LOS ANGELES, California — October 29, 2026. Paris Jackson is challenging more than $109 million in compensation sought by those managing her late father Michael Jackson’s estate, accusing longtime executor John Branca of failing to provide complete financial records while requesting substantial payments for estate management.
In a motion filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the 28-year-old singer and actress asked a judge to reduce Branca’s management compensation from 15% to 10% of the estate’s gross entertainment-related income. The proposed reduction would apply to 2023, 2024 and subsequent years until complete financial accounting requirements are satisfied.
PARIS JACKSON CHALLENGES $109 MILLION COMPENSATION REQUEST
According to court documents reviewed by TMZ and Rolling Stone, Paris is questioning a request for approval of $109,219,648.27 in combined compensation involving the estate’s management, co-executors and a law firm.
The amount is not solely a payment requested for Branca personally.
Paris argues that the compensation is difficult to justify while financial statements remain incomplete or disputed.
Her attorneys contend that estate beneficiaries should receive accurate financial information before the court approves payments of that magnitude.
The request is part of an ongoing probate dispute rather than a final judicial determination that the payments were improper.
DAUGHTER OF MICHAEL JACKSON ALLEGES PERSISTENT FINANCIAL FAILURES
Paris accuses Branca of repeatedly failing to meet deadlines for financial reporting.
Her filing focuses particularly on the estate’s accounting statements for 2023 and 2024.
According to her legal team, Branca missed a September 15 deadline for providing complete financial records.
The documents subsequently submitted were allegedly incomplete and insufficient to meet the estate’s disclosure obligations.
Paris argues that the alleged failures are especially concerning because the estate generates substantial revenue from music licensing, entertainment productions and other commercial activities.
The estate disputes her characterization of the financial reporting.
PARIS SEEKS REDUCTION FROM 15% TO 10%
A central part of the dispute concerns the management fee associated with the estate’s entertainment-related income.
Paris wants the court to reduce the applicable rate from 15% to 10%.
Her request covers the 2023 and 2024 accounting periods and would continue until the estate provides complete and accurate financial statements through 2026.
The proposed reduction would affect compensation calculated from qualifying entertainment revenue rather than the entire value of Michael Jackson’s assets.
The court has not yet ruled on the latest request.
Paris is also seeking reimbursement of her legal expenses, arguing that greater financial transparency would benefit the estate’s beneficiaries.
JOHN BRANCA AND ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES REJECT ACCUSATIONS
Representatives of Michael Jackson’s estate strongly dispute Paris’ allegations.
They maintain that Branca and the late co-executor John McClain waived traditional executor compensation and instead received a separate management fee authorized by the court.
The estate argues that Paris’ request incorrectly characterizes the nature of those payments.
Its representatives also say the 2023 and 2024 financial accountings have already been filed.
According to the estate, the reporting deadlines for 2025 and 2026 have not yet arrived.
Paris’ legal team maintains that the earlier filings were incomplete and failed to provide the transparency required.
The disagreement therefore involves both the adequacy of the records and the compensation associated with managing the business.
ESTATE POINTS TO BILLIONS IN FINANCIAL GROWTH
Branca has played a central role in managing Michael Jackson’s commercial interests since the singer’s death in June 2009.
The estate’s representatives say the business initially faced more than $500 million in debt.
They credit Branca and his management team with transforming the operation into an entertainment enterprise valued at approximately $2 billion.
The estate continues generating revenue through music royalties, publishing rights, licensing agreements and other entertainment ventures.
Those financial achievements form a major part of the estate’s defense of its management structure.
However, the reported increase in business value does not independently resolve questions about accounting obligations or whether particular management fees are appropriate.
PREVIOUS COURT RULING ORDERED $625,000 RETURNED
The latest dispute follows an earlier legal challenge involving payments to attorneys working for the estate.
In April 2026, a Los Angeles probate judge ordered three lawyers to return approximately $625,000 in bonuses.
The court found that the estate had not sufficiently demonstrated that the payments were justified based on the information presented.
The decision represented a legal success for Paris, who had challenged the bonuses.
It did not establish that every other payment made by the estate was improper.
The ruling nevertheless intensified scrutiny of compensation arrangements and financial disclosures.
JOHN MCCLAIN’S DEATH CHANGES ESTATE LEADERSHIP
For many years, the estate was jointly administered by entertainment attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain.
McClain died in May 2026 at the age of 71.
His death left Branca as the estate’s remaining executor.
The latest compensation dispute includes payments associated with the period when both men participated in managing the estate.
Their previous work involved overseeing Michael Jackson’s entertainment assets, commercial agreements and other business interests.
The court will need to distinguish the different compensation arrangements when evaluating Paris’ request.
MICHAEL JACKSON’S CHILDREN REMAIN ESTATE BENEFICIARIES
Paris and her brothers, Prince and Bigi Jackson, are beneficiaries of their father’s trust.
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50.
His death left a complicated estate involving substantial debts, valuable music rights and ongoing commercial obligations.
Over the following years, the estate became one of the entertainment industry’s most commercially significant posthumous businesses.
The beneficiaries have a financial interest in the estate’s administration and the distribution of assets under the governing trust arrangements.
Paris’ latest filing centers on whether the estate’s management has met its financial reporting obligations while receiving court-authorized compensation.
COURT HEARING SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 4
The parties are scheduled to return to court on December 4, 2026.
The hearing is expected to address Paris’ request to reduce the management fee and the dispute over financial accountings.
The judge may consider whether the existing compensation arrangement should remain in place and whether additional disclosures are required.
The proceedings could also address responsibility for legal expenses.
No final ruling has been issued on the latest motion.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The dispute will continue in Los Angeles probate court as Paris Jackson seeks greater financial transparency and a reduction in management compensation.
Branca and the estate’s representatives maintain that the existing fee arrangement is authorized and that the financial records have been submitted in accordance with applicable requirements.
The court will determine whether additional accounting disclosures or changes to compensation are warranted.
For now, the $109.2 million figure represents combined compensation identified in the disputed filings, not a court finding that Branca personally misappropriated that amount.
The case highlights the continuing legal challenges involved in administering Michael Jackson’s entertainment legacy more than 17 years after his death.
