MICHAEL Jackson was not the biological father of any of his three children, it was claimed yesterday – a revelation that may herald new complications in his family's attempts to settle his tangled affairs.
The claim emerged as the promoter of the singer's planned 50 concerts in London vowed to stage an all-star tribute show featuring the remaining Jacksons in his memory.
A number of sources close to the singer told the entertainment website TMZ.com
that the singer was not the sperm donor for either Michael Joseph jnr, 12, Paris Michael Katherine, 11, or Prince Michael II, seven.
Nor – despite the fact that she married the star in 1998 and bore him two of the three children – was Debbie Rowe the biological mother.
TMZ, which first broke the news of Jackson's death last Thursday, claims that the former nurse was paid simply to act as a surrogate for the first son and daughter, who were created using sperm and eggs from third-party donors.
"In the case of Prince Michael II, the youngest, we're told the surrogate was never told of the identity of the 'receiving parent' – Michael Jackson," the website said.
"Three days after Prince was born… Jackson's lawyer came to the hospital to pick the baby up and deliver him to Michael. We do not know if Jackson chose the sperm or egg donors, or if he even knew who they were."
The news potentially raises the prospect of multiple legal battles launched by cash-inspired sperm and egg donors seeking to establish whether their biological material was used to create children for the multi-millionaire entertainer.
While lawyers for Jackson are likely to have drawn up documents sealing all financial and custodial arrangements relating to the births, there is no precedent in Californian courts for such cases.
Meanwhile, Jackson's mother, Katherine, 79 – who has temporary custody of the children at present – has also now been granted control of some of his estate, as the family moves to secure his assets against looting and misappropriation.
Although papers filed in the superior court on her behalf claim that Jackson died intestate, one lawyer who was rehired by Jackson just three weeks ago claims that a will does exist – and that he plans to file in court within the next 30 days.
The will is said to bequeath everything to Mrs Jackson, her son's three children and two charities.
His father, Joe, who Jackson once alleged had abused him as a child, gets nothing.
Administration of the will will be no easy task, however; despite having assets worth an estimated $1.3 billion, much of that is tied up in his ownership of the Beatles' back-catalogue with Sony Records – which would need to be sold for its cash value to be realised – and there are debts in the region of $300 million yet to be settled.
Reports yesterday claimed the star was worth as much as $236 million in March 2007.
Londell McMillan, a lawyer for the Jackson family, said they were at last satisfied that they had taken the first steps towards taking charge of the singer's tangled affairs.
"The personal and legal priorities are focused on first protecting the best interests of Mr Jackson's children, his family, his memorial services and then preserving his creative and business legacy with the dignity and honour it deserves," Mr McMillan said in a statement.
Meanwhile Randy Phillips, chief executive of entertainment firm AEG, said detailed plans for the planned O2 concerts in London by Jackson had been saved for a possible tribute show.
"We have the intellectual property content, we have the sets, we have the costumes," he said. "It would have been – which is a tragedy – one of the most amazing arena shows ever."
Still to be established is exactly how and why Jackson died, as police continue to interview members of his entourage about the circumstances surrounding his mysterious collapse at his rented home in Los Angeles last Thursday.
They are looking into whether the star took an overdose – and if so, who supplied the pills. Officers removed bottles of drugs from the house yesterday.
Primate palONCE a part of Michael Jackson's innermost circle, Bubbles the chimpanzee would dine at the star's table, sleep in a cot in his bedroom and sit alongside him in his private cinema munching sweets.
But the primate that Jackson used to describe as a "constant delight" fell from favour. Now living at the Centre for Great Apes in Wauchula, 90 miles from Orlando, Florida, 26-year-old Bubbles never received a single donation or visit from Jackson since he was dumped there four years ago. Instead, the sanctuary relies on charity to care for the singer's once-beloved chimp and 41 other apes. In the wake of Jackson's death, staff have launched a fundraising drive in Bubbles' honour.
