Before the global fame and the Neverland zoo, Michael Jackson’s life began in a cramped two-bedroom bungalow in Gary, Indiana.
It was the first, and most modest, stop on a real estate journey that would eventually span multimillion-dollar penthouses, secret Las Vegas rentals, and the world’s most famous amusement-park estate.
The family moved into 2300 Jackson St in 1950. With 11 family members living in two bedrooms, conditions were far from the luxury Jackson would inhabit later in life.
Today, the modest home stands as the “ground zero” of the Jackson musical legacy.
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Michael Jackson’s life began in a cramped two-bedroom bungalow in Gary, Indiana.
The family moved into 2300 Jackson St in 1950. Picture: YouTube/Lifetime
With 11 family members living in two bedrooms, conditions were far from the luxury Jackson would inhabit later in life. Picture: YouTube/Lifetime
As the family’s success skyrocketed, they moved to a sprawling estate in the Encino neighbourhood of Los Angeles, dubbed Hayvenhurst.
Purchased in 1971, it became a creative hub where Jackson perfected the Moonwalk and recorded demos for his biggest hits.
The estate eventually expanded to include a movie theatre, koi pond, and a personal “Memory Room”.
One of the bedrooms in the Jackson family’s Indiana bungalow. Picture: YouTube/Lifetime
As the family’s success skyrocketed, they moved to a sprawling estate in the Encino neighbourhood of Los Angeles, dubbed Hayvenhurst. Picture: Getty
In 1988, Jackson purchased the property that would become his most iconic — and controversial — asset: Neverland.
The 2700-acre estate cost $US19.5m ($A29m) to buy, with a further $US35m ($A53m) spent remodelling it into a personal amusement park.
At its peak, the property featured a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and a zoo stocked with tigers, crocodiles, and giraffes.
The maintenance cost alone was an eye-watering $US10m ($A15m) a year, contributing to the financial strain that eventually led to the estate’s demise.
Following the pop star’s 2005 acquittal of child sex charges, he abandoned the property.
By 2008, he had transferred the ranch to a company to cover mounting debts. When it was finally sold to billionaire Ron Burkle in 2020, it fetched just $US22m ($A28m) — a massive loss compared to its initial $US100m ($A128m) asking price.
Jackson bought the ranch in 1988. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Jackson spent close to US$35 million turning the ranch into an amusement park. Picture: Jason Kirk/Getty Images
Jackson’s highrolling lifestyle also saw him maintain a luxury footprint in New York City.
He famously rented a four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom condo in Trump Tower for $US110,000 ($A167,000) a month in 1994.
The apartment offered direct elevator access to the garage, providing the privacy the star craved.
In Las Vegas, Jackson lived in a mansion on South Monte Cristo Way for about a year starting in 2006, paying $US50,000 ($A76,000) per month in rent.
The 17,000-square-foot home featured an indoor fountain, curved staircase, and a tennis court. It hit the market last year with an asking price of $US11m ($A16m).
Jackson once had a luxurious apartment in Trump Tower. Picture Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The King of Pop paid $US50,000 a month in rent for the spacious pad. Picture: Supplied
Jackson’s last home in Holmby Hills. Picture: Supplied
From 2007 to 2009, he rented a property dubbed the “Thriller Villa”. The 2400 sqm home, owned by supermarket mogul Aner Iglesias, featured a 74-seat Medieval-style chapel that Jackson used as a private theatre. It was last listed for sale in 2016 for $US9.5m ($A14.4m).
His final residence was a leased mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles.
The property, which featured seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and 12 fireplaces, was where the King of Pop died in 2009. The home later sold for $US18.1m ($A27.6m) in 2012.
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