Katherine Jackson net worth: Jackson family matriarch loses appeal against MJs estate over singer's $600M catalogue deal

According to Billboard on August 21, 2024, a California appeals court issued its final ruling in Michael Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson's case. The ruling stated that Michael's estate could proceed with the sale of the late singer's catalog to Sony Music for $600 million, which was met with objections by Katherine to block the deal.

As per the court documents obtained by People magazine, Katherine's last appeal was denied with reason of her contention lacking merit. Additionally, her contentions weren't previously made to the probate court that approved the transaction and a review discovered that the estate's transactions didn't violate the terms of the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Katherine's net worth is $100 million. As per the terms of Michael Jackson's will, the late artist left a 40% interest in his estate to his mother Katherine, the other 40% to his three children Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson, and the remaining 20% to multiple children's charities.

The publication also cited that Katherine Jackson has been receiving a stipend of $67,000 per month from the Michael Jackson estate which virtually goes to her children and grandchildren.

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"It was Michael’s intent to allow the executors to sell any estate assets" — Court rules in Katherine Jackson's case against MJ's estate

According to Billboard, the Sony Music Group closed an agreement to half of Michael Jackson's recorded masters and publishing catalog in a deal reportedly valued at more than $600 million in February 2024. However, the Jackson estate was pending before a Los Angeles probate court after the singer died in 2009.

As a result, his executors John Branca and John McClain took the then-confidential deal to Judge Mitchell Beckloff wherein Katherine Jackson filed objections to the sale in November 2022. She mentioned that the transaction "violated Michael's wishes" and that the catalog would enhance in value in the future if retained.

Judge Beckloff rejected Katherine's objections in April 2023 ruling the deal could progress. Subsequently, Michael Jackson's mother filed an appeal, the ruling of which came out on August 21, 2024. The California appeals court's ruling stated:

“The will gave the executors broad powers of sale, with no exception for the specific assets at issue in this case. As such, [a lower judge] did not err in concluding that it was Michael’s intent to allow the executors to sell any estate assets, including those at issue in the proposed transaction.”

Moreover, the recent decision of the court rejected Katherine Jackson's key arguments, mentioning that the sale of Michale Jackson's catalog to Sony would violate the basic inheritance rules like the prevention of the singer's assets to his heirs. The court ruled that Michael's will also vested full power and authority to John Branca and John McClain in making deals like the Sony transaction while they were in control of the estate.

In March 2024, Michael Jackson's estate responded to claims by Katherine Jackson's attorneys, stating that she required estate money to pay for the legal battle. The estate's executor highlighted that no request for Katherine's maintenance or care was declined and that she received more than $33 million in cash.

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Multiple publications tried to get a comment from Katherine Jackson after the appeals court's latest ruling. However, she didn't give any official statement at the time of publishing this article.

Additionally, in the event of Katherine's death, her 40% share as per Michael's will would go to the singer's kids, thus giving them a total of 80% share in the late music legend's property.