View source for Early life and career of Michael Jackson

{{main|Michael Jackson}}
{{Infobox person
| name             = Michael Jackson
| image            = Michael Jackson in 1988.jpg<!--DO NOT CHANGE THE IMAGE WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE-->
| alt              = A photograph of Michael Jackson singing into a microphone
| caption          = Jackson performing in June 1988
| birth_name       = Michael Joseph Jackson
| alias            = Michael Joe Jackson<!-- Legal aliases only. This is not a field for nicknames.-->
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1958|8|29}}
| birth_place      = [[Gary, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|2009|6|25|1958|8|29}}
| death_place      = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| death_cause      = [[Cardiac arrest]]
{{labeldata|Buried|[[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale]], California, U.S.}}
| occupation       = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|dancer}}<!--Please do not add anymore occupations to the list, it is long enough already-->
| spouse           = {{marriage|[[Lisa Marie Presley]]|1994|1996|end=divorced}}<br/>{{marriage|[[Debbie Rowe]]|1996|1999|end=divorced}}
| children         = Michael Jr., [[Paris Jackson|Paris]], and Blanket
| parents          = [[Joe Jackson (manager)|Joe Jackson]]<br />[[Katherine Jackson]]
| family           = [[Jackson family|Jackson]]
| awards           = [[List of awards and nominations received by Michael Jackson|Full list]]
| website          = {{url|https://www.michaeljackson.com/}}
| signature        = Michael Jackson signature.svg
| signature_size   = 100px
| module           = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
 | instrument      = Vocals<!--If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first-->
 | genre           = <!--These music genres are all sourced under the section #Musical themes and genres-->{{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[funk]]|{{nowrap|[[rhythm and blues]]}}|[[Rock music|rock]]|[[disco]]|[[post-disco]]|{{nowrap|[[dance-pop]]}}|[[new jack swing]]}}
 | years_active    = 1964–2009
 | label           = {{hlist|[[Steeltown Records|Steeltown]]|[[Motown]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Legacy Recordings|Legacy]]|[[Sony Music|Sony]]|MJJ Productions}}
 | associated_acts = <!--These associated acts are all sourced under #Discography-->[[The Jackson 5]]
}}
}}
'''Michael Jackson''' (August 29, 1958{{spnd}}June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer.<!--DO NOT add more occupations per [[Talk:Michael Jackson/Archive 31#Lead sentence format]]--> Dubbed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Pop]]", he is regarded as one of the [[Cultural impact of Michael Jackson|most significant cultural figures]] of the 20th century. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, fashion, and [[Philanthropy of Michael Jackson|philanthropy]], along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in [[popular culture]]. He influenced artists across many genres, and through stage and video performances, popularized complicated dance moves such as the [[moonwalk (dance)|moonwalk]], to which he gave the name, and the [[Robot (dance)|robot]]. He is the [[List of awards and nominations received by Michael Jackson|most awarded music artist]] in history.

===1958–1975: Early life and the Jackson 5===
[[File:2300 Jackson Street Yuksel.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The single-story house has white walls, two windows, a central white door with a black door frame, and a black roof. In front of the house there is a walkway and multiple colored flowers and memorabilia.|Jackson's childhood home in [[Gary, Indiana]], pictured in March 2010 with floral tributes after his death]]

Michael Joseph Jackson<ref name="certificate">County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services (2009). [[:File:Michael Jackson death certificate.jpg|Michael Jackson death certificate]].</ref><ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|first= Steve |last= Huey |title= Michael Jackson – Artist Biography |publisher= [[AllMusic]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-jackson-mn0000467203/biography |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150507080746/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-jackson-mn0000467203/biography |archive-date= May 7, 2015}}</ref> was born in [[Gary, Indiana]], near Chicago, on August 29, 1958.<ref name="Barnes">{{cite news|first= Brokes |last= Barnes |title= A Star Idolized and Haunted, Michael Jackson Dies at 50 |newspaper= The New York Times |date= June 25, 2009 |access-date= July 12, 2009 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/arts/music/26jackson.html?ref=obituaries&_r=0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson: 10 Achievements That Made Him The King of Pop |publisher= National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |date= June 24, 2014 |access-date= October 20, 2016 |url= http://www.grammy.com/blogs/michael-jackson-10-achievements-that-made-him-the-king-of-pop}}</ref> He was the eighth of ten children in the [[Jackson family]], a working-class [[African Americans|African-American]] family living in a two-bedroom house on Jackson Street.{{sfn|Jackson|2009|p=26}}{{sfn|Young|2009|p=18}} His mother, [[Katherine Jackson|Katherine Esther Jackson]] (''née'' Scruse), played clarinet and piano, had aspired to be a [[Country music|country-and-western]] performer, and worked part-time at [[Sears]].{{sfn|Young|2009|pp=17, 19}} She was a [[Jehovah's Witness]].<ref name="monstrous">{{cite news|first= Alexis |last= Petridis |title= Joe Jackson was one of the most monstrous fathers in pop |newspaper= The Guardian |date= June 27, 2018 |access-date= April 18, 2019 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/27/joe-jackson-one-of-the-most-monstrous-fathers-in-pop}}</ref> His father, [[Joe Jackson (manager)|Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson]], a former boxer, was a crane operator at [[U.S. Steel]] and played guitar with a local [[rhythm and blues]] band, the Falcons, to supplement the family's income.<ref name="Obit Guardian">{{cite news|first= Adam |last= Sweeting |title= Joe Jackson obituary |newspaper= The Guardian |date= June 27, 2018 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/27/joe-jackson-obituary}}</ref>{{sfn|Young|2009|pp=18–19}} Joe's great-grandfather, July "Jack" Gale, was a US Army [[Cavalry scout|scout]]; family lore held that he was also a Native American [[medicine man]].{{sfn|Knopper|2016|p=6. Note: No tribal affiliation named in source}} Michael grew up with three sisters ([[Rebbie Jackson|Rebbie]], [[La Toya Jackson|La Toya]], and [[Janet Jackson|Janet]]) and five brothers ([[Jackie Jackson|Jackie]], [[Tito Jackson|Tito]], [[Jermaine Jackson|Jermaine]], [[Marlon Jackson|Marlon]], and [[Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)|Randy]]).<ref name="Obit Guardian"/> A sixth brother, Marlon's twin Brandon, died shortly after birth.<ref>{{cite web|first= Chris |last= Morris |title= Joe Jackson, Jackson Family Patriarch, Dies at 89 |magazine= Variety |date= June 27, 2018 |access-date= April 27, 2019 |url= https://variety.com/2018/music/news/joe-jackson-dead-dies-89-1202859242/}}</ref>

In 1964, Michael and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers—a band formed by their father which included Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine—as backup musicians playing [[conga]]s and [[tambourine]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson: a life of highs and lows |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= November 28, 2019 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5642588/Michael-Jackson-a-life-of-highs-and-lows.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first= Jermaine |last= Jackson |year= 2011 |title= You Are Not Alone: Michael: Through a Brother's Eyes |publisher= [[Simon & Schuster]] |page= 41 |isbn= 978-1-4516-5156-0 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tk0zQIaFrccC&pg=PA41}}</ref> Michael said his father told him he had a "fat nose",<ref name="bbcnews">{{cite news|title= Jackson interview seen by 14m |work= BBC News |date= February 4, 2003 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2719763.stm}}</ref> and physically and emotionally abused him during rehearsals. He recalled that Joe often sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed, ready to punish any mistakes.<ref name="monstrous"/>{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|pp=165–168}} Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped Michael.<ref>{{cite news|title= Can Michael Jackson's demons be explained?|work= [[BBC News]] |date= June 27, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8121599.stm}}</ref> Katherine said that although whipping came to be considered abuse, it was a common way to discipline children when Michael was growing up.<ref>{{cite AV media|title= Katherine Jackson: Michael's strict upbringing not abuse |publisher= CNN |format= video |date= May 15, 2012 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldyRUqGN3XA}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|first= Alan |last= Duke |title= Joe Jackson denies abusing Michael |publisher= CNN |date= July 21, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/21/joe.jackson/index.html?iref=24hours}}</ref> Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon denied that their father was abusive and said that the whippings, which were harder on Michael because he was younger, kept them disciplined and out of trouble.<ref>{{cite web|title= Jackson Brothers: Was Joe Jackson Abusive? |publisher= [[Yahoo! Celebrity]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://celebrity.yahoo.com/video/jackson-brothers-joe-jackson-abusive-170000051.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 22, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150522073344/https://celebrity.yahoo.com/video/jackson-brothers-joe-jackson-abusive-170000051.html}}</ref> Jackson said his youth was lonely and isolated.{{sfn|Young|2009|p=24}} In 2018, Jackson's physician [[Conrad Murray]] said that Joe had [[chemically castrated]] Michael and forced him to undergo hormone treatment as a child to stop his voice changing.<ref>{{cite news|first= Maya |last= Oppenheim |title= Michael Jackson was chemically castrated by his father, claims doctor jailed over singer's death |newspaper= The Independent |date= July 12, 2018 |access-date= March 29, 2021 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/michael-jackson-chemical-castration-father-joe-conrad-murray-blast-video-watch-a8444336.html}}</ref>

Later in 1964, Michael began sharing lead vocals with Jermaine, and the group's name was changed to [[the Jackson 5]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Charlie |last= Burton |title= Inside the Jackson machine |magazine= [[GQ]] |date= February 7, 2018 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/jacksons-legacy-jackson-5}}</ref> In 1965, the group won a talent show; Michael performed the dance to [[Robert Parker (singer)|Robert Parker]]'s 1965 song "[[Barefootin' (song)|Barefootin']]" and sang [[the Temptations]]' "[[My Girl (The Temptations song)|My Girl]]".{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=13–14}} From 1966 to 1968, the Jacksons 5 toured the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]]; they frequently played at a string of black clubs known as the [[Chitlin' Circuit]] as the opening act for artists such as [[Sam & Dave]], [[the O'Jays]], [[Gladys Knight]], and [[Etta James]]. The Jackson 5 also performed at clubs and cocktail lounges, where [[striptease]] shows were featured, and at local auditoriums and high school dances.{{sfn|Young|2009|pp=21–22}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Triumph & Tragedy: The Life of Michael Jackson |magazine= Rolling Stone India |date= August 25, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://rollingstoneindia.com/triumph-tragedy-the-life-of-michael-jackson/}}</ref> In August 1967, while touring the [[Eastern United States|East Coast]], they won a weekly amateur night concert at the [[Apollo Theater]] in [[Harlem]].{{sfn|Young|2009|p=22}}

[[File:Jackson 5 tv special 1972.JPG|thumb|Jackson (center) as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1972. The group were among the first [[African Americans|African American]] performers to attain a crossover following.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Vince |last= Aletti |title= Jackson Five: The Biggest Thing Since the Stones |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= November 26, 1970 |access-date= March 27, 2020 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jackson-five-the-biggest-thing-since-the-stones-233775/}}</ref>]]

The Jackson 5 recorded several songs for a Gary record label, [[Steeltown Records]]; their first single, "[[Big Boy (song)|Big Boy]]", was released in 1968.{{sfn|Young|2009|p=21}} Bobby Taylor of [[Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers]] brought the Jackson 5 to [[Motown]] after they opened for Taylor at Chicago's [[Regal Theater, Chicago|Regal Theater]] in 1968. Taylor produced some of their early Motown recordings, including a version of "[[Who's Lovin' You]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine|first= Steve |last= Knopper |title= Bobby Taylor, Motown Singer Who Discovered Jackson 5, Dead at 83 |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= July 23, 2017 |access-date= July 1, 2019 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bobby-taylor-motown-singer-who-discovered-jackson-5-dead-at-83-202100/}}</ref> After signing with Motown, the Jackson family relocated to Los Angeles.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=59–69}} In 1969, Motown executives decided [[Diana Ross]] should introduce the Jackson 5 to the public—partly to bolster her career in television—sending off what was considered Motown's last product of its "production line".<ref>{{cite journal|first= Phillip Brian |last= Harper |date=Winter 1989 |title= Synesthesia, "Crossover," and Blacks in Popular Music |journal= Social Text |issue= 23 |page= 110 |jstor= 466423}}</ref> The Jackson 5 made their first television appearance in 1969 in the [[Miss Black America]] pageant, performing a cover of "[[It's Your Thing]]".<ref>{{cite book|first= Daryl |last= Easlea |year= 2016 |title= Michael Jackson: Rewind: The Life and Legacy of Pop Music's King |publisher= Race Point Publishing |page= 178 |isbn= 978-1-63106-253-7}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' later described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts" who "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer".<ref name="Bio">{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson – Biography |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/biography |magazine= Rolling Stone |archive-date= April 2, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080402062429/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/biography}}</ref>

In January 1970, "[[I Want You Back]]" became the first Jackson 5 song to reach number one on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]; it stayed there for four weeks. Three more singles with Motown topped the chart: "[[ABC (The Jackson 5 song)|ABC]]", "[[The Love You Save]]", and "[[I'll Be There (The Jackson 5 song)|I'll Be There]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Fred |last= Bronson |title= 48 Years Ago Today, 'I Want You Back' Kicked It All Off for the Jackson 5 |magazine= Billboard |date= November 15, 2017 |access-date= April 6, 2019 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8038339/48-years-ago-today-i-want-you-back-debut-jackson-5}}</ref> In May 1971, the Jackson family moved into a large house on a two-acre estate in [[Encino, Los Angeles|Encino, California]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=81–82}} During this period, Michael developed from a child performer into a [[teen idol]].{{sfn|Young|2009|p=25}} Between 1972 and 1975, he released four solo studio albums with Motown: ''[[Got to Be There]]'' (1972), ''[[Ben (album)|Ben]]'' (1972), ''[[Music & Me]]'' (1973), and ''[[Forever, Michael]]'' (1975).<ref name="McNulty">{{cite news|first= Bernadette |last= McNulty |date= June 26, 2009 |title= Michael Jackson's music: the solo albums |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5652389/Michael-Jacksons-music-the-solo-albums.html}}</ref> "[[Got to Be There (song)|Got to Be There]]" and "[[Ben (song)|Ben]]", the title tracks from his first two solo albums, sold well as singles, as did a cover of [[Bobby Day]]'s "[[Rockin' Robin (song)|Rockin' Robin]]".{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=98–99}}

Michael maintained ties to the Jackson 5.<ref name="McNulty"/> The Jackson 5 were later described as "a cutting-edge example of black [[Crossover music|crossover artists]]".<ref>{{cite press release|first= Debra |last= Alban |title= Michael Jackson broke down racial barriers |publisher= CNN |date= June 28, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/28/michael.jackson.black.community/}}</ref> They were frustrated by Motown's refusal to allow them creative input.<ref>{{cite news|first= Helen |last= Brown |title= Michael Jackson and Motown: the boy behind the marketing |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5651468/Michael-Jackson-and-Motown-the-man-behind-the-marketing.html}}</ref> Jackson's performance of their top five single "[[Dancing Machine]]" on ''[[Soul Train]]'' popularized the [[Robot (dance)|robot dance]].{{sfn|Mansour|2005|p=403|ps=: 'The Robot was a mimelike dance, popularized by The Jackson 5 and their Top Ten hit "Dancing Machine"'}}

===1975–1981: Move to Epic and ''Off the Wall''===
[[File:Jacksonstvshow.jpg|thumb|upright|From left, back row: [[Jackie Jackson]], Michael Jackson, [[Tito Jackson]], [[Marlon Jackson]]. Middle row: Randy Jackson, [[La Toya Jackson]], [[Rebbie Jackson]]. Front row: [[Janet Jackson]] (1977)]]

In 1975, the Jackson 5 left Motown. They signed with [[Epic Records]], a subsidiary of [[Sony Music|CBS Records]],<ref>{{cite web|first= Steve |last= Huey |title= The Jackson – Artist Biography |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= April 8, 2019 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-jackson-5-mn0000083013/biography}}</ref> and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Their younger brother Randy joined the band around this time; Jermaine stayed with Motown and pursued a solo career.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=138–144}} The Jacksons continued to tour internationally, and released six more albums between 1976 and 1984. Michael, the group's main songwriter during this time, wrote songs such as "[[Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)]]" (1978), "[[This Place Hotel]]" (1980), and "[[Can You Feel It (The Jacksons song)|Can You Feel It]]" (1980).<ref>{{cite web|title= The Jackson 5 Biography |publisher= [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |archive-date= March 31, 2019 |url= http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/the-jackson-five/bio/ |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190331180213/https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/the-jackson-five/bio}}</ref>

In 1978, Jackson moved to New York City to star as the [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]] in ''[[The Wiz (film)|The Wiz]]'', a musical directed by [[Sidney Lumet]]. It costarred [[Diana Ross]], [[Nipsey Russell]], and Ted Ross.<ref>{{cite web|first= Bill |last= Gibron |title= You Can't Win Michael Jackson and 'The Wiz' |website= [[PopMatters]] |date= July 7, 2009 |access-date= May 10, 2017 |url= https://www.popmatters.com/feature/107586-you-cant-win-michael-jackson-and-the-wiz/}}</ref> The film was a box-office failure.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=178–179}} Its score was arranged by [[Quincy Jones]],{{sfn|Bronson|2003|p=207}} who later produced three of Jackson's solo albums.<ref name="Who's Bad">{{cite news|title= Who's bad? Michael Jackson's estate owes Quincy Jones $9.4m in royalties, jury decides |newspaper= The Guardian |agency= Associated Press |date= July 27, 2017 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/27/michael-jacksons-estate-owes-quincy-jones-9m-royalties-jury-decides}}</ref> During his time in New York, Jackson frequented the [[Studio 54]] nightclub, where he heard early [[hip hop music|hip hop]]; this influenced his [[beatboxing]] on future tracks such as "[[Working Day and Night]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Elias |last= Leight |title= 10 Things We Learned from Spike Lee's Michael Jackson Doc |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= February 5, 2015 |access-date= January 27, 2017 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/10-things-we-learned-from-spike-lees-new-michael-jackson-doc-20160205}}</ref> In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a dance routine. A [[rhinoplasty]] led to breathing difficulties that later affected his career. He was referred to [[Steven Hoefflin]], who performed Jackson's subsequent operations.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=205–210}}

Jackson's fifth solo album, ''[[Off the Wall]]'' (1979), established him as a solo performer and helped him move from the [[bubblegum music|bubblegum]] pop of his youth to more complex sounds.{{sfn|Young|2009|p=25}} It produced four top 10 entries in the US: "[[Off the Wall (Michael Jackson song)|Off the Wall]]", "[[She's Out of My Life]]", and the chart-topping singles "[[Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough]]" and "[[Rock with You (Michael Jackson song)|Rock with You]]".<ref name="FourUSTop10s">{{cite magazine|first= Gary |last= Trust |title= Ask Billboard: Remembering the Time When Michael Jackson Kept Hitting the Hot 100's Top 10, From 'Thriller' to 'Dangerous' |magazine= Billboard |date= January 21, 2018 |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8095269/michael-jackson-bruno-mars-ed-sheeran-ask-billboard}}</ref> The album reached number three on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and sold over 20{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson: Off The Wall |publisher= [[Virgin Media]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.virginmedia.com/music/classicalbums/michaeljackson-offthewall.php}}</ref> In 1980, Jackson won three [[American Music Award]]s for his solo work: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".<ref>{{cite news|title= Donna Summer and Michael Jackson sweep Annual American Music Awards |date= January 20, 1980 |newspaper= [[The Ledger]] |agency= [[Associated Press]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wYEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776,1201107}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Ida |last= Peters |title= Donna No. 1, Pop and Soul; Michael Jackson King of Soul |newspaper= [[Baltimore Afro-American|The Afro-American]] |date= February 2, 1980 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EaMkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3100,419518}}</ref> He also won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for 1979 with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".<ref name="grammy mj">{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson |publisher= National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |date= February 15, 2019 |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url= https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/michael-jackson}}</ref> In 1981, Jackson was the American Music Awards winner for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.<ref>{{cite news|title= Few Surprises in Music Awards |newspaper= [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] |agency= Associated Press |date= February 1, 1981 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sPIcAAAAIBAJ&pg=6226,95260}}</ref> Jackson felt ''Off the Wall'' should have made a bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|p=188}} In 1980, he secured the highest [[Royalties|royalty]] rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|p=191}}

===1982–1983: ''Thriller'' and ''Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever''===
[[File:Michael Jackson's Glove and Cardigan.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=A sparkly jacket and gloves, displayed inside a transparent vertical tube.|The sequined jacket and white glove worn by Jackson at ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]''. ''[[British Vogue]]'' called Jackson "a fashion pioneer [...] who gave new meaning to [[moonwalk (dance)|moonwalking]], immortalised solitary, [and] sparkly gloves".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Julia |last= Neel |title= Michael Jackson – A Tribute |magazine= [[British Vogue]] |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= March 27, 2020 |url= https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/michael-jacksons-style-26062009}}</ref>]]

Jackson recorded with [[Queen (band)|Queen]] singer [[Freddie Mercury]] from 1981 to 1983, recording demos of "[[State of Shock (song)|State of Shock]]", "Victory" and "There Must Be More to Life Than This". The recordings were intended for an album of duets but, according to Queen's manager [[Jim Beach]], the relationship soured when Jackson brought a [[llama]] into the recording studio,<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Melissa |last= Locker |title= Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury: Three Duets Coming Out This Fall |magazine= Time |date= July 29, 2013 |access-date= June 26, 2015 |url= http://entertainment.time.com/2013/07/29/michael-jackson-and-freddie-mercury-three-duets-coming-out-this-fall/}}</ref> and Jackson was upset by Mercury's drug use.<ref>{{cite news|title= The real Freddie Mercury: why the Queen biopic only tells part of the story |newspaper= [[The Times]] |date= October 19, 2018 |access-date= October 30, 2018 |url= https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-real-freddie-mercury-why-the-queen-biopic-only-tells-part-of-the-story-5ql37vgll}}</ref> The songs were released in 2014.<ref name="Greene">{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Greene |title= Hear Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury's Long-Lost Duet |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= September 19, 2014 |access-date= April 26, 2016 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jackson-freddie-mercury-duet-20140919}}</ref> Jackson went on to record "State of Shock" with [[Mick Jagger]] for the Jacksons' album ''[[Victory (The Jacksons album)|Victory]]'' (1984).<ref>{{cite web|first= John |last= Earls |title= Producer of new Queen album featuring Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson vocals is revealed |magazine= NME |date= August 2, 2014 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/queen-32-1228446}}</ref> In 1982, Jackson contributed "Someone in the Dark" to the [[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (album)|audiobook for the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'']]. Jackson's sixth album, ''[[Thriller (Michael Jackson album)|Thriller]]'', was released in late 1982. It was the best-selling album worldwide in 1983,<ref>{{cite web|title= Michael: He's Not Just the Rock Star of the Year, He's the Rock Star of the '80s |date= December 20, 1983 |newspaper= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |access-date= July 5, 2010 |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB296D5B072064E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Cash register's ring sweet music to record industry |newspaper= [[The Gadsden Times]] |agency= Associated Press |date= March 26, 1984 |access-date= July 5, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d9EfAAAAIBAJ&pg=1419,4981079}}</ref> and became the best-selling album of all time in the US<ref>{{cite web|title= Diamond Awards |publisher= [[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=T1A#search_section}}</ref> and the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling album of all time worldwide]], selling an estimated {{Nowrap|70 million}} copies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-17935650|title=Adele's 21 overtakes sales of Thriller in UK album list|date=May 4, 2012|via=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/musicworld/mj-nearly-scrapped-thriller-release_42076.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926073042/https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/musicworld/mj-nearly-scrapped-thriller-release_42076.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2020|title=MJ nearly scrapped ‘Thriller’ release &#124; Music News &#124; Zee News|date=September 26, 2020}}</ref> It topped the ''Billboard'' 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to produce seven ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top-10 singles, including "[[Billie Jean]]", "[[Beat It]]", and "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']]".{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|p=47}}

On March 25, 1983, Jackson reunited with his brothers for ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]'', an NBC television special. The show aired on May 16 to an estimated audience of {{Nowrap|47 million}}, and featured the Jacksons and other Motown stars.<ref>{{cite news|first= Janette |last= Williams |title= Michael Jackson left indelible mark on Pasadena |newspaper= [[Whittier Daily News]] |date= June 24, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.whittierdailynews.com/general-news/20090625/michael-jackson-left-indelible-mark-on-pasadena}}</ref> Jackson's solo performance of "Billie Jean" earned him his first [[Emmy Award]] nomination.<ref name="emmys.tv">{{cite news|title= Fatal Cardiac Arrest Strikes Michael Jackson |publisher= [[Emmy Award|Emmys.com]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://m.emmys.com/news/fatal-cardiac-arrest-strikes-michael-jackson}}</ref> Wearing a glove decorated with [[rhinestone]]s,<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson glove sells for $350,000 |work= BBC News |date= November 22, 2009 |access-date= April 19, 2019 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8372773.stm}}</ref> he debuted his [[Moonwalk (dance)|moonwalk dance]], which [[Jeffrey Daniel]] had taught him three years earlier, and it became his signature dance in his repertoire.<ref name="Daniel">{{cite magazine|first= Jeffrey |last= Daniel |title= Michael Jackson 1958–2009 |magazine= Time |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= April 19, 2019 |url= http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1907409_1907413_1907560,00.html}}</ref> Jackson had originally turned down the invitation to the show, believing he had been doing too much television. But at the request of Motown founder [[Berry Gordy]], he performed in exchange for an opportunity to do a solo performance.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=234–237}} ''Rolling Stone'' reporter Mikal Gilmore called the performance "extraordinary".{{sfn|Young|2009|p=25}} Jackson's performance drew comparisons to [[Elvis Presley]]'s and [[the Beatles]]' appearances on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=238–241}} [[Anna Kisselgoff]] of ''The New York Times'' praised the perfect timing and technique involved in the dance.<ref>{{cite news|first= Anna |last= Kisselgoff |author-link= Anna Kisselgoff |title= Stage: The Dancing Feet of Michael Jackson |date= March 6, 1988 |newspaper= The New York Times |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/06/arts/stage-the-dancing-feet-of-michael-jackson.html}}</ref> Gordy described being "mesmerized" by the performance.<ref>{{cite web|title= Berry Gordy Addresses Michael Jackson Memorial Service |publisher= Hark |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.hark.com/clips/lxbvwzgnms-berry-gordy-addresses-michael-jackson-memorial-service |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 9, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130509134117/http://www.hark.com/clips/lxbvwzgnms-berry-gordy-addresses-michael-jackson-memorial-service}}</ref>

At the [[26th Annual Grammy Awards]], ''Thriller'' won eight awards, and Jackson won an award for the ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' storybook. Winning eight Grammys in one ceremony is a record he holds with the band [[Santana (band)|Santana]].<ref name="grammy mj"/> Jackson and Quincy Jones won the award for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical). ''Thriller'' won Album of the Year (with Jackson as the album's artist and Jones as its co-producer), and the single won Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) award for Jackson. "Beat It" won Record of the Year and Best Rock Vocal Performance (Male). "Billie Jean" won two Grammy awards: Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance (Male), with Jackson as songwriter and singer respectively.<ref name="grammy mj"/> ''Thriller'' won the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording (Non Classical), acknowledging [[Bruce Swedien]] for his work on the album.<ref name="Bruce">{{cite web|title= Past Winners Search: Bruce Swedien |publisher= The Recording Academy |access-date= February 14, 2008 |url= http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Bruce+Swedien&title=&year=All&genre=All}}</ref> At the [[American Music Awards of 1984|11th Annual American Music Awards]], Jackson won another eight awards and became the youngest artist to win the Award of Merit.<ref name="Awards 1984">{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson sweeps American Music Awards |newspaper= [[The Daily News (Kentucky)|Daily News]] |agency= Associated Press |date= January 17, 1984 |access-date= June 16, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eQUbAAAAIBAJ&pg=5127,2841948}}</ref> He also won Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, and Favorite Pop/Rock Artist. "Beat It" won Favorite Soul/R&B Video, Favorite Pop/Rock Video and Favorite Pop/Rock Single. The album collectively won Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Album.<ref name="Awards 1984"/><ref>{{cite web|title= Winners Database: Search Results for "Michael Jackson" |publisher= [[American Music Award]] |access-date= July 18, 2018 |url= https://www.theamas.com/winners-database/?winnerKeyword=Michael+Jackson&winnerYear=&winnerCategory=}}</ref>

Jackson had the highest royalty rate in the music industry at that point, with about $2 for every album sold ({{Inflation|US|2|1984|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}), and was making record-breaking profits. Dolls modeled after Jackson appeared in stores in May 1984 for $12 each.<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine|first= Jay |last= Cocks |title= Why He's a Thriller |magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date= March 19, 1984 |access-date= April 25, 2010 |url= http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950053,00.html}}</ref> In the same year, ''The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller'', a music documentary, won a Grammy for Best Music Video (Longform).<ref name="grammy mj"/> ''Time'' described Jackson's influence at that point as "star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style and color too."<ref name="Time"/> ''The New York Times'' wrote "in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else."<ref>{{cite news|first= Jon |last= Pareles |author-link= Jon Pareles |title= Michael Jackson at 25: A Musical Phenomenon |newspaper= The New York Times |date= January 14, 1984 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/14/arts/michael-jackson-at-25-a-musical-phenomenon.html}}</ref>

On May 14, 1984, President [[Ronald Reagan]] gave Jackson an award recognizing his support of alcohol and drug abuse charities,{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=304–307}} and in recognition of his support for the [[Ad Council]]'s and the [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]]'s Drunk Driving Prevention campaign. Jackson allowed the campaign to use "Beat It" for its public service announcements.<ref>{{cite web|title= Drunk Driving Prevention (1983–Present) |year= 2003 |publisher= Advertising Education Foundation |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.aef.com/exhibits/social_responsibility/ad_council/2399/:pf_printable |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 9, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150509144426/http://www.aef.com/exhibits/social_responsibility/ad_council/2399/%3Apf_printable}}</ref>{{Multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| width     = 250
| image1    = Reagans with Michael Jackson.jpg
| caption1  = [[Ronald Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]] and [[Nancy Reagan|First Lady Nancy Reagan]] shortly before presenting Jackson with the award at the [[White House]] on May 14, 1984
| image2    = Michael Jackson Reagan Pete Souza 1984.jpg
| caption2  = Jackson inside the White House with the Reagans
}}

===1984–1985: Pepsi, "We Are the World", and business career===
In November 1983, Jackson and his brothers partnered with [[PepsiCo]] in a $5{{nbsp}}million promotional deal that broke records for a celebrity endorsement ({{Inflation|US|5000000|1983|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}). The first Pepsi campaign, which ran in the US from 1983 to 1984 and launched its "New Generation" theme, included tour sponsorship, public relations events, and in-store displays. Jackson helped to create the advertisement, and suggested using his song "Billie Jean", with revised lyrics, as its [[jingle]].<ref name="Herrera2">{{cite magazine|first= Monica |last= Herrera |title= Michael Jackson, Pepsi Made Marketing History |magazine= Billboard |date= July 3, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268213/michael-jackson-pepsi-made-marketing-history}}</ref>

On January 27, 1984, Michael and other members of the Jacksons filmed a Pepsi commercial overseen by [[Phil Dusenberry]],<ref>{{cite news|first= Louise |last= Story |title= Philip B. Dusenberry, 71, Adman, Dies |newspaper= The New York Times |date= December 31, 2007 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/business/media/31dusenberry.html}}</ref> a [[BBDO]] ad agency executive, and [[Alan Pottasch]], Pepsi's Worldwide Creative Director, at the [[Shrine Auditorium]] in Los Angeles. During a simulated concert before a full house of fans, pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson's hair on fire, causing [[Burn|second-degree burns]] to his scalp. Jackson underwent treatment to hide the scars and had his third rhinoplasty shortly thereafter.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=205–210}} Pepsi settled out of court, and Jackson donated the $1.5{{nbsp}}million settlement to the [[Southern California Hospital at Culver City|Brotman Medical Center]] in [[Culver City, California]]; its now closed Michael Jackson Burn Center was named in his honor.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=279–287}}<ref>{{cite press release|title= Michael Jackson Burn Center Closes |work= Associated Press |date= August 28, 1987 |url= https://apnews.com/article/07fd5f477d6551db862e18a0e27eed37 |url-status= live |archive-date= February 28, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210228044639/https://apnews.com/article/07fd5f477d6551db862e18a0e27eed37}}</ref> Jackson signed a second agreement with Pepsi in the late 1980s for $10{{nbsp}}million. The second campaign covered 20 countries and provided financial support for Jackson's ''Bad'' album and 1987–88 world tour. Jackson had endorsements and advertising deals with other companies, such as [[LA Gear]], [[Suzuki]], and [[Sony]], but none were as significant as his deals with Pepsi.<ref name="Herrera2"/>

The [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]] of 1984 headlined the Jacksons and showcased Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans. It was the last tour he did with his brothers.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|p=320}} Following [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)#Ticket controversy and other business issues|controversy over the concert's ticket sales]], Jackson donated his share of the proceeds, an estimated {{Nowrap|$3 to 5 million}}, to charity.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=314–320}} During the last concert of the Victory Tour at the [[Dodger Stadium]] in Los Angeles, Jackson announced his split from The Jacksons during "Shake Your Body".{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=312–314}} His charitable work continued with the release of "[[We Are the World]]" (1985), co-written with [[Lionel Richie]],<ref name="WATW">{{cite web|title= Past Winners Search: "We Are the World" |publisher= The Recording Academy |access-date= January 29, 2014 |url= http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=%22We+Are+The+World%22&year=All&genre=All}}</ref> which raised money for the poor in the US and Africa.<ref name="jdoyle">{{cite web|first= Jack |last= Doyle |title= "Michael & McCartney": 1980s–2009 |work= The Pop History Dig |date= July 7, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/michael-mccartney-1980s-2009/}}</ref> It earned $63{{nbsp}}million ({{Inflation|US|63000000|1985|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}),<ref name="jdoyle"/> and became one of the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles of all time]], with 20{{nbsp}}million copies sold.<ref>{{cite news|first= Anthony |last= Breznican |date= June 30, 2009 |newspaper= [[USA Today]] |access-date= June 11, 2015 |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-06-26-jackson-faces_N.htm |title= The many faces of Michael Jackson}}</ref> It won four Grammy Awards in 1985, including Song of the Year for Jackson and Richie as its writers.<ref name="WATW"/> The project's creators received two special American Music Awards honors: one for the creation of the song and another for the [[USA for Africa]] idea. Jackson, Jones, and promoter Ken Kragen received special awards for their roles in the song's creation.<ref name="WATW"/><ref name="AMAs 1986">{{cite news|title= Bruce shows who's Boss |newspaper= [[The Gazette (Montreal)|Montreal Gazette]] |agency= Associated Press |date= January 28, 1986 |access-date= June 16, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MRgiAAAAIBAJ&pg=1658,3425033}}</ref>{{sfn|Campbell|1993|p=114}}{{sfn|Young|2009|pp=340–344}}
[[File:Michael Jackson autographing 'We Are The World' posters 1985.jpg|left|thumb|223x223px|Jackson signing a "[[We Are the World]]" poster in 1985]]
Jackson collaborated with Paul McCartney in the early 1980s, and learned that McCartney was making $40{{nbsp}}million a year from owning the rights to other artists' songs.<ref name="jdoyle"/> By 1983, Jackson had begun buying publishing rights to others' songs, but he was careful with his acquisitions, only bidding on a few of the dozens that were offered to him. Jackson's early acquisitions of [[music catalog]]s and song copyrights such as the [[Sly Stone]] collection included "Everyday People" (1968), [[Len Barry]]'s "[[1-2-3 (Len Barry song)|1–2–3]]" (1965), and [[Dion DiMucci]]'s "[[The Wanderer (Dion song)|The Wanderer]]" (1961) and "[[Runaround Sue]]" (1961).

In 1984, [[Robert Holmes à Court]] announced he was selling the [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing#Acquisition|ATV Music Publishing]] catalog comprising the publishing rights to nearly 4000 songs, including most of the Beatles' material.<ref name="hilburn">{{cite news|first= Robert |last= Hilburn |title= The long and winding road |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]] |date= September 22, 1985 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.latimes.com/la-et-hilburn-michael-jackson-sep22-story.html}}</ref> In 1981, McCartney had been offered the catalog for £20{{nbsp}}million ($40{{nbsp}}million).<ref name="jdoyle"/><ref name="mcca atv">{{cite web|title= Paul McCartney refused an offer to buy the ATV Catalog for £20 million ($40 million) |website= Mjjinfo.blogspot.fr |date= November 13, 2010 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://mjjinfo.blogspot.fr/2010/11/paul-mccartney-refused-to-buy-atv.html}}</ref> Jackson submitted a bid of $46{{nbsp}}million on November 20, 1984.<ref name="hilburn"/> When Jackson and McCartney were unable to make a joint purchase, McCartney did not want to be the sole owner of the Beatles' songs, and did not pursue an offer on his own.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=333–338}}<ref name="mcca atv"/> Jackson's agents were unable to come to a deal, and in May 1985 left talks after having spent more than $1{{nbsp}}million and four months of [[due diligence]] work on the negotiations.<ref name="hilburn"/> In June 1985, Jackson and Branca learned that [[Charles Koppelman]]'s and [[Martin Bandier|Marty Bandier]]'s The Entertainment Company had made a tentative offer to buy ATV Music for $50{{nbsp}}million; in early August, Holmes à Court contacted Jackson and talks resumed. Jackson's increased bid of $47.5{{nbsp}}million ({{Inflation|US|47500000|1985|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}) was accepted because he could close the deal more quickly, having already completed due diligence.<ref name="hilburn"/> Jackson agreed to visit Holmes à Court in Australia, where he would appear on the [[Channel Seven Perth Telethon]].<ref name="ch7news">{{cite episode|title= Michael Jackson 1958–2009 |series= [[Today Tonight]] |minutes= Coverage of the sale of ATV Music at 2:36 |date= June 25, 2009 |access-date= January 12, 2011 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3htpIVyUtec}}</ref> Jackson's purchase of ATV Music was finalized on August 10, 1985.<ref name="jdoyle"/><ref name="hilburn"/>

===1986–1987: Changing appearance, tabloids, and films===
{{See also|Health and appearance of Michael Jackson}}
Jackson's skin had been medium-brown during his youth, but from the mid-1980s gradually grew paler. The change drew widespread media coverage, including speculation that he had been [[Skin whitening|bleaching his skin]].{{sfn|Campbell|1995|pp=14–16}}{{sfn|Parameswaran|2011|pp=75–77}}{{sfn|DeMello|2012|p=152}} Jackson's dermatologist, [[Arnold Klein]], said he observed in 1983 that Jackson had [[vitiligo]],<!-- NOTE: With respect to the RfC on using Taraborrelli (check the archives), the "Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo in 1984" aspect is only supported by Taraborrelli. Other sources cite Taraborrelli when stating this with regard to 1984. So we either leave the Taraborrelli/"1984" piece out and instead cite an Arnold Klein aspect in its place, like the text currently does, or we retain the Taraborrelli piece. --><ref name="Rosenberg">{{cite news|first= Alyssa |last= Rosenberg |title= To understand Michael Jackson and his skin, you have to go beyond race |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= February 2, 2016 |access-date= September 17, 2019 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2016/02/02/to-understand-michael-jackson-and-his-skin-you-have-to-go-beyond-race/}}</ref> a condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment, and sensitivity to sunlight. He also identified [[discoid lupus erythematosus]] in Jackson. He diagnosed Jackson with lupus that year,<ref name="Rosenberg"/> and with vitiligo in 1986.<ref>{{cite press release|first= Jeff |last= Wilson |title= The Aftermath of Michael Jackson and Oprah: What About His Face? |work= Associated Press |date= February 12, 1993 |access-date= September 17, 2019 |url= https://www.apnews.com/420d71be3ec15171644bfbceb41da62f}}</ref> Vitiligo's drastic effects on the body can cause psychological distress. Jackson used fair-colored makeup,<ref>{{cite news|first= Gina |last= Kolata |title= Doctor Says Michael Jackson Has a Skin Disease |newspaper= The New York Times |date= February 13, 1993 |access-date= September 17, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/13/us/doctor-says-michael-jackson-has-a-skin-disease.html}}</ref> and possibly skin-bleaching prescription creams,<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Daniel |last= Kreps |title= Search of Michael Jackson's Home Revealed Skin-Whitening Creams |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= March 29, 2010 |access-date= September 17, 2019 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/search-of-michael-jacksons-home-revealed-skin-whitening-creams-65450/}}</ref> to cover up the uneven blotches of color caused by the illness. The creams would have further lightened his skin, and, with the application of makeup, he could appear very pale.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=434–436}} Jackson said he had not purposely bleached his skin and could not control his vitiligo, adding, "When people make up stories that I don't want to be who I am, it hurts me."<ref name="Oprah-Jackson">{{cite web|title= The Michael Jackson Interview: Oprah Reflects |publisher= [[The Oprah Winfrey Show]] |page= 3 |date= September 16, 2009 |access-date= April 24, 2017 |url= http://www.oprah.com/entertainment/oprah-reflects-on-her-interview-with-michael-jackson/3}}</ref> He became friends with Klein and Klein's assistant, [[Debbie Rowe]]. Rowe later became Jackson's second wife and the mother of his first two children.<ref>{{cite news|title= Arnold Klein, Dermatologist Who Smoothed Stars' Wrinkles, Dies at 70 |newspaper= The New York Times |agency= Associated Press |date= October 10, 2015 |access-date= July 18, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/24/us/arnold-klein-dermatologist-who-smoothed-stars-wrinkles-dies-at-70.html}}</ref>

In his 1988 autobiography and a 1993 interview, Jackson said he had had two [[rhinoplasty]] surgeries and a [[cleft chin]] surgery but no more than that. He said he lost weight in the early 1980s because of a change in diet to achieve a dancer's body.{{sfn|Jackson|2009|pp=229–230}} Witnesses reported that he was often dizzy, and speculated he was suffering from [[anorexia nervosa]]. Periods of weight loss became a recurring problem later in his life.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=312–313}} After his death, Jackson's mother said that he first turned to [[Plastic surgery#Cosmetic surgery procedures|cosmetic procedures]] to remedy his vitiligo, because he did not want to look like a "spotted cow". She said he had received more than the two cosmetic surgeries he claimed and speculated that he had become addicted to them.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson was addicted to plastic surgery, his mother says |newspaper= The Sydney Morning Herald |date= November 10, 2010 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/michael-jackson-was-addicted-to-plastic-surgery-his-mother-says-20101110-17mg1.html}}</ref>

In 1986, [[tabloid journalism|tabloids]] reported that Jackson slept in a [[hyperbaric medicine|hyperbaric oxygen chamber]] to slow aging, and pictured him lying in a glass box. The claim was untrue, and tabloids reported that he spread the story himself.<ref name="Image">{{cite news|title= Music's misunderstood superstar |work= [[BBC News]] |date= June 13, 2005 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4584367.stm}}</ref> They also reported that Jackson took female hormone shots to keep his voice high and facial hair wispy, proposed to [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and possibly had a shrine of her, and had cosmetic surgery on his eyes. Jackson's manager [[Frank DiLeo]] denied all of them, except for Jackson having a chamber. DiLeo added "I don't know if he sleeps in it. I'm not for it. But Michael thinks it's something that's probably healthy for him. He's a bit of a health fanatic."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Cutler |last= Durkee |title= Unlike Anyone, Even Himself |magazine= People |volume= 28 |issue= 11 |date= September 14, 1987 |access-date= June 29, 2019 |url= https://people.com/archive/cover-story-unlike-anyone-even-himself-vol-28-no-11/}}</ref>

When Jackson took his pet chimpanzee [[Bubbles (chimpanzee)|Bubbles]] to tour in Japan, the media portrayed Jackson as an aspiring [[Disney]] cartoon character who befriended animals.<ref name="Rolling Stone 1987">{{cite magazine|first1= Michael |last1= Goldberg |first2= David |last2= Handelman |title= Is Michael Jackson for Real? |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= September 24, 1987 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/is-michael-jackson-for-real-19870924}}</ref> It was also reported that Jackson had offered to buy the bones of [[Joseph Merrick]] (the "Elephant Man").{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=355–361}} In June 1987, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' reported Jackson's publicist bidding $1{{nbsp}}million for the skeleton to the [[London Hospital Medical College]] on his behalf. The college maintained the skeleton was not for sale. DiLeo said Jackson had an "absorbing interest" in Merrick, "purely based on his awareness of the ethical, medical and historical significance."<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson Ups Bid for Skeleton of 'Elephant Man' |newspaper= Chicago Tribune |agency= United Press International |date= June 17, 1987 |access-date= June 20, 2019 |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-06-17-8702140689-story.html}}</ref>

These tabloid stories inspired the name "Wacko Jacko," which Jackson came to despise.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref>{{cite interview|first= Michael |last= Jackson |interviewer= Barbara Walters |title= Jackson interview with Barbara Walters |date= September 12, 1997 |work= 20/20 |publisher= ABC}}</ref> According to music journalist [[Joseph Vogel]], the demeaning name first appeared in British tabloid ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' in 1985. The name's origins come from [[Jacco Macacco|Jacko Macacco]], the name of a famous monkey used in [[monkey-baiting]] matches at the Westminster Pit in the early 1820s. "Jacko" was subsequently used in [[Rhyming slang|Cockney slang]] to refer to monkeys in general, hence a racist connotation behind the name.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Joseph |last= Vogel |title= How Michael Jackson Made 'Bad' |magazine= [[The Atlantic]] |date= September 9, 2012 |access-date= July 20, 2019 |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/09/how-michael-jackson-made-bad/262162/ |ref= none}}</ref>

In 1987, ''Rolling Stone'' described Jackson as "the flighty-genius star-child, a celebrity virtually all his life, who dwells in a fairy-tale kingdom of fellow celebrities, animals, mannequins and cartoons, who provides endless fodder for the tabloids.... But it’s the same child in Michael who inspires the artistry that fuels all the subsidiary industries, who turns his primal fears and fantasies into wondrous, hyperkinetic and emotional music."<ref name="Rolling Stone 1987"/>

Jackson worked with [[George Lucas]] and [[Francis Ford Coppola]] on the 17-minute $30{{nbsp}}million [[3D film]] ''[[Captain EO]]'', which ran from 1986 at [[Disneyland]] and [[Epcot]], and later at [[Tokyo Disneyland]] and [[Disneyland Park (Paris)|Euro Disneyland]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Dewayne |last= Bevil |title= What's old is new again as 'Captain EO' returns to Epcot |newspaper= [[Orlando Sentinel]] |date= June 30, 2010 |access-date= April 6, 2019 |url= https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-xpm-2010-06-30-os-tdd-tips-captain-eo-returns-063010-story.html}}</ref> After having been removed in the late 1990s, it returned to the theme park for several years after Jackson's death.<ref>{{cite web|title= Captain EO is Back to Change the World |publisher= IGN |date= February 23, 2010 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/23/captain-eo-is-back-to-change-the-world}}</ref> In 1987, Jackson disassociated himself from the Jehovah's Witnesses.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Robert E. |last= Johnson |title= Michael Jackson Comes Back! |magazine= [[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |volume= 42 |issue= 11 |date= September 1987 |pages= 143, 148–9 |issn= 0012-9011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=4Li0JBWU6E0C&pg=PA143}}</ref> Katherine Jackson said this might have been because some Witnesses strongly opposed the ''Thriller'' video.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Katherine |last= Jackson |title= Mother of Jackson Family Tells All |magazine= Ebony |volume= 45 |issue= 12 |date= October 1990 |page= 66 |issn= 0012-9011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=v9MDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66 |quote= In 1987, he left the Jehovah's Witnesses. There was strong opposition to his "Thriller" video on the part of some Witnesses. Perhaps the controversy figured into his decision to leave. But I don't know that for a fact because I didn't talk to him about what he'd done. I couldn't. Witnesses do not discuss spiritual matters with a person who has disassociated himself from the Witnesses, including family members. But I want to stress that, contrary to published reports, I was not required to "shun" my son. Our relationship is as loving today as it was when he was a Witness. I just can't ask him, "Why, Michael?"}}</ref> Michael had denounced it in a Witness publication in 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= I Would Never Do It Again! |magazine= Awake |publisher= Jehovah's Witnesses |page= 20 |date= May 22, 1984 |access-date= September 11, 2018 |url= https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101984368#h=18-20}}</ref>

===1987–1990: ''Bad'', autobiography, and Neverland===
[[File:George H. W. Bush with Michael Jackson.png|thumb|255x255px|Jackson and [[President George H. W. Bush]] at the White House on April 5, 1990. It was the second time that Jackson had been honored by a [[President of the United States]].]]
Jackson's first album in five years, ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]'' (1987), was highly anticipated, with the industry expecting another major success.<ref name="Time2">{{cite magazine|first= Jay |last= Cocks |title= Music: The Badder They Come |magazine= Time |date= September 14, 1987 |access-date= April 25, 2010 |url= http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965452,00.html}}</ref> It became the first album to produce five US number-one singles: "[[I Just Can't Stop Loving You]]", "[[Bad (Michael Jackson song)|Bad]]", "[[The Way You Make Me Feel]]", "[[Man in the Mirror]]", and "[[Dirty Diana]]". Another song, "[[Smooth Criminal]]", peaked at number seven.<ref name="FourUSTop10s"/> ''Bad'' won the 1988 Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and the 1990 [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video]], Short Form for "[[Leave Me Alone (Michael Jackson song)|Leave Me Alone]]".<ref name="grammy mj"/><ref name="Bruce"/> Jackson won an Award of Achievement at the American Music Awards in 1989 after ''Bad'' generated five number-one singles, became the first album to top the charts in 25 countries and the best-selling album worldwide in 1987 and 1988.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael, Travis top Music Award winners |newspaper= [[Lodi News-Sentinel]] |agency= United Press International |date= January 30, 1989 |access-date= June 16, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lZozAAAAIBAJ&pg=4477,3617735}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson tour on its way to u.s. |newspaper= [[San Jose Mercury News]] |date= January 12, 1988 |access-date= July 5, 2010 |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB72CE855E5ADB3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref> By 2012, it had sold between 30 and 45{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= 50 fastest selling albums ever |magazine= [[NME]] |date= April 27, 2011 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nme.com/photos/50-fastest-selling-albums-ever/213617}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|first= Piya |last= Sinha-Roy |title= Michael Jackson is still "Bad," 25 years after album |date= May 21, 2012 |work= Reuters |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-michaeljackson-bad-idUSBRE84K0Z120120521}}</ref>

The [[Bad (tour)|Bad]] world tour ran from September 12, 1987, to January 14, 1989.{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|pp=95–96}} In Japan, the tour had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record for a single tour.<ref>{{cite news|first= Richard |last= Harrington |title= Jackson to Make First Solo U.S. Tour |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= January 12, 1988 |access-date= March 16, 2013 |url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/doc/306975947.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan%2012,%201988&author=Richard%20Harrington&pub=The%20Washington%20Post%20(pre-1997%20Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=b.03&desc=Jackson%20to%20Make%20First%20Solo%20U.S.%20Tour}}</ref> The 504,000 people who attended seven sold-out shows at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] set a new [[Guinness World Record]].<ref>{{cite web|title= 16 of Michael Jackson's Greatest Non-Musical Achievements |website= Brainz.org |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://brainz.org/16-michael-jacksons-greatest-non-musical-achievements |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626164913/http://brainz.org/16-michael-jacksons-greatest-non-musical-achievements/ |archive-date= June 26, 2015}}</ref>

In 1988, Jackson released his autobiography, ''[[Moonwalk (book)|Moonwalk]]'', with input from Stephen Davis and [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Alice |last= Vincent |title= When Michael Jackson (almost) told all: the story of his bizarre autobiography Moonwalk |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |date= March 11, 2019 |access-date= April 8, 2019 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/michael-jackson-almost-told-story-bizarre-autobiography-moonwalk/}}</ref> It sold 200,000 copies,<ref>{{cite news|first1= Mark |last1= Shanahan |first2= Meredith |last2= Golstein |title= Remembering Michael |newspaper= [[The Boston Globe]] |date= June 27, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2009/06/27/writer_stephen_davis_remembers_michael_jackson}}</ref> and reached the top of the ''New York Times'' bestsellers list.<ref>{{cite press release|title= Best Seller List a Cakewalk for Moonwalk |work= Associated Press |date= May 6, 1988 |access-date= April 8, 2019 |url= https://apnews.com/0afe7934cb1ac583fe267fb993947a24}}</ref> Jackson discussed his childhood, the Jackson 5, and the abuse from his father.{{sfn|Jackson|2009|pp=29–31}} He attributed his changing facial appearance to three plastic surgeries, puberty, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hairstyle, and stage lighting.<ref>{{cite web|first= Eric |last= Ditzian |title= Michael Jackson's Memoir, 'Moonwalk': Read Excerpts Here! |publisher= MTV |date= October 12, 2009 |access-date= June 20, 2019 |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/1623608/michael-jacksons-memoir-moonwalk-read-excerpts-here/}}</ref>{{sfn|Jackson|2009|pp=229–230}} In October, Jackson released a film, ''[[Moonwalker]]'', which featured live footage and short films starring Jackson and [[Joe Pesci]]. In the US it was released [[direct-to-video]] and became the best-selling video cassette.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson's Moonwalker at 25 |website= [[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |date= November 7, 2013 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.clashmusic.com/features/michael-jacksons-moonwalker-at-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Entertainment Notes: Moonwalker Tops Thriller |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] |date= February 6, 1989 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.deseretnews.com/article/33490/ENTERTAINMENT-NOTES-MOONWALKER-TOPS-THRILLER.html}}</ref> The RIAA certified it as Platinum.<ref>{{cite web|title= Gold & Platinum |publisher= RIAA |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=MICHAEL+JACKSON&ti=MOONWALKER}}</ref>

In March 1988, Jackson purchased {{convert|2700|acre|km2}} of land near [[Santa Ynez, California]], to build a new home, [[Neverland Ranch]], at a cost of $17{{nbsp}}million ({{Inflation|US|17000000|1988|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}).<ref name="Malta">{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson's Neverland on sale |newspaper= [[The Times (Malta)|Times of Malta]] |agency= Reuters |date= June 1, 2015 |access-date= June 11, 2015 |url= http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150601/world/Michael-Jackson-s-Neverland-on-sale.570574}}</ref> He installed a [[Ferris wheel]], a [[carousel]], a movie theater and a zoo.<ref name="Malta"/><ref name="Bio2">{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson – Biography |magazine= Rolling Stone |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/biography |archive-date= June 20, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080620063744/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/biography}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Hannah |last= Ellis-Petersen |title= Michael Jackson Neverland Ranch expected to fetch up to $85m |newspaper= The Guardian |date= August 1, 2014 |access-date= June 11, 2015 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/01/michael-jackson-neverland-ranch-sell-50-million}}</ref> A security staff of 40 patrolled the grounds.<ref name="Bio2"/> Shortly afterwards, he appeared in the first Western television advertisement in the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Marison |last= Mull |title= Pepsi Ads to Run on Soviet TV |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= May 6, 1988 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-06-ca-2868-story.html}}</ref>

Jackson became known as the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Pop]]", a nickname that Jackson's publicists embraced.{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|pp=165–168}}{{sfn|Tannenbaum|Marks|2011|loc=Chapter 41, "I Want to Have a Nickname"}}<ref name="ew1991">{{cite magazine|first= David |last= Browne |title= Michael Jackson's Black or White |magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date= June 25, 2009 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316363,00.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090425084625/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316363,00.html |archive-date= April 25, 2009}}</ref> When [[Elizabeth Taylor]] presented him with the Soul Train Heritage Award in 1989, she called him "the true king of pop, rock and soul."{{sfn|Campbell|1993|pp=260–263}} President [[George H. W. Bush]] designated him the White House's "Artist of the Decade".<ref>{{cite web|title= Remarks on the Upcoming Summit with President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union |publisher= The American Presidency Project |date= April 5, 1990 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=18331}}</ref> From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $455,000 to the [[United Negro College Fund]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Blacks Who Give Something Back |magazine= [[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |date= March 1990 |volume= 45 |issue= 3 |page= 68 |publisher= Johnson Publishing Company |issn= 0012-9011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oswDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68}}</ref> and all profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|p=382}} His rendition of "You Were There" at Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th birthday celebration won Jackson a second Emmy nomination.<ref name="emmys.tv"/> Jackson was the bestselling artist of the 1980s.<ref name="Brooks">{{cite news|title= Garth Brooks ropes in most Billboard awards |newspaper= [[The Beaver County Times]] |agency= Associated Press |date= December 10, 1992 |access-date= July 4, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w7QiAAAAIBAJ&pg=3124,2012493}}</ref>

===1991–1993: ''Dangerous'', Heal the World Foundation, and Super Bowl XXVII halftime show===

In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65{{nbsp}}million ({{Inflation|US|65000000|1991|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}), a record-breaking deal,<ref>{{cite news|first= James |last= Montgomery |title= Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy: The Eccentric King Of Pop (1986–1999) |publisher= MTV |date= July 6, 2009 |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615214/michael-jacksons-life-amp-legacy-1986-1999.jhtml}}</ref> beating [[Neil Diamond]]'s renewal contract with [[Columbia Records]].<ref>{{cite news|first1= Chris |last1= Gray |first2= Saeed |last2= Shah |title= Robbie swings historic record deal with EMI |newspaper= [[The Independent]] |date= October 3, 2002 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/robbie-swings--historic-record-deal-with-emi-138739.html}}</ref> In 1991, he released his eighth album, ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]'', co-produced with [[Teddy Riley]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Chris |last= Willman |title= Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= November 24, 1991 |access-date= June 11, 2015 |url= https://www.latimes.com/la-archive-dangerous-review-nov24-story.html}}</ref> It was certified seven times platinum in the US, and by 2008 had sold 30{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide.<ref name="Certifications">{{cite web|title= Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – Jackson, Michael |publisher= Recording Industry Association of America |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=michael+jackson#search_section}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Kelley L. |last= Carter |title= 5 Things You Can Learn About ... New jack swing |newspaper= [[Chicago Tribune]] |date= August 10, 2008 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-10/news/0808080318_1_new-edition-new-jack-city-swing}}</ref> In the US, the first single, "[[Black or White]]", was the album's highest charting song; it was number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for seven weeks and achieved similar chart performances worldwide.<ref name="Achievements">{{cite web|title= The return of the King of Pop |work= [[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]] |date= November 2, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.today.com/id/15529981}}</ref> The second single, "[[Remember the Time]]" peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart.<ref name="billboard mj"/> At the end of 1992, ''Dangerous'' was the best-selling album of the year worldwide and "Black or White" the best-selling single of the year worldwide at the [[Billboard Music Award|''Billboard'' Music Awards]].<ref name="Brooks"/> In 1993, he performed "Remember the Time" at the [[Soul Train Music Awards]] in a chair, saying he twisted his ankle during dance rehearsals.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson Shows Up to Gather Awards, Despite Ankle Injury |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= March 11, 1993 |access-date= July 16, 2019 |issn= 0458-3035 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-11-ca-1327-story.html}}</ref> In the UK, "[[Heal the World]]" made No. 2 on the charts in 1992.<ref name="OC"/>

[[File:Michael Jackson Dangerous World Tour 1993.jpg|thumb|upright|Jackson during the [[Dangerous World Tour]] in 1993. ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]'' has been recognized by writers as an influence on contemporary pop and R&B artists.<ref>{{cite web|first= Jeff |last= Weiss |title= Michael Jackson: Dangerous |website= [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date= August 7, 2016 |access-date= March 27, 2020 |url= https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22044-dangerous/}}</ref>]]
Jackson founded the [[Heal the World Foundation]] in 1992. The charity brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch to use the theme park rides, and sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war, poverty, and disease. That July, Jackson published his second book, ''[[Dancing the Dream]],'' a collection of poetry. The [[Dangerous World Tour]] ran between June 1992 and November 1993 and grossed {{Nowrap|$100 million}} ({{Inflation|US|100000000|1993|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}); Jackson performed for 3.5{{nbsp}}million people in 70 concerts, all of which were outside the US.<ref>{{cite news|first= Richard |last= Harrington |title= Jackson to Tour Overseas |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= February 5, 1992 |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-989047.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 24, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924202213/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-989047.html}}</ref> Part of the proceeds went to Heal the World Foundation.<ref>{{cite news|first= Martie |last= Zad |title= Michael Jackson Concert from Bucharest on HBO Saturday |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= October 4, 1992 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1992/10/04/michael-jackson-concert-from-bucharest-on-hbo-saturday/24de977e-f8be-4ea1-a7a1-07e766653202/}}</ref> Jackson sold the broadcast rights of the tour to [[HBO]] for $20{{nbsp}}million, a record-breaking deal that still stands.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=452–454}}

Following the death of [[HIV/AIDS]] spokesperson and friend [[Ryan White]], Jackson pleaded with the Clinton administration at [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton's inaugural gala]] to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research<ref>{{cite news|title= Stars line up for Clinton celebration |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Daily News]] |date= January 19, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Patricia |last= Smith |author-link= Patricia Smith (poet) |title= Facing the music and the masses at the presidential gala |newspaper= The Boston Globe |date= January 20, 1992}}</ref> and performed "[[Gone Too Soon]]", a song dedicated to White, and "Heal the World" at the gala.<ref>{{cite magazine|first1= Tessa |last1= Stuart |first2= Brittany |last2= Spanos |first3= Kory |last3= Grow |title= From Dylan to Beyonce: Most Legendary Inauguration Performances |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= January 19, 2017 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/from-dylan-to-beyonce-most-legendary-inauguration-performances-123294/}}</ref> Jackson visited Africa in early 1992; on his first stop in Gabon he was greeted by more than 100,000 people, some of them carrying signs that read "Welcome Home Michael".<ref name="Ebony">{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson: Crowned in Africa, Pop Music King Tells Real Story Of Controversial Trip |magazine= Ebony |date= May 1992 |volume= 47 |issue= 5 |pages= 34–43 |publisher= Johnson Publishing Company |issn= 0012-9011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tMwDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34}}</ref> During his trip to Ivory Coast, Jackson was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief. He thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed documents formalizing his kingship, and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.<ref name="Ebony"/>

In January 1993, Jackson performed at the [[Super Bowl XXVII]] halftime show in Pasadena, California. The NFL sought a big-name artist to keep ratings high during halftime following dwindling audience figures.<ref>{{cite news|first= Richard |last= Sandomir |title= How Jackson Redefined the Super Bowl |newspaper= The New York Times |date= June 29, 2009 |access-date= June 8, 2013 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/sports/football/30sandomir.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Phil |last= Rosenthal |title= Goal of spectacle colors NFL's thinking about Super Bowl halftime show |newspaper= Chicago Tribune |date= February 6, 2011 |access-date= January 20, 2017 |url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-06/business/ct-biz-0206-rosenthal--20110206_1_super-halftime-party-doritos-zaptime-halftime-show}}</ref> It was the first Super Bowl whose half-time performance drew greater audience figures than the game. Jackson played "[[Jam (song)|Jam]]", "Billie Jean", "Black or White", and "Heal the World". ''Dangerous'' rose 90 places in the album chart after the performance.{{sfn|Campbell|1995|pp=14–16}}

Jackson gave a 90-minute interview with [[Oprah Winfrey]] on February 10, 1993. He spoke of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood, and said that he often cried from loneliness. He denied tabloid rumors that he had bought the bones of the Elephant Man, slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, or bleached his skin, and stated for the first time that he had vitiligo. ''Dangerous'' re-entered the album chart in the top 10, more than a year after its release.{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|pp=165–168}}{{sfn|Campbell|1995|pp=14–16}}

In January 1993, Jackson won three [[American Music Awards]]: Favorite Pop/Rock Album (''Dangerous''), Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("Remember the Time"), and was the first to win the International Artist Award of Excellence.<ref>{{cite news|title= Cyrus, Bolton please the fans |newspaper= [[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|Toledo Blade]] |agency= Associated Press |date= January 27, 1993 |access-date= June 16, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mBIVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6811,6756235}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first= Craig |last= Rosen |title= Michael Jackson Cops 3 Top Prizes |magazine= Billboard |date= February 6, 1993 |volume= 105 |issue= 6 |page= 12 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12}}</ref> In February, he won the "Living Legend Award" at the [[35th Annual Grammy Awards]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="grammy mj"/> He attended the award ceremony with [[Brooke Shields]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Larry |last= McShane |title= Grammy moments – memorable and forgettable |newspaper= Deseret News |page= C3 |date= February 25, 1983 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z04pAAAAIBAJ&pg=3702,4129430}}</ref> ''Dangerous'' was nominated for Best Vocal Performance (for "Black or White"), Best R&B Vocal Performance ("Jam") and Best R&B Song ("Jam"), and Swedien and Riley won the award for Best Engineered – Non Classical.<ref name="Bruce"/>

===1993–1995: First child sexual abuse accusations and first marriage===
{{Main|1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson}}

In August 1993, Jackson was accused of [[child sexual abuse]] by a 13-year-old boy, Jordan Chandler, and his father, Evan Chandler.<ref name="Abuse">{{cite news|title= 1993: Michael Jackson accused of child abuse |work= BBC News |date= February 8, 2003 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/24/newsid_2512000/2512077.stm}}</ref> Jordan said he and Jackson had engaged in acts of kissing, [[masturbation]] and [[oral sex]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=496–498}} Jordan's mother initially told police that she did not believe Jackson had molested her son; however, her position wavered a few days later.<ref>{{cite book|first= Randall |last= Sullivan |author-link= Randall Sullivan |year= 2012 |title= Untouchable: The Strange Life & Tragic Death of Michael Jackson |publisher= [[Grove Press]] |chapter= South |isbn= 978-0-8021-4582-6 |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LUq1EO5e3S0C&pg=PT266}}</ref>{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=477–478}} Evan was recorded discussing his intention to pursue charges, which Jackson used to argue that he was the victim of a jealous father trying to extort money.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=477–478}} Jackson's older sister La Toya accused him of being a pedophile, which she later retracted.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=534–540}} Police raided Jackson's home in December and found books and photographs featuring young boys with little or no clothing. The books were legal to own, and Jackson was not indicted.<ref>{{cite news|first= John M. |last= Broder |title= Jackson's Books About Boys Are Allowed as Evidence in Trial |newspaper= The New York Times |date= April 30, 2005 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/30/national/30jackson.html}}</ref> Jordan Chandler gave police a description of Jackson's genitals. A strip search was made, and the jurors felt the description was not a match.<ref>{{cite news|title= Photos May Contradict Michael's Accuser |newspaper= [[USA Today]] |date= May 2, 1994 |access-date= April 21, 2019 |url= http://site2.mjeol.com/important-article/jackson-grand-jury-disbanded-1994.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150428133350/http://site2.mjeol.com/important-article/jackson-grand-jury-disbanded-1994.html |archive-date= April 28, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first= Ian |last= Halperin |year= 2009 |title= Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson |publisher= [[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn= 978-1-4391-7719-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wyaFQdNxU7sC&pg=PT84}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first= John David |last= Ebert |year= 2010 |title= Dead Celebrities, Living Icons: Tragedy and Fame in the Age of the Multimedia Superstar |publisher= Praeger |page= 201 |isbn= 978-0-313-37764-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=g6TitThCzkkC&pg=PA201}}</ref> In January 1994, Jackson settled with the Chandlers out of court for a reported total sum of $23 million.<ref>{{cite news|first= Rochelle |last= Steinhaus |title= Jackson settlement from 1993 allegations topped $20 million |publisher= CNN |date= June 16, 2004 |access-date= April 15, 2021 |url= http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/16/michael.jackson/}}</ref> The police never pressed criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson's 'past' allowed in court |work= BBC News |date= March 29, 2005 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4387247.stm}}</ref> Citing a lack of evidence without Jordan's testimony, the state closed its investigation on September 22, 1994.<ref>{{cite news|first= Seth |last= Mydans |title= No Charges for Now Against Michael Jackson |newspaper= The New York Times |date= September 22, 1994 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/22/us/no-charges-for-now-against-michael-jackson.html}}</ref>

Jackson had been taking [[painkiller]]s for his reconstructive scalp surgeries, administered due to the Pepsi commercial accident in 1984, and became dependent on them to cope with the stress of the sexual abuse allegations.<ref>{{cite news|title= Warrant Allows a Strip Search of Jackson |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] |agency= Associated Press |date= November 16, 1993 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.deseretnews.com/article/321101/WARRANT-ALLOWS-A-STRIP-SEARCH-OF-JACKSON.html}}</ref> On November 12, 1993, Jackson canceled the remainder of the Dangerous Tour due to health problems, stress from the allegations and painkiller addiction. He thanked close friend [[Elizabeth Taylor]] for support, encouragement and counsel. The end of the tour concluded his relationship with Pepsi-Cola which sponsored the tour.<ref>{{cite news|first1= Chuck |last1= Philips |first2= Jim |last2= Newton |title= Jackson Ends World Tour, Cites Painkiller Addiction |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= November 13, 1993 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.latimes.com/la-me-jacksontimeline-jackson-cancels-world-tour-story.html |archive-date= April 18, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190418234039/https://www.latimes.com/la-me-jacksontimeline-jackson-cancels-world-tour-story.html}}</ref>

In late 1993, Jackson proposed to [[Lisa Marie Presley]], daughter of Elvis Presley, over the phone.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=518–520}} They married in [[La Vega, Dominican Republic]], in May 1994 by civil judge Hugo Francisco Alvarez Perez.<ref name="Wed">{{cite magazine|first= Matthew McCann |last= Fenton |title= Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley wed |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= May 30, 2001 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://ew.com/article/2001/05/30/michael-jackson-and-lisa-marie-presley-wed/}}</ref> The tabloid media speculated that the wedding was a publicity stunt to deflect Jackson's sexual abuse allegations and jump-start Presley's career as a singer.<ref name="Divorce">{{cite press release|title= She's out of his life |publisher= CNN |date= January 18, 1996 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.cnn.com/US/9601/jacko_presley/}}</ref><ref name="Wed"/> Their marriage ended little more than a year later, and they separated in December 1995.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=580–581}} Presley cited "irreconcilable differences" when filing for divorce the next month and only sought to reclaim her maiden name as her settlement.<ref name="Divorce"/><ref>{{cite news|first= Vincent J. |last= Schodolski |title= After 20 Months, Jackson and Presley Agree to Divorce |newspaper= Chicago Tribune |date= January 19, 1996 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-01-19-9601190213-story.html}}</ref> After the divorce, Judge Perez said, "They lasted longer than I thought they would. I gave them a year. They lasted a year and a half."<ref name="Wed"/>

Jackson was set to compose music for the [[Sega Genesis]] video game ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994), but left the project around the time the sexual abuse allegations surfaced and went uncredited. Jackson was a ''Sonic'' fan,<ref name="untoldvol3">{{cite book|first= John |last= Szczepaniak |year= 2018 |title= The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 3 |publisher= S.M.G Szczepaniak |page= 292 |isbn= 978-0992926083}}</ref> and had collaborated with [[Sega]] for the 1990 arcade game ''[[Moonwalker (video game)|Moonwalker]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first= Ken |last= Horowitz |title= Sega Legends: Michael Jackson & Sonic 3 |work= Sega-16 |date= May 19, 2009 |access-date= March 13, 2021 |url= http://www.sega-16.com/2009/05/sega-legends-michael-jackson-sonic-3/}}</ref> The reasons for Jackson's departure and whether his compositions remain in the released game have been the subject of debate. [[Sega Technical Institute]] director Roger Hector and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' co-creator [[Naoto Ohshima]] said that Jackson's involvement was terminated and his music reworked following the allegations.<ref name="untoldvol3"/><ref>{{cite web|first= Simon |last= Carless |title= Michael Jackson's Secret Sonic 3 Shame |website= [[GameSetWatch]] |date= March 27, 2006 |access-date= March 13, 2021 |url= http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/03/michael_jacksons_secret_sonic.php}}</ref> However, Jackson's musical director [[Brad Buxer]] and two other members of Jackson's team, Doug Grigsby III and Ciorocco Jones, said the music remained and that Jackson went uncredited because he was unhappy with how the Genesis replicated his music.<ref>{{cite news|first= Todd |last= Van Luling |title= The Michael Jackson Video Game Conspiracy |work= [[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]] |date= January 25, 2016 |access-date= March 13, 2021 |url= http://testkitchen.huffingtonpost.com/michaeljacksonsonic/#2/}}</ref>

===1995–1997: ''HIStory'', second marriage, and fatherhood===
In June 1995, Jackson released the double album ''[[HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I]]''. The first disc, ''HIStory Begins'', is a [[greatest hits album]] (reissued in 2001 as ''Greatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I''). The second disc, ''HIStory Continues'', contains 13 original songs and two cover versions. The album debuted at number one on the charts and has been certified for seven million shipments in the US.<ref>{{cite web|title= Top 100 Albums |publisher= Recording Industry Association of America |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=T1A&col=certified_units&ord=desc#search_section}}</ref> It is the best-selling multi-disc album of all time, with 20{{nbsp}}million copies (40{{nbsp}}million units) sold worldwide.<ref name="Achievements"/><ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson's best selling studio albums |date= June 26, 2009 |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |access-date= June 11, 2015 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5648176/Michael-Jacksons-best-selling-studio-albums.html}}</ref> ''HIStory'' received a Grammy nomination for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]].<ref name="grammy mj"/> The ''New York Times'' reviewed it as "the testimony of a musician whose self-pity now equals his talent".<ref>{{cite news|first= Jon |last= Pareles |title= Pop View; Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand? |newspaper= The New York Times |date= June 18, 1995 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/18/arts/pop-view-michael-jackson-is-angry-understand.html}}</ref>

The first single from ''HIStory'' was "[[Scream (Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson song)|Scream]]/[[Childhood (Michael Jackson song)|Childhood]]". "Scream", a duet with Jackson's youngest sister Janet, protests the media's treatment of Jackson during the 1993 child abuse allegations against him. The single reached number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref name="billboard mj">{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson Chart History |work= Billboard |url= https://www.billboard.com/music/michael-jackson/chart-history/hot-100}}</ref> and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals".<ref name="grammy mj"/> The second single, "[[You Are Not Alone]]", holds the Guinness world record for the first song to debut at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart.<ref name="World Records"/> It received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance" in 1995.<ref name="grammy mj"/>

In 1995 the [[Anti-Defamation League]] and other groups complained that "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, [[kike]] me, don't you black or white me", the original lyrics of "[[They Don't Care About Us]]", were [[Antisemitism in the United States|antisemitic]]. Jackson released a version with revised words.<ref>{{cite news|first= Bernard |last= Weinraub |title= In New Lyrics, Jackson Uses Slurs |newspaper= The New York Times |date= June 15, 1995 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/15/arts/in-new-lyrics-jackson-uses-slurs.html}}</ref><ref name="ADL">{{cite web|title= ADL Welcomes Michael Jackson's Decision to Remove Anti-Semitic Lyrics from Song |publisher= [[Anti-Defamation League]] |date= June 22, 1995 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/2471_12.asp |archive-date= October 1, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121001053852/http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/2471_12.asp}}</ref>

In late 1995, Jackson was admitted to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance, caused by a stress-related [[panic attack]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=576–577}} In November, Jackson merged his ATV Music catalog with Sony's music publishing division, creating [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]. He retained ownership of half the company, earning $95{{nbsp}}million up front ({{Inflation|US|95000000|1995|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}) as well as the [[List of Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists|rights to more songs]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Company News; Michael Jackson sells rights to Beatles songs to Sony |newspaper= The New York Times |agency= Associated Press |date= November 8, 1995 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/08/business/company-news-michael-jackson-sells-rights-to-beatles-songs-to-sony.html}}</ref><ref name="sonydeal">{{cite news|first1= Jeff |last1= Leeds |first2= Andrew Ross |last2= Sorkin |title= Michael Jackson Bailout Said to Be Close |newspaper= The New York Times |date= April 13, 2006 |access-date= July 23, 2008 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/business/media/13music.html?ex=1302580800&en=45bff2f7a4da68fe&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss}}</ref>[[File:Michael Jackson Cannescropped.jpg|thumb|alt=Close-up of a pale skinned Jackson with black hair. He is wearing a black jacket with white designs on it.|upright|Jackson at the [[1997 Cannes Film Festival]] for the ''[[Michael Jackson's Ghosts]]'' short film premiere]]

"[[Earth Song]]" was the third single released from ''HIStory'', and topped the [[UK Singles Chart]] for six weeks over Christmas 1995.<ref name="OC">{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson |publisher= Official Charts Company |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16519/michael-jackson/}}</ref> It became the 87th-bestselling single in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|first= Justin |last= Myers |title= The best-selling singles of all time on the Official UK Chart |publisher= Official Charts Company |date= December 14, 2018 |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-best-selling-singles-of-all-time-on-the-official-uk-chart__21298/}}</ref> At the [[1996 Brit Awards]], Jackson's performance of "Earth Song" was disrupted by [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]] singer [[Jarvis Cocker]], who was protesting what Cocker saw as Jackson's "Christ-like" persona. Jackson said the stage invasion was "disgusting and cowardly".<ref>{{cite news|first= John |last= McKie |title= Brits brawl as Cocker 'pulps' Jackson chorus |newspaper= The Independent |date= February 21, 1996 |access-date= April 6, 2019 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/brits-brawl-as-cocker-pulps-jackson-chorus-1320077.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Brit Awards: Brits behaving badly |work= BBC News |date= March 4, 2000 |access-date= April 6, 2019 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2000/brit_awards/665776.stm}}</ref>

In 1996, Jackson won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form, for "Scream" and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.<ref name="grammy mj"/><ref>{{cite news|first= Thor |last= Christensen |title= Brooks turns down award for favorite artist of the year |newspaper= [[Rome News-Tribune]] |date= January 30, 1996 |access-date= June 16, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LWUwAAAAIBAJ&pg=5552,8128572}}</ref>

Jackson promoted ''HIStory'' with the [[HIStory World Tour]], from September 7, 1996, to October 15, 1997. He performed 82 concerts in five continents, 35 countries and 58 cities to over 4.5{{nbsp}}million fans, his most attended tour. It grossed {{Nowrap|$165 million}}.{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|pp=95–96}} During the tour, in Sydney, Australia, Jackson married [[Debbie Rowe]], a dermatology assistant, who was six months pregnant with his first child.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=570–586}} Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (commonly known as Prince) was born on February 13, 1997; his sister [[Paris Jackson (actress)|Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson]] was born a year later on April 3, 1998.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=580–581, 597}} Jackson and Rowe divorced in 1999, and Rowe conceded custody of the children, with an $8{{nbsp}}million settlement ({{Inflation|US|9000000|1999|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}). In 2004, after the [[Trial of Michael Jackson|second child abuse allegations against Jackson]], she returned to court to reclaim custody. The suit was settled in 2006.<ref name="Ex wife">{{cite news|title= Jackson child custody fight ends |work= BBC News |date= September 30, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5394792.stm}}</ref>

In 1997, Jackson released ''[[Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix]]'', which contained remixes of singles from ''HIStory'' and five new songs. Worldwide sales stand at {{Nowrap|6 million}} copies, making it the [[List of best-selling remix albums|best-selling remix album of all time]]. It reached number one in the UK, as did the [[Blood on the Dance Floor (song)|title track]].{{sfn|Rojek|2007|p=74}} In the US, the album reached number 24 and was certified platinum.<ref name="Certifications"/>

===1997–2002: Label dispute and ''Invincible''===
From October 1997 to September 2001, Jackson worked on his tenth solo album, ''[[Invincible (Michael Jackson album)|Invincible]]'', which cost {{Nowrap|$30 million}} to record.<ref name="Burkeman">{{cite news|first= Oliver |last= Burkeman |title= Jacko gets tough: but is he a race crusader or just a falling star? |newspaper= The Guardian |date= July 7, 2002 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/08/oliverburkeman}}</ref> In June 1999, Jackson joined [[Luciano Pavarotti]] for a [[War Child (charity)|War Child]] benefit concert in Modena, Italy. The show raised a million dollars for refugees of the [[Kosovo War]], and additional funds for the children of Guatemala.<ref>{{cite news|title= Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Others to Join Pavarotti for Benefit |publisher= [[VH1]] |date= May 5, 1999 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1426933/19990505/carey_mariah.jhtml |archive-date= October 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111018125558/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1426933/19990505/carey_mariah.jhtml}}</ref> Later that month, Jackson organized a series of "Michael Jackson & Friends" benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. Other artists involved included [[Slash (musician)|Slash]], [[Scorpions (band)|The Scorpions]], [[Boyz II Men]], [[Luther Vandross]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[A. R. Rahman]], [[Prabhu Deva]] Sundaram, [[Shobana]], [[Andrea Bocelli]], and Luciano Pavarotti. The proceeds went to the [[Nelson Mandela Children's Fund]], the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] and [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Slash, Scorpions, Others Scheduled for "Michael Jackson & Friends" |publisher= VH1 |date= May 27, 1999 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1429785/19990527/guns_n_roses.jhtml |archive-date= February 21, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221074225/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1429785/19990527/guns_n_roses.jhtml}}</ref> From August 1999 to 2000, he lived in New York City at 4 [[74th Street (Manhattan)|East 74th Street]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Tracie |last= Rozhon |title= Big Deal; An Old Chagall Haunt, Repainted |newspaper= The New York Times |date= November 16, 2000 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/16/garden/big-deal-an-old-chagall-haunt-repainted.html}}</ref> At the turn of the century, Jackson won an American Music Award as Artist of the 1980s.<ref name="MTV">{{cite news|first= David |last= Basham |date= January 18, 2000 |title= Lauryn Hill, Backstreet Boys, DMX Honored With American Music Awards |publisher= MTV |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425174/.jhtml}}</ref> In 2000, ''Guinness World Records'' recognized him for supporting 39 charities, more than any other entertainer.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Maureen |last= Orth |title= Losing His Grip |magazine= [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date= April 2003 |url= https://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2003/04/orth200304 |archive-date= March 6, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080306064036/http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2003/04/orth200304}}</ref>

In September 2001, two [[Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special|30th Anniversary concerts]] were held at Madison Square Garden to mark Jackson's 30th year as a solo artist. Jackson performed with his brothers for the first time since 1984. The show also featured [[Mýa]], [[Usher (singer)|Usher]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[Destiny's Child]], [[Monica (singer)|Monica]], [[Liza Minnelli]], and Slash. The first show was marred by technical lapses, and the crowd booed a speech by [[Marlon Brando]].<ref>{{cite web|first= Eric |last= Aiese |title= Billboard: Michael Jackson Concert Review |website= Classicwhitney.com |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url= http://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/live/mjconcert_07sep2001.html}}</ref> Almost 30{{nbsp}}million people watched the television broadcast of the shows in November.<ref>{{cite web|title= Jackson's CBS Special Moonwalks Over Rivals |website= Billboard |date= November 15, 2001 |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77730/jacksons-cbs-special-moonwalks-over-rivals}}</ref> After 9/11, Jackson helped organize the [[United We Stand: What More Can I Give]] benefit concert at [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]] in Washington, D.C. on October 21, 2001. Jackson performed "[[What More Can I Give]]" as the finale.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=614–617}}

The release of ''Invincible'' was preceded by a dispute between Jackson and his record label, Sony Music Entertainment. Jackson had expected the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him in the early 2000s, after which he would be able to promote the material however he pleased and keep the profits, but clauses in the contract set the revert date years into the future. Jackson sought an early exit from his contract.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=610–611}} ''Invincible'' was released on October 30, 2001. It was Jackson's first full-length album in six years, and the last album of original material he released in his lifetime.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=610–611}} It debuted at number one in 13 countries and went on to sell 6{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide, receiving double-platinum certification in the US.<ref name="Certifications"/><ref name="Achievements"/>

[[File:2003 Michael Jackson at The Cable Show (29358712934) (1).jpg|thumb|200px|left|upright=1.2|Jackson in 2003]]

On January 9, 2002, Jackson won his 22nd American Music Award for Artist of the Century.<ref>{{cite news|title= Keys, Destiny's Child, McGraw win at American Music Awards |newspaper= Lodi News-Sentinel |agency= Associated Press |date= January 10, 2002 |access-date= June 16, 2010 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Oc40AAAAIBAJ&pg=5669,889435}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Neva |last= Chonin |title= Awards recognize popular success / Keys, Destiny's win as expected |newspaper= San Francisco Chronicle |date= January 11, 2002 |access-date= June 12, 2019 |url= https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Awards-recognize-popular-success-Keys-2885603.php}}</ref> {{Anchor|PrinceII}}Later that year, an anonymous [[surrogacy|surrogate mother]] gave birth to his third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed "Blanket"), who had been conceived by [[artificial insemination]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=599–600}} On November 20, Jackson briefly held Blanket over the railing of his Berlin hotel room, four stories above ground level, prompting widespread criticism in the media. Jackson apologized for the incident, calling it "a terrible mistake."<ref name="Vineyard"/> On January 22, promoter Marcel Avram filed a breach of contract complaint against Jackson for failing to perform two planned 1999 concerts.<ref>{{cite news|first= Joe |last= D'Angelo |title= Jackson sued by promoter for attempting world tour without him |publisher= MTV |date= February 4, 2002 |access-date= June 12, 2019 |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/1452133/michael-jackson-sued-by-promoter-for-attempting-world-tour-without-him/}}</ref> In March, a Santa Maria jury ordered Jackson to pay Avram $5.3{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news|first= William |last= Overend |title= Officials Revisit Tax Break for Jackson's Neverland as Cattle Ranch |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= March 21, 2003 |access-date= June 12, 2019 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-21-me-jackson21-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson's Legal Troubles |newspaper= The Wall Street Journal |date= June 13, 2005 |access-date= June 12, 2019 |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111783026976850589}}</ref> On December 18, 2003, Jackson's attorneys dropped all appeals on the verdict and settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Stephen M. |last= Silverman |title= Jackson Settles Old Lawsuit Against Him |magazine= People |date= May 10, 2004 |access-date= June 12, 2019 |url= https://people.com/celebrity/jackson-settles-old-lawsuit-against-him/}}</ref>

On April 24, 2002, Jackson performed at Apollo Theater. The concert was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and former President Bill Clinton.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson fans celebrate at Apollo |work= BBC News |date= July 1, 2009 |access-date= May 28, 2020 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8127971.stm}}</ref> The money collected would be used to encourage citizens to vote. It raised $2.5{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news|first= Christine |last= Haughney |title= For the DNC, It's Showtime at the Apollo |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= April 25, 2002 |access-date= May 28, 2020 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/25/for-the-dnc-its-showtime-at-the-apollo/af00ce7a-e0fd-452d-8e58-5bed3cdffd26/}}</ref> The concert was called Michael Jackson: Live at the Apollo and this would be Jackson's final on-stage performance.<ref>{{cite news|first= André |last= Wheeler |title= HBO's The Apollo: 'The story of how black America lifted itself through music' |newspaper= The Guardian |date= November 2, 2019 |access-date= May 28, 2020 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/02/apollo-theater-documentary-hbo-roger-ross-williams}}</ref>

In July 2002, Jackson called Sony Music chairman [[Tommy Mottola]] "a racist, and very, very, very devilish," and someone who exploits black artists for his own gain, at [[Al Sharpton|Al Sharpton's]] [[National Action Network]] in Harlem. The accusation prompted Sharpton to form a coalition investigating whether Mottola exploited black artists.<ref name="Mottola">{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson Brands Recording Industry as Racist |magazine= Billboard |date= July 8, 2002 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75178/michael-jackson-brands-recording-industry-as-racist}}</ref> Jackson charged that Mottola had called his colleague [[Irv Gotti]] a "fat [[nigger]]".<ref>{{cite interview|first= Jermaine |last= Jackson |subject-link= Jermaine Jackson |interviewer= [[Connie Chung]] |title= Interview with Jermaine Jackson |work= [[Connie Chung Tonight]] |publisher= CNN |date= December 31, 2002 |access-date= July 2, 2008 |url= http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/31/cct.00.html}}</ref> Responding to those attacks, Sony issued a statement calling them "ludicrous, spiteful, and hurtful" and defended Mottola as someone who had championed Jackson's career for many years.<ref name="Mottola"/> Sony ultimately refused to renew Jackson's contract and claimed that a {{Nowrap|$25 million}} promotional campaign had failed because Jackson refused to tour in the US for ''Invincible''.<ref name="Burkeman"/>

===2002–2005: Second child sexual abuse allegations, trial, and acquittal===
{{Further|Living with Michael Jackson|Trial of Michael Jackson}}
[[File:Michaeljacksonmug1.jpg|thumb|Jackson's [[mug shot]], taken on November 20, 2003]]
Beginning in May 2002, a documentary film crew led by [[Martin Bashir]] followed Jackson for several months.<ref name="Vineyard">{{cite news|first= Jennifer |last= Vineyard |title= Michael Jackson Calls Baby-Dangling Incident A 'Terrible Mistake' |publisher= MTV |date= November 20, 2002 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458799/20021120/jackson_michael.jhtml}}</ref> The documentary, broadcast in February 2003 as ''[[Living with Michael Jackson]]'', showed Jackson holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 12-year-old boy.<ref name="bbcnews"/>{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|p=640}} He said that he saw nothing wrong with having sleepovers with minors and sharing his bed and bedroom with various people, which aroused controversy. He insisted that the sleepovers were not sexual and that his words had been misunderstood.<ref>{{cite news|first= Hugh |last= Davies |title= Jackson has children in his room for 'sleep-overs' |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |date= February 4, 2003 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1421082/Jackson-has-children-in-his-room-for-sleep-overs.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|title= Living with Michael Jackson |medium= television |date= February 6, 2003 |time= 0:51 |publisher= ITV |language= en |quote= "Who's the criminal? Who's the jack-the-ripper in the room?... I'm sleeping on a sleeping bag on the floor. I give him the bed, 'cause he has a brother named Star. So him and Star took the bed. And I'm on the floor on the sleeping bag."}}</ref>

On November 18, 2003, Sony released ''[[Number Ones (Michael Jackson album)|Number Ones]]'', a [[Number Ones (Michael Jackson album)|greatest hits compilation]]. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA, and six times platinum in the UK, for shipments of at least 1.2{{nbsp}}million units.<ref name="Certifications"/><ref>{{cite news|title= Certified Awards |publisher= [[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx}}</ref>

On December 18, 2003, Santa Barbara authorities charged Jackson with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of intoxicating a minor with [[alcoholic drink]]s.<ref>{{cite news|first= John M. |last= Broder |title= Jackson Is Formally Charged with Child Molesting |newspaper= The New York Times |date= December 19, 2003 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/19/us/jackson-is-formally-charged-with-child-molesting.html}}</ref> Jackson denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.<ref>{{cite news|first1= Nick |last1= Madigan |first2= Terence |last2= Neilan |title= Michael Jackson Pleads Not Guilty to Molestation Charges |newspaper= The New York Times |date= January 16, 2004 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/16/national/michael-jackson-pleads-not-guilty-to-molestation-charges.html}}</ref> The ''[[Trial of Michael Jackson|People v. Jackson]]'' trial began on January 31, 2005, in [[Santa Maria, California]], and lasted until the end of May. Jackson found the experience stressful and it affected his health. If convicted, he would have faced up to 20 years in prison.<ref name="BBC health">{{cite news|first= Matthews |last= Davis |title= Trial health problems for Jackson |work= BBC News |date= June 6, 2005 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4612897.stm}}</ref> On June 13, 2005, Jackson was acquitted on all counts.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson cleared of child molestation |newspaper= The Guardian |agency= Associated Press |date= June 13, 2005 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/jackson/story/0,15819,1505806,00.html}}</ref> After the trial, he became reclusive<ref name="indie-auction"/> and moved to [[Bahrain]] as a guest of [[Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa|Sheikh Abdullah]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Habib |last= Toumi |title= Jackson settles down to his new life in the Gulf |newspaper= [[Gulf News]] |date= January 23, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/jackson-settles-down-to-his-new-life-in-the-gulf-1.222403}}</ref>

===2006–2009: Final years and ''This Is It''===
[[File:Michael Jackson 2006.jpg|upright|thumb|left|alt=Jackson is wearing an overcoat and walking from left to right. His face is obscured by his hair. His son is wearing a mask and a baseball cap. Two men are with them; a third person is holding an umbrella over the Jacksons.|Jackson and his son Blanket in [[Disneyland Paris]], 2006]]
In April 2006, Jackson agreed to use a piece of his ATV catalog stake, then worth about $1{{nbsp}}billion, as [[Collateral (finance)|collateral]] against his $270{{nbsp}}million worth of loans from [[Bank of America]]. Bank of America had sold the loans to [[Fortress Investment Group|Fortress Investments]], an investment company that buys distressed loans, the year before. As part of the agreement, Fortress Investments provided Jackson a new loan of $300{{nbsp}}million with reduced interest payments ({{Inflation|US|300000000|2006|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}). Sony Music would have the option to buy half of his stake, or about 25% of the catalog, at a set price. Jackson's financial managers had urged him to shed part of his stake to avoid bankruptcy.<ref name="sonydeal"/><ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson strikes deal over loans |work= BBC News |date= April 14, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4909412.stm}}</ref> The main house at Neverland Ranch was closed as a cost-cutting measure, while Jackson lived in Bahrain at the hospitality of Sheik Abdullah, the ruler's son.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jackson Closes Neverland House |publisher= CBS News |date= July 6, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jackson-closes-neverland-house/}}</ref> At least 30 of Jackson's employees had not been paid on time and were owed $306,000 in back wages; Jackson was ordered to pay $100,000 in penalties.<ref name="sonydeal"/>

In early 2006, it was announced that Jackson had signed a contract with a Bahrain-based startup, Two Seas Records; nothing came of the deal, and Two Seas CEO [[Gut Records|Guy Holmes]] later said it was never finalized.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson Sails with Two Seas |magazine= Billboard |date= April 18, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58713/michael-jackson-sails-with-two-seas}}</ref><ref name="Bahrain">{{cite news|title= Jackson parts with Bahrain label |work= BBC News |date= September 26, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5380654.stm}}</ref> That October, [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] reported that Jackson had been recording at a studio in [[County Westmeath]], Ireland. It was not known what Jackson was working on, or who had paid for the sessions; his publicist stated that he had left Two Seas by then.<ref name="Bahrain"/><ref>{{cite news|first= Roger |last= Friedman |title= Who's Funding Jackson's Retreat to Irish Recording Studio? |publisher= Fox News Channel |date= October 21, 2006 |access-date= August 24, 2009 |url= http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,222797,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090901060325/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,222797,00.html |archive-date= September 1, 2009}}</ref>

In November 2006, Jackson invited an ''[[Access Hollywood]]'' camera crew into the studio in Westmeath, and [[MSNBC]] reported that he was working on a new album, produced by [[will.i.am]].<ref name="Achievements"/> On November 15, Jackson briefly performed "We Are the World" at the [[2006 World Music Awards|World Music Awards]] in London and accepted the Diamond Award honoring the sale of over {{Nowrap|100 million}} records. The event was Jackson's last public performance in his lifetime.<ref name="Achievements"/><ref>{{cite web|title= 2006 World Music Awards |work= Chiff |url= http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/world-music-awards.htm |archive-date= February 4, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080204051554/http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/world-music-awards.htm}}</ref> He returned to the U.S. in December 2006, settling in [[Las Vegas]], and attended [[James Brown]]'s funeral in [[Augusta, Georgia]] later that month, where he gave a eulogy calling Brown his greatest inspiration.<ref>{{cite news|first= Shaheem |last= Reid |title= James Brown Saluted by Michael Jackson at Public Funeral Service |publisher= MTV |date= December 30, 2006 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1549061/20061230/brown_james.jhtml}}</ref>

In 2007, Jackson and Sony bought another music publishing company, [[Famous Music]] LLC, formerly owned by [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]]. The deal gave him the rights to songs by [[Eminem]] and [[Beck]], among others.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= The Police Plan MTV Unplugged Performance, Michael Jackson Buys Rights to Eminem Tunes, and More |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= May 31, 2007 |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/31/the-police-plan-mtv-unplugged-performance-michael-jackson-buys-rights-to-eminem-tunes-and-more/ |archive-date= June 2, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070602144131/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/31/the-police-plan-mtv-unplugged-performance-michael-jackson-buys-rights-to-eminem-tunes-and-more/}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview|last= [[RedOne]] |interviewer= Jan Blumentrath |title= Interview with RedOne, producer and songwriter for Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Akon, Kat DeLuna and Darin |publisher= [[HitQuarters]] |date= March 23, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.hitquarters.com/dev/index.php3?page=intrview/2009/March23_1_12_9.html}}</ref> In a brief interview with the [[Associated Press]] in Tokyo, Jackson said he had no regrets about his lifelong career despite difficulties and "deliberate attempts to hurt [him]".<ref>{{cite news|first= Eric |last= Talmadge |title= Michael Jackson 'wouldn't change' career |newspaper= USA Today |agency= Associated Press |date= March 8, 2007 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/2007-03-08-2208485574_x.htm}}</ref> That March, Jackson visited a US Army post in Japan, [[Camp Zama]], to greet over 3,000 troops and their families.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson Greets Troops in Japan |publisher= CBS News |date= March 10, 2007 |access-date= February 25, 2019 |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-jackson-greets-troops-in-japan/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson wows US troops during lavish Japan stint |website= [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date= March 11, 2007 |access-date= February 25, 2019 |url= https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-03-11/michael-jackson-wows-us-troops-during-lavish-japan/2213766}}</ref>

In September 2007, Jackson was still working on his next album, which he never completed.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Elizabeth |last= Goodman |title= Will.i.am on Working with Michael Jackson |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= September 24, 2007 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/will-i-am-on-working-with-michael-jackson-were-taking-it-day-by-day-20070924}}</ref> For the 25th anniversary of ''Thriller'' in 2008, Jackson and Sony released ''[[Thriller 25]]'', with two remixes released as singles: "[[The Girl Is Mine 2008]]" and "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008]]".<ref>{{cite news|first= Roger |last= Friedman |title= Jacko: Neverland East in Upstate New York |publisher= Fox News Channel |date= May 16, 2008 |access-date= May 22, 2008 |url= http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356282,00.html#3 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080519112250/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356282,00.html#3 |archive-date= May 19, 2008}}</ref> For Jackson's 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a series of greatest hits albums, ''[[King of Pop (album)|King of Pop]],'' with different tracklists for different regions.<ref>{{cite web|title= Choose the Tracks on Michael Jackson's 50th Birthday Album! |publisher= [[Sony BMG]] |date= June 20, 2008 |archive-date= June 28, 2008 |url= http://www.sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do;.tomcat2?newsId=20030829005656 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080628015938/http://www.sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do%3B.tomcat2?newsId=20030829005656}}</ref>

[[File:NeverlandRides.jpg|thumb|alt=A view from above of a large property in a semi-desert. The landscape is pale with clumps of vegetation. The property shows circular structures between the buildings.|An aerial view of part of Jackson's 2,800-acre (11 km<sup>2</sup>) Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos, California, showing the rides]]
In 2008, Fortress Investments threatened to [[Foreclosure|foreclose]] on Neverland Ranch, which Jackson had used as collateral for his loans. Fortress sold Jackson's debts to [[Colony Capital]] LLC.<ref>{{cite press release|title= Neverland Ranch Note Sold to Colony Capital |agency= [[Business Wire]] |date= May 11, 2008 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080511005036/en/Neverland-Ranch-Note-Sold-Colony-Capital}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Neverland escapes foreclosure hook |publisher= [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date= May 12, 2008 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/neverland-escapes-foreclosure-hook-1.729307}}</ref> In November, Jackson transferred Neverland Ranch's title to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC, a joint venture between Jackson and Colony Capital LLC. The deal earned him {{Nowrap|$35 million}}.<ref>{{cite news|title= Neverland peters out for pop's Peter Pan |newspaper= [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |agency= [[Press Association]] |date= November 13, 2008 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/people/neverland-peters-out-for-pops-peter-pan/2008/11/13/1226318822205.html}}</ref> Jackson arranged to sell a collection of his memorabilia of more than 1,000 items through [[Julien's Auctions|Julien's Auction House]]. On the eve of the first public exhibit, Jackson canceled the auction after earning between $200{{nbsp}}million to $300{{nbsp}}million of initial sales from a series of concerts to be held in London.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Susan |last= Adams |title= Ten Most Expensive Michael Jackson Collectibles |magazine= Forbes |date= April 14, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.forbes.com/2009/04/14/michael-jackson-auction-lifestyle-collecting-michael-jackson.html}}</ref><ref name="indie-auction">{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson: The fantastic possessions revealed |newspaper= The Independent |agency= Reuters |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/michael-jackson-the-fantastic-possessions-revealed-1668969.html}}</ref>

In March 2009, amid speculation about his finances and health, Jackson announced a series of comeback concerts, [[This Is It (concert residency)|This Is It]], at a press conference at [[The O2 Arena]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Guy |last= Adams |title= Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend |newspaper= The Independent |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= April 13, 2019 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/michael-jackson-the-final-decline-of-a-pop-legend-1720267.html}}</ref> The shows were to be his first major concerts since the HIStory World Tour in 1997. Jackson suggested he would retire after the shows. The initial plan was for 10 concerts in London, followed by shows in Paris, New York City and Mumbai. Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of [[Anschutz Entertainment Group|AEG Live]], predicted the first 10 dates would earn Jackson £50{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news|first= Patrick |last= Foster |title= Michael Jackson grand finale curtain-raiser |newspaper= [[The Times]] |date= March 6, 2009 |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5854735.ece |archive-date= July 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718131618/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5854735.ece}}</ref> The London residency was increased to 50 dates after record-breaking ticket sales; over one million were sold in less than two hours.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Daniel |last= Kreps |title= Michael Jackson's "This Is It!" Tour Balloons to 50-Show Run Stretching Into 2010 |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= March 12, 2009 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-tour-balloons-to-50-show-run-stretching-into-2010-20090312}}</ref> The concerts were to run from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010. Jackson moved to Los Angeles, where he rehearsed in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer [[Kenny Ortega]], whom he had worked with during his previous tours. Most rehearsals took place at the [[Staples Center]] owned by AEG.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson: The Last Rehearsal |magazine= [[Life (magazine)|Life]] |date= June 29, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.life.com/image/88744450/in-gallery/29532/michael-jackson-the-last-rehearsal |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 4, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090704103521/http://www.life.com/image/88744450/in-gallery/29532/michael-jackson-the-last-rehearsal}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Michael Jackson| ]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century male singers]]