated she was forced to call Michael a pedophile by her abusive husband and Michael eventually forgave her. There is also a lot of evidence to support this narrative.
As pointed out by another commenter, Elizabeth, La Toya made the comments about Michael under duress from her then husband. From the time her family extricated her from what she has described as a very abusive marriage, she has supported her brother’s innocence of all such accusations.
Some who were in NYC with the Jackson party on 9/11 said Michael never had early morning appointments. So this could well be an urban myth… just like the story that he and Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando fled the city following the attacks in a rental car. Whereas, in fact, Michael and his children went to stay with a family he was close to at their home in New Jersey. From there he provided support for many fans who were stuck in hotels in NYC who had been at his 30th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden the night before.