Michael Jackson’s Complex History with Ex-Wife Debbie Rowe and His Kids

Fifteen years after Michael Jackson’s untimely death at age 50 on June 25, 2009, his legacy lives on, not only through his legendary impact on music history but also through his children: Prince, aged 27, Paris, aged 26, and Bigi, aged 22, formerly known as Blanket.

The “Thriller” singer first became a father on February 3, 1997, with the birth of Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., whom he welcomed with Debbie Rowe. Michael and Debbie had married on November 15, 1996, in Sydney, Australia. This marriage came a year after Michael had separated from his first wife, Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. Debbie was six months pregnant at the time of their wedding.

Michael’s marriage to Debbie was unexpected, fueled by an intriguing proposition after his separation from Lisa Marie. Michael had expressed his fear of never having children as the hardest part of his divorce. Debbie, who had been Michael’s friend and the assistant to his dermatologist Arnold Klein, offered to be the mother of his future kids.

When Michael and Debbie divorced in April 2000, she gave him full custody of Prince and Paris, per the terms of their prenuptial agreement. Debbie received an $8 million settlement, which is equivalent to around $15 million today. A year later, she requested a judge terminate her parental rights. In 2004, however, after Michael was charged with ten counts of child abuse, Debbie sought to reverse the decision and regain her parental rights.

When Michael passed away in 2009, his children — including Bigi, who was born via surrogacy in 2002 — went to live with Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, who assumed their guardianship. The kids had limited contact with their mother during their childhood. However, Paris shared during a 2021 appearance on “Red Table Talk” that she reconnected with Debbie at the age of 15 in 2013 and developed a friendship with her. She found it “cool” to get to know her mother, realizing how similar they are and learning about her musical interests.

“It’s cool, getting to know her, seeing how similar we are, getting into what kind of music she really likes,” Paris said during the interview. “It’s just cool having her as a friend.”

Michael Jackson’s legacy indeed lives on, not only through his indelible impact on music but also through his children, who continue to remember and honor their father’s memory.

Source: Hello! Magazine, Getty Images