Honestly, if you grew up watching the news in the 90s or early 2000s, you probably remember the chaos. The masks. The veils. That terrifying moment on a balcony in Berlin. People have always been obsessed with the King of Pop's private life, but the question that still pops up more than anything else is pretty basic: how many kids does Michael Jackson have?
The short answer? Three.
But like everything with MJ, the "short answer" doesn't even begin to cover the complexity of it. You’ve got different mothers, a lot of legal drama, and three kids who have grown up to be surprisingly well-adjusted adults despite the literal circus they were raised in. It’s kinda wild when you look at where they are now in 2026.
The Three Jackson Siblings: Who They Are
Michael’s kids aren't "babies" anymore. They are full-blown adults navigating a world that still hasn't stopped talking about their dad.
- Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr. (Born February 13, 1997)
- Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (Born April 3, 1998)
- Prince Michael "Bigi" Jackson II (Born February 21, 2002)
Basically, you’ve got the eldest, Prince, who is 28 now. Then Paris, the middle child and only girl, at 27. And the youngest, Bigi—who the world spent a decade calling "Blanket"—is 23.
Prince Jackson: The "Anchor" of the Family
Prince was the first. Born to Michael and his second wife, Debbie Rowe, he’s always seemed like the steady one. Honestly, he’s the sibling who keeps the peace. He graduated from Loyola Marymount University back in 2019 with a business degree.
He isn't trying to be the next pop superstar. He’s more into the behind-the-scenes stuff—production, motorcycling (he has a whole YouTube channel about it), and philanthropy. Just recently, in August 2025, he announced his engagement to his long-time girlfriend, Molly Schirmang. After eight years together, it’s safe to say he’s looking for a much quieter life than the one he was born into.
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Paris Jackson: The Creative Firecracker
Paris is the one you’ve likely seen the most. She’s a model, an actress, and a musician. If you haven't heard her indie-folk album Wilted, you’re missing out. It’s nothing like her dad’s music, which is probably the point. She’s been very open about her struggles with mental health and the intense pressure of being MJ’s daughter.
Bigi Jackson: The Quiet One
Then there’s Bigi. Most people still call him Blanket because of the infamous balcony incident, but he dropped that name in 2015. He’s the most private of the bunch. You won't find him on TikTok or walking every red carpet. He’s into filmmaking, though. In 2024, his short film Rochelles actually won an award for Best Drama at the Santa Monica Film Festival. He’s mostly seen in the LA suburbs, driving his Tesla and staying out of the tabloids.
The Paternity Question: What’s the Real Story?
We have to talk about it because everyone else does. Ever since Prince and Paris were born, people have looked at their fair skin and light eyes and gone, "Wait a minute."
The biological mother of the first two is Debbie Rowe. She was a nurse at MJ’s dermatologist’s office. They were married from 1996 to 1999. Now, some reports and "insider" quotes over the years have suggested that Michael wasn't the biological donor. Some people point to Mark Lester (the actor from Oliver!) or Dr. Arnie Klein.
But here’s the thing: legally and emotionally, Michael is the father. Period.
Paris has been very vocal about this. She’s said in interviews, like her 2017 Rolling Stone cover, that she considers herself Black and that Michael is her father. End of story. For Bigi, the situation is different. He was born via an anonymous surrogate. Michael famously said he used his own sperm for Bigi. While the mother's identity remains a total mystery (literally "None" is written on the birth certificate), Bigi is often cited as the sibling who looks most like Michael did as a kid.
Life After Neverland: Growing Up Without a Dad
When Michael died in 2009, the kids were tiny. Prince was 12, Paris was 11, and Bigi was only 7.
Their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, took over as their guardian. Later, their cousin TJ Jackson (Tito’s son) became a co-guardian. It sounds like a recipe for a "Hollywood kid" disaster, right? But somehow, they stayed close.
- They don’t fight over the estate in the press.
- They show up for each other's events.
- They keep their father's legacy alive without letting it swallow them whole.
In March 2024, all three made a rare joint appearance in London for the premiere of MJ: The Musical. It was the first time they’d hit a red carpet as a trio in over a decade. Seeing them standing there—Prince in a sharp suit, Paris in a rust-colored gown, and Bigi looking grown up—really drove home how much time has passed.
Why People Are Still Asking "How Many Kids Does Michael Jackson Have?"
The confusion usually comes from the nicknames.
If you hear someone talk about "Blanket," "Prince," "Michael Jr.," and "Prince II," it sounds like there are four or five kids. It’s just confusing naming. Michael actually gave his first and third child nearly identical names: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and Prince Michael Jackson II.
Add in the "Blanket" nickname and the fact that the media rarely uses their real names, and it’s no wonder people get mixed up.
What You Can Take Away From This
If you’re looking to understand the Jackson family dynamic today, stop looking for the "scandal."
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The most "actionable" insight here is that the kids are trying to be their own people. If you want to support them, look at their work. Watch Bigi’s films, listen to Paris’s music, or follow Prince’s philanthropic work with the HEAL Los Angeles Foundation.
They’ve moved past the "masks and veils" era. They are just three siblings trying to handle a billion-dollar legacy while living lives that are as "normal" as possible when your dad was the most famous man on Earth.
To stay truly updated on the Jackson siblings, your best bet is following Prince’s Instagram for family milestones or checking out Paris’s official music releases, as they remain the most public-facing members of the trio.
Next Steps:
If you want to dig deeper into the MJ legacy, look up the HEAL Los Angeles Foundation to see the charity work Prince is doing. It’s probably the most direct way to see how Michael’s "Heal the World" mission is actually being carried out by his kids today.