Michael Jackson Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography, & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Michael Jackson

• Was Michael Jackson a smoker? Yes.

• Did Michael Jackson consume alcohol? Yes.

• Michael Jackson was an ordinary student, struggling with spelling and grammar, yet renowned for his creativity, shyness, and impeccable fashion sense.

• Michael Jackson’s father, Joe, was known for his strictness and abusive behavior towards his son. He would physically harm him through beatings and emotionally torment him. Joe openly acknowledged that he would whip the children, specifically targeting Michael for his larger nose, and would resort to using a belt to discipline them if their practice sessions did not meet his expectations.

• The Jackson children unanimously acknowledge that whipping was prevalent during their upbringing, and they attribute it to having a positive impact on their discipline and personal development.

• While Michael acknowledged that his father’s strict discipline played a role in his achievements, he attributed his insecurities about his appearance, insomnia, nightmares, hyper-compliant behavior, and prolonged immaturity to the experience of child maltreatment.

• The costumes featured in the Thriller video were sourced from the Salvation Army.

• His affection towards children likely stemmed from the absence of his own and the traumatic experiences he endured during his own childhood. The black band encircling his wrist served as a constant reminder of the horrors of child abuse.

• It was Eddie Van Halen’s free guitar solo that got “Beat it” into the studio.

• In 1999, he purchased the Oscar that David O. Selznick received for the Best Picture award for Gone With the Wind.

• In 1984, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning eight Oscars.

• The most expensive video ever made is Scream, with a whopping price tag of $7,000,000.

• Having a fondness for animals, he owned several unique pets: a python named Crusher, two llamas named Louis and Lola, and a chimpanzee named Bubbles.

• The ‘Smooth Criminal’ lean step, used by MJ, was facilitated by the special boots that Michael himself invented and patented.

• On the day of the 9/11 incident, he had a meeting scheduled in the twin towers. However, he missed it as he overslept.

• Two of Macauley Culkin’s children have the Home Alone star as their godfather.

• Martin Scorcese, the renowned and imaginative filmmaker, served as the director for the iconic music video ‘Bad’.

• The afternoon MJ passed away, there was a major crash involving Wikipedia, Twitter, and AOL’s Instant Messenger.

• In order to maintain a long life and enhance his beauty, he resided in an oxygen tent.

• He was truly a King! The people of Goban, a village in the Ivory Coast, bestowed upon him a royal title.

• The Jackson 5, consisting of Michael Jackson and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon, marked the beginning of Michael’s career. He first began singing alongside his older brother before embarking on a successful solo journey.

• MJ’s “Thriller” holds the record for being the first album to achieve five number one hits on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart. Furthermore, it stands as the best-selling album in history, with a staggering 65 million copies sold.

• The dance move that Michael Jackson borrowed from the street dancers outside his hotel was coined by him as the Moonwalk.

• He was crowned by Guinness World Records as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time.

• MJ has had the honor of being inducted not once, but twice into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the sole artist from the Rock and Pop genre to have been inducted into the esteemed Dance Hall of Fame. Furthermore, he has also been recognized as an inductee of the esteemed Songwriter Hall of Fame.

• In addition to holding multiple entries in the Guinness World Records, Michael Jackson boasts an impressive collection of accolades, including 13 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Legend Award, and a Grammy Lifetime Award.

• He holds the record for the most American Music Awards and has achieved thirteen number one positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally, he was honored with the prestigious Artist of the Century Award.

• Over 400 million albums have been sold by the King of Pop.

• In 2014, his song “Love Never Felt So Good” secured him a top ten entry on the Billboard for five consecutive decades, making him the first person to reach this remarkable milestone.

• MJ holds an impressive Guinness World Record for his support of 39 charities, showcasing unparalleled humanitarian efforts that remain unmatched by any other individual.

• According to Michael, he underwent two plastic surgeries, specifically for his nose and chin, citing health reasons for both. He clarified that his nose was injured while practicing a complex dance move. However, there are suspicions that he might have had multiple surgical procedures.

• MJ made a promise to raise charity by releasing a song after hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Collaborating with other artists, he dedicated efforts to this project; however, regrettably, the song never came to fruition.

• According to his bodyguard, MJ’s response to people mentioning that they have a dog to the girls is, “I have a Zoo.” It should be noted that MJ indeed possessed a zoo at his Neverland Ranch, along with a theme park.

• Michael Jackson had a deep love for books, often immersing himself in reading. His passion was so strong that he would willingly spend substantial amounts of money during a single trip to a bookstore.

• On one occasion, he stumbled upon a second-hand bookstore and made a hefty purchase of $100,000 to acquire it. Subsequently, he arranged for the books to be transported and settled them comfortably in his own abode.

• His clandestine relationships with foreign women were kept under tight wraps, under the aliases “Friend” and “Flower.” Only his bodyguards were privy to this information.

• Except for his mother, MJ made it a rule to meet only those from his family who had a prior appointment. His mother had the privilege to drop by anytime, and he always warmly welcomed her. However, even if his siblings were able to pass through the gate’s security, they were still required to schedule a meeting before seeing him.

• MJ was constantly cautious about his privacy, often having his bodyguards inspect the hotel room he stayed in. He felt violated and disturbed by the act of being secretly recorded. It wasn’t a case of baseless paranoia; a private conversation he had with his sister was recorded without his consent and later sold to the media.

• In order to ensure their safety and anonymity, he required his children to don masks while out in public and assigned them code names.

• Michael Jackson appeared extremely concerned about his personal safety, evident by his bodyguards carrying an arsenal capable of rivaling an FBI raid. Their weaponry included semi-automatic Glock pistols, high-voltage teasers, fully automatic MP5 submachine guns, military-grade AR15s, and 12-gauge automatic shotguns. Additionally, they possessed extended magazines and approximately 3000 rounds of ammunition.

• After being accused of child abuse in 2005, he received an invitation from the Sheikh of Bahrain to visit the country.

• Michael, a dedicated father, ensured his children received a responsible education by opting for homeschooling. To create a suitable learning environment, he set up a designated room solely for their studies. The private tutor arrived promptly at 8 AM to commence the day’s lessons, enforcing a uniform policy for the kids. Michael actively engaged with the tutor, monitoring their progress and assisting with homework tasks. Additionally, he regularly assessed their comprehension by conducting quizzes to evaluate their learning.

• The King of Pop single-handedly took care of his own laundry as well as his children’s.

• MJ’s mother had a passion for music, playing both the clarinet and piano. She aspired to become a country-western artist.

• Additionally, his father had a close connection to music and actively performed with The Falcons, a nearby rhythm and blues band.

• After his demise, he became the first artist to sell one million downloads.

• Michael Jackson’s vocal range progresses from a high tenor to a boy soprano.

• It comes as no surprise that MJ has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• The groundbreaking music video, “Billy Jean,” marked the historic moment as the first video by an African American artist to be broadcasted on MTV.

• When Michael Jackson listened to his older music, he believed that his voice resembled that of Minnie Mouse.

• He held the role of godfather to Nicole, Lionel Ritchie’s daughter, as well as to Michael, son of Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb.

• The album Thriller remained on the Billboard 200 chart for a duration of 122 weeks!

• Michael Jackson disconnected himself from all media sources, abstaining from newspapers, cable TV, and the internet. His sole choice for reading material was The Wall Street Journal, as it offered a respite from the sensational stories surrounding him.

• Following the police raid on his Neverland Ranch, MJ found it impossible to return and reside there, as the place no longer evoked a sense of home and failed to provide a feeling of safety. Consequently, he and his children opted to stay in hotels and rented accommodations, refraining from touching anything associated with the raid.

• MJ received two honorary degrees: a Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the United Negro College Fund and another from Fisk University.

• 2.5 billion people from around the globe tuned in to witness Michael Jackson’s funeral.

• According to The Print, in August 2022, news emerged that Michael Jackson had allegedly utilized 19 counterfeit identification documents to obtain drugs. This revelation came ahead of the release of a documentary called ‘TMZ Investigates: Who Really Killed Michael Jackson.’ In 2009, Jackson was discovered unresponsive in his Los Angeles residence, following a cardiac arrest. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s physician who was known to regularly administer propofol, an anesthetic, to the singer, was subsequently convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in jail. [1]