Jackson Bilked By Money 'Vultures'

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 10th 2009 03:30PM

As much of the world awaits for the official toxicology reports surrounding Michael Jackson's death, Jackson biographer Ian Halperin tells PopEater that there's a massive financial scandal brewing in the Jackson camp.

According to Halperin, the best-selling author of 'Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson,' Jackson's financial advisers are likely behind "a lot of financial fraud going on over the years, and that's why he [Jackson] was in such dire straits when he died."

"While the coroner and the LAPD has been following the money, tens of millions of dollars have been systematically looted from Jackson by his handlers in the months and years before his death, which contributed to his depleted financial state," Halperin tells PopEater.

Halperin says that Katherine Jackson is currently fighting Jackson's advisers over his estate. The family estimates its worth at $2 billion though advisers only estimate it at $500 million. "That's why Katherine wants to be the executor of the estate," he says.

According to Halperin, just weeks before Michael died he "had a meeting with Leonard Rowe and Joe Jackson ... and in front of everyone, Michael did ask Rowe to come in and clean up 'the mess,'" referring to his financial state. "He believed he was being ripped-off and that people were stealing from him."

"This really debunks the theory that he was estranged from his father because he called his father to this meeting just weeks before he died."

Halperin says that "while everyone's looking at the medical trail in the drugs, it's 1000 percent the financial trail that's going to play a bigger part. That was a major factor that forced Michael to agree to a punishing London concert residency that he could have never logically completed given his frail mental and physical state."

Executors of Jackson's will have "refused to completely divulge" Michael's financial records to Katherine Jackson, according to Halperin. "Shortly after Katherine and the rest of the family started asking questions, Michael's former manger Tohme Tohme turned over millions of dollars ($5.5 million) in cash almost two weeks ago that he claimed Jackson had given to him secretly to buy him a house in Las Vegas. This immediately set off major red flags to the family as they wondered how much more money was out there missing. It was highly suspicious."

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Michael Jackson with baby son Prince and mother Debbie Rowe on cover of OK! Magazine in 1997.

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Another red flag that Halperin says he discovered is that Jackson's adviser failed to pay the premium on Michael's life insurance policy.

Because of this, Halperin says he's "calling on authorities to conduct a forensic audit into Michael Jackson's assets immediately." He goes on to claim that Katherine Jackson is fighting for the money so that it can go to Jackson's children, as he wished, but that "it appears the vultures have looted the childrens' legacy just like they took advantage of Michael."

A close friend of Jackson and former aide told Halperin that while Jackson was certainly financially taken advantage of, The King of Pop is partially to blame. "He hired these people. No one put a gun to his head," the source said.

Tags: ian halperin, IanHalperin, michael jackson, michael jackson death, MichaelJackson

Comments

(34)

Monday 10 August

By mage0213

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A close friend of Jackson and former aide told Halperin that while Jackson was certainly financially taken advantage of, The King of Pop is partially to blame. "He hired these people. No one put a gun to his head," the source said. &&& WTF??? If I hire someone to handle my affairs then I would expect them to HANDLE my affairs, not HELP THEMSELVES to my affairs. Maybe MJ didn't check their references, or the BBB, but that doesn't necessarily make it his fault now does it!?!?!? If a person is licensed or contracted to 'handle things' then they should do just that.. IF they are licensed, bonded, etc- then they should lose their licenses, their personal property and have to repay every cent of evey 'THING they HANDLED".. Just My thoughts

By catie

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who cares if thay dont get that money..thare all crazy i see why Michael ran for hes life..

Tuesday 11 August

By Tracy

All you haters... probably white trailer trash, really should quiet it down. The problem all of you have is that you don't have all the information that you wish that you had. Michael kept is life extremely private, cherishing his children and protecting them from the vultures that you all are. You people really are a big part of the problem in our world today... get a life... a real one!

We will never stop careing about Michael jackson and loveing him,he will be loved for ever and ever,so i could care less about what you say about Him.

Thay are Taken hes money, thay have taken hes life..and now thay are takeing hes kids..and then thay have taken Hes body,,oh god how sad can this get,?this is so sad...and its really getting sader each and ever day..it breaks my Heart.it really dos.i pary that things will get better for you Michael..and your kids..this is a nightmare..i guess this is how the real world is selfish and greedy.the love of money.with out love..

By terry

It is truly awful that this man, this father, this entertainer, and this human being will never be able to rest in peace. From all stories I have read, he was used/taken advantage of from the time he could make money. His family seemed to be low key and out of the lime light.. but in his death his family has somehow become famous again. No one ever heard from any of his brothers let alone a few of his sisters and now they have the spotlight. Let the negative stories go about him. Let him be remembered for the memories he has given us as we grew up on his music. Don't drag him through the mud. Remember ... heal the world..make this a better place.

By Diane

Right, he hired these people in GOOD Faith! It's not MJ's fault they were evil,& greedy,and stole his hard earned money!!! Why would anyone say, "No one put a gun to his head...he hired these people..."?!! Unless they're just as evil, greedy, and were part of the thievery process.!!! MJ had such a good heart, and clean soul...how would you know the people you've hired, are paying, are STEALING from you?!!

By You big stud

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mj suck dirty socks

You no what i blame Michael's family for some of this.why did thay not help him .get off the Drugs?and get him some help that he needed.why? t fahay new he was going Down hill fast hes father even said if he did not get to Michale fast that he would be dead soon..so why! did thay just stand back.and. do nothing and let him destroy hes self like this..it makes you wonder did thay ever really have a talk to him about eny thing? hes kids...about useing hes own jeans..Etc.i believe it is much as thare fault as it is Michael's fault.we love you M j for ever rest in peace king.

By xtech

Just because no one held a gun to his head to hire these people; it does not give them the right to rip some one off."There is a thing called trust".

Wednesday 12 August

By Anita

I think Mrs Jackson be the executor over the estste because MJ alway had her in every thing he did, he alway ask her advice in his busness she would be good for that busness no one should be in place before her or after, if Mrs Jackson would not had no MJ then what would you done then I dont thing it is right for someone to coming and wipe them out of what they work so hard for Mr& Mrs Jackson make them what they was then and today, you have destory it take think from MJ . I wonder if the Lawyer have any thing to do what was gojng on with MJ beause it's not claer what is going on in MJ life #1 back on drug it dont seenn like MJ need them form pain I dont think so. sleeping no any thing to keep him woke to do the job seen like your just want MJ so high so you can get the best of him, then you stard that take just the people that is around him MJ should stay with his family not with other people. I no the lawyer change that will there no way MJ left that to you and cut his family out I bet that was redone when he was high on your drug you give keep him durg to take over, so why is you fighting over it let them have it, if she was white you wouldn't fight over it but she black and you thing she dont deserve if it.if ti had been your son I dont think you would like for black lawyer to come in and take your son estate out of your hand, dont think this family have suffrine enught this family have been in a tail spent sent MJ had been going everybody want something take take take what every you can find why, this did not seen right when MJ was live this was going on can not be true. if your judge let thee lawyer take MJ estate then he right a long with them for the money, he would get pay off the estate as well. bank in the money everybody get rich why the Jackson in the cold, I bet the lawyer and doctor was working together, suppose MJ did not have and will what would then. will you still fight then for the estate. and to all the baby mom who there kid to MJ for the money no judge should let you come in and play mom now you do it then and will do it now you donor your baby and he was the buyer it just like you go to store and buy and dress and you pay for it the store can't come and want it back or can I see it when I want it. you was loss then and should get loss now. you dont deserve to see that kid you jast want to be in the family all about the money. not about love.

Friday 14 August

By Genelia

The day he died, I was by the UCLA medical centre. Before it was evening, people were already selling 10 dollar each "RIP Michael" shirts. They didn't stop making money even at the time of his death. Talk about these tabloids who are coming up with all sorts of stories every day to make fortunes. I totally believe there were vampires around him and even now to suck his money and blood.
The big bad world, huh?

Wednesday 26 August

By joeyjust4u2

MJ is home with the Lord and is now getting his much needed rest.I will see him when my time is to go home.

Sunday 13 September

By mickeyroxx

this man shared his gift with the world yet he was complicated human being, i cannot say he was a child molester ,maybe a troubled person however now three children are without their parent is quite sad because of drugs!

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