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People still talk about that balcony in Berlin. It’s been decades, but the image of a veiled baby being held over a railing is burned into the collective memory of pop culture. That baby was Prince Michael Jackson II, now known as Bigi. He’s a man now. So are his siblings. When we talk about Michael Jackson's children, we’re usually talking about the most scrutinized trio in history. Growing up behind masks, literally and figuratively, wasn't just a quirk of a famous father. It was a survival tactic. Honestly, the public was obsessed with their DNA, their skin tone, and their legitimacy before they could even walk.
Think about the pressure. You're the offspring of the "King of Pop," a man who was both the most famous person on earth and a lightning rod for controversy. Most kids worry about grades or sports. These three had to navigate a world that viewed them as curiosities rather than humans.
But here’s the thing: they turned out surprisingly normal. Or as normal as you can be when you inherit a billion-dollar legacy and a name that carries that much weight. They aren't the tragic figures the tabloids predicted back in 2009. They are entrepreneurs, activists, and filmmakers.
The eldest: Prince Jackson and the weight of the name
Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., who everyone calls Prince, was born in 1997. He's the one who seems to have embraced the "managerial" side of the family business. He doesn't dance. He doesn't sing. He’s been very open about that. In interviews, like the one he did with Good Morning Britain, he admitted that he just didn't get that gene.
Prince graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a business degree. That was a big deal. It signaled a shift from the "performer" archetype to the "executive" one. He co-founded the Heal Los Angeles Foundation. It’s a charity that focuses on foster youth and homelessness, basically picking up the mantle of his father’s "Heal the World" initiative but with a more localized, pragmatic approach.
He likes motorcycles. He has a YouTube channel where he talks about them. It's weirdly grounded. You’d expect the son of Michael Jackson to be living in a gilded cage, but he’s often seen just hanging out in California, riding his Harley, and doing the work of a producer. He runs King's Son Productions. The name is a direct nod to his father, but the work is his own. He’s focused on the "behind the scenes" magic.
Paris Jackson: Breaking the mold and finding a voice
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson is different. She’s the middle child, born in 1998, and she’s the one who stepped directly into the spotlight. It wasn't an easy transition. She’s talked candidly about her struggles with mental health, the trauma of losing her father at age 11, and the intense body image issues fostered by the paparazzi.
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She’s a musician. A real one. If you listen to her album wilted, it’s not pop. It’s indie-folk. It’s moody and acoustic. She didn't try to recreate Thriller. She went her own way. She’s also a high-fashion model, having walked for Jean Paul Gaultier and appeared on the cover of Vogue.
Paris is the most "public" of Michael Jackson's children. She’s the one who interacts with fans on social media and uses her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and environmental causes. She’s been very vocal about her identity, identifying as part of the queer community. There’s a certain bravery in how she lives. She doesn't hide the tattoos or the scars. She’s humanized the Jackson name in a way that feels very modern and very raw.
The DNA question that won't go away
People are obsessed with biology. It’s kind of gross, actually. Since the day Prince and Paris were born to Debbie Rowe, the media has dissected their features looking for "proof" of parentage. Michael always maintained they were his biological children. Prince once famously replied to a Twitter troll by saying "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," suggesting that even if the genetics were complex, the father-son bond was absolute.
Rowe has stayed largely on the sidelines, though she reconnected with Paris in recent years, especially during Paris’s health struggles. It’s a complicated family dynamic. It’s not a sitcom.
Bigi Jackson: The youngest and most private
Then there’s Bigi. He was "Blanket" for years, a nickname he reportedly grew to dislike because of the teasing it invited. He legally changed his name to Bigi in 2015. Out of all Michael Jackson's children, he is the one who stays furthest from the cameras.
He’s a film buff. He and Prince used to host a movie review show on YouTube with their cousin Taj Jackson. You could see his passion for cinema. He’s knowledgeable. He’s articulate. But he doesn't want the fame. He bought a $2.6 million home in Calabasas a few years ago and mostly keeps to himself.
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Bigi is also the one most involved in environmental activism lately. He made a rare appearance on Good Morning Britain at Hayvenhurst (the family estate) to talk about climate change. He spoke about his father's legacy in that area, noting that Michael was always conscious of the planet. It was a brief glimpse into the life of a young man who seems very centered.
The upbringing in Neverland and beyond
Living at Neverland Ranch wasn't just about amusement park rides and zoos. It was a bubble. The kids were homeschooled for a long time. They wore masks in public to protect their identity so they could go to a toy store or a movie theater without being mobbed.
Some people called it "weird." Others saw it as a father desperately trying to give his kids a childhood he never had. When Michael died in 2009, that bubble burst. They moved in with their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, in a more traditional suburban environment. They went to private school. They made friends. They had to learn how to exist in a world that didn't revolve around their father’s fame.
How they manage the billion-dollar estate
The Jackson estate is a juggernaut. We're talking about the Sony/ATV music catalog, the rights to Michael’s own masters, and the "MJ" Broadway musical. The children are beneficiaries of a massive trust.
- They receive an allowance that reportedly covers their living expenses, security, and travel.
- They will inherit their full portions of the estate in stages as they get older (usually ages 30, 35, and 40).
- They have a say in how their father's image is used, though the executors (John Branca and John McClain) handle the heavy lifting of the business deals.
There has been some legal friction recently. Bigi was involved in a court filing regarding the estate's attempt to sell a large portion of the music catalog (the blockbuster deal with Sony). It shows that they aren't just passive recipients of wealth; they are paying attention to the legacy.
What the critics get wrong
The biggest misconception is that they are "spoiled Hollywood kids." If you look at their track records, there are no major scandals. No DUIs. No public meltdowns. They seem remarkably tight-knit. Prince and Paris are frequently seen together at red carpet events, holding hands and supporting each other.
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They also have to deal with the "Leaving Neverland" fallout and the constant re-examination of their father’s life. They’ve handled it with a level of grace that most adults would struggle to find. They don't usually get into the mud with critics. They just keep living.
Lessons from the Jackson legacy
What can we actually learn from the lives of Michael Jackson's children? First, that identity is something you build, not something you're born with. Prince chose business. Paris chose art. Bigi chose privacy.
Second, the importance of a support system. Despite the chaos of their father’s life and death, they had each other. They had their grandmother. They had a small, loyal circle.
If you're following their journey, the best thing you can do is look past the headlines. Stop looking for the "scandal" and look at the work they are actually doing.
- Check out the Heal Los Angeles Foundation if you want to see how Prince is using his resources for social good.
- Listen to Paris Jackson’s music without expecting pop—it’s actually quite sophisticated.
- Support independent film commentary, which is where Bigi’s interests lie.
The story of the Jackson kids is still being written. It’s not a tragedy anymore. It’s a story of three people trying to find their own light while standing in the shadow of a sun. They are doing a better job of it than anyone expected.
The next time you see a headline about them, remember that they were kids who lost their dad in the most public way possible. Everything they’ve done since then has been an attempt to define themselves on their own terms. And honestly? They’re doing just fine.