Jackson’s kids will be OK, co-executor says
King of Pop’s estate has several projects in pipeline
LOS ANGELES — While family members squabble in public over Michael Jackson’s money, the man who holds the purse strings of the estate is a calm centre of the storm.
As co-executor of Jackson’s will, John Branca ignores the erupting dramas and personal attacks and keeps his eye on the future, which he says belongs to Jackson’s mother and children and to the pop star’s musical legacy.
He and co-executor John McClain are pursuing projects to pay off a mountain of debt left by the superstar, to assure the financial future of his three children and to guarantee that Jackson’s music will live forever.
“When Michael Jackson died, he was near bankruptcy,” said Branca. “Now we know the kids will be OK.”
Jackson’s siblings who were left out of their brother’s will sent a lengthy letter that became public accusing the executors of deceit and manipulation of their mother and claiming that Jackson’s will was a fraud. They have not taken any court action.
Branca and co-executor McClain, a reclusive recording executive, say they understand Jackson’s desires to take care of his mother and children — Prince, Paris and Blanket — financially and keep his music alive. “We feel Michael entrusted us with his legacy and with the future of his mother and children,” Branca said. “We’re honoured and proud and passionate about celebrating Michael. It’s a labour of love for us. We love Michael.”
Branca met Jackson in 1980, when both were just starting out and he was rehired by Jackson a month before he died, with instructions to draft an agenda for future business deals. Branca presented the plan a week before Jackson died and it has been the roadmap for the estate’s posthumous enterprises.
In addition to an upcoming Las Vegas show, a new album and a concert DVD will be released soon celebrating the 25th anniversary of Jackson’s Bad album. A documentary on the making of Bad will show at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.