Highlights

• Michael Jackson's family is still embroiled in a legal battle over his million-dollar estate, with his mother, Katherine, requesting half a million dollars to cover legal expenses wrongfully billed to her.
• Jackson's estate continues to generate significant revenue from various sources, contributing to its posthumous success and estimated worth of over $1 billion.
• Despite leaving his estate to his children, Jackson set up a separate trust to care for his mother, Katherine, but the executors of the estate are claiming to have made substantial profits for Jackson's legacy, leading to ongoing legal disputes.

It’s been nearly two decades since Michael Jackson’s untimely death, but his family is still fighting over his million-dollar estate. Most recently, his mother is requesting half a million dollars to cover legal expenses she says were wrongfully billed to her.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Katherine Jackson, 93, had petitioned the court to compel the estate to reimburse her for the legal fees accrued during her legal dispute with the estate’s executors over a proposed settlement.

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Katherine alleged the legal firm Glaser Weil Fink Howard Jordan & Shapiro (Glasser Weil) billed her $561,548 for their services, but that she shouldn’t be held responsible for the bill.

Despite his death, Michael’s estate continues to make substantial revenue through a variety of sources, music sales, royalties, publishing rights, merchandising, investments, Cirque du Soleil collaborations, film projects, and real estate activities. The estate's strategic management and ownership of Jackson's intellectual property contribute to its sustained, post-humous success.

In total, Jackson’s estate is estimated to be worth over $1 billion. The rights to his music catalog alone was rumored to be worth up to $900 million last year.

Michael Jackson, often referred to as the King of Pop, passed away on June 25, 2009. He died at the age of 50 at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California. The cause of death was acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, and his death was ruled a homicide. Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the drugs that led to Jackson's death.

While Jackson left his estate to his three children - Prince, Paris, and Blanket - he did set up a separate trust named The Katherine Jackson Trust to care for his mother, Katherine, throughout her life.

John Branca and John McClain were appointed executors of Michael's estate (and thus the money set aside for Katherine) and claim to have made hundreds of millions for Jackson’s legacy through various deals. Last year, they sought court approval for a confidential, reportedly lucrative deal, which Katherine opposed in a heavily redacted response. While the court eventually dismissed her objections, Katherine is continuing to appeal the decision. The $560,000 she wants from Michael’s estate is to cover legal expenses related to fighting the executors. Her appeal as well as the new motion remain ongoing.