Michael Jackson

=== Final years, financial problems, ''Thriller 25'' and This Is It (2005–2009) ===
[[File:Michael Jackson 2006.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Jackson is wearing an overcoat and walking from left to right. His face is obscured by his hair. His son is wearing a mask and a baseball cap. Two men are with them; a third person is holding an umbrella over the Jacksons.|Jackson and his son Blanket in [[Disneyland Paris]], 2006]]
After the trial, Jackson became reclusive.<ref name="indie-auction">{{cite news |date=June 26, 2009 |title=Michael Jackson: The fantastic possessions revealed |newspaper=The Independent |agency=Reuters |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/michael-jackson-the-fantastic-possessions-revealed-1668969.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/michael-jackson-the-fantastic-possessions-revealed-1668969.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022}}</ref> In June 2005, he moved to [[Bahrain]] as a guest of [[Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa|Sheikh Abdullah]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Bishara |first=Motez |date=October 4, 2021 |title='We wanted to make history': Michael Jackson's bizarre year in Bahrain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/04/michael-jackson-bizarre-year-in-bahrain |access-date=January 20, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120143104/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/04/michael-jackson-bizarre-year-in-bahrain |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 2006, it was announced that Jackson had signed a contract with a Bahrain startup, Two Seas Records. Nothing came of the deal, and the Two Seas CEO, [[Gut Records|Guy Holmes]], later said it was never finalized.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 18, 2006 |title=Michael Jackson Sails with Two Seas |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58713/michael-jackson-sails-with-two-seas |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 31, 2015 |archive-date=June 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606195810/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58713/michael-jackson-sails-with-two-seas |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Bahrain">{{cite news |date=September 26, 2006 |title=Jackson parts with Bahrain label |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5380654.stm |access-date=May 31, 2015 |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105121925/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5380654.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Holmes also found that Jackson was on the verge of bankruptcy and was involved in 47 ongoing lawsuits.<ref name=":1" /> By September 2006, Jackson was no longer affiliated with Two Seas.<ref name="Bahrain" />

In April 2006, Jackson agreed to use a piece of his ATV catalog stake, then worth about $1{{nbsp}}billion, as [[Collateral (finance)|collateral]] against his $270{{nbsp}}million worth of loans from [[Bank of America]]. Bank of America had sold the loans to [[Fortress Investment Group|Fortress Investments]], an investment company that buys distressed loans, the year before. As part of the agreement, Fortress Investments provided Jackson a new loan of $300{{nbsp}}million with reduced interest payments (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|300000000|2006|r=-7}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}). Sony Music would have the option to buy half of his stake, or about 25% of the catalog, at a set price. Jackson's financial managers had urged him to shed part of his stake to avoid bankruptcy.<ref name="sonydeal" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Jackson strikes deal over loans |work=BBC News |date=April 14, 2006 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4909412.stm |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105121924/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4909412.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The main house at Neverland Ranch was closed as a cost-cutting measure, while Jackson lived in Bahrain at the hospitality of Abdullah.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackson Closes Neverland House |publisher=CBS News |date=July 6, 2009 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jackson-closes-neverland-house/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152037/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jackson-closes-neverland-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At least thirty of Jackson's employees had not been paid on time and were owed $306,000 in back wages. Jackson was ordered to pay $100,000 in penalties.<ref name="sonydeal" /> Jackson never returned to Neverland after his acquittal.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-neverland-ranch-selling-for-67-million-w469968 |title=Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch Devalued in Real Estate Market |last=Blistein |first=Jon |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630000339/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-neverland-ranch-selling-for-67-million-w469968 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In mid-2006, Jackson moved to [[Grouse Lodge]], a residential recording studio near [[Rosemount, County Westmeath]], Ireland. There, he began work on a new album with the American producers [[will.i.am]] and [[Rodney Jerkins|Rodney Jenkins]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bainbridge |first=Luke |date=August 14, 2010 |title=Michael Jackson's Irish hideaway |url=http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/aug/15/michael-jackson-ireland-secret-retreat |access-date=January 21, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121135802/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/aug/15/michael-jackson-ireland-secret-retreat |url-status=live }}</ref> That November, Jackson invited an ''[[Access Hollywood]]'' camera crew into the studio in Westmeath.<ref name="Achievements" /> On November 15, Jackson briefly joined in on a performance of "We Are the World" at the [[2006 World Music Awards|World Music Awards]] in London, his last public performance, and accepted the Diamond Award for sales of {{Nowrap|100 million}} records.<ref name="Achievements" /><ref>{{cite web |title=2006 World Music Awards |work=Chiff |url=https://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/world-music-awards.htm |archive-date= February 4, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080204051554/https://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/world-music-awards.htm}}</ref> He returned to the US in December, settling in Las Vegas. That month, he attended [[James Brown]]'s funeral in [[Augusta, Georgia]], where he gave a eulogy calling Brown his greatest inspiration.<ref>{{cite news |first=Shaheem |last=Reid |title=James Brown Saluted by Michael Jackson at Public Funeral Service |publisher=MTV |date=December 30, 2006 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1549061/20061230/brown_james.jhtml |archive-date=April 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426200442/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1549061/20061230/brown_james.jhtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:NeverlandRides.jpg|thumb|alt=A view from above of a large property in a semi-desert. The landscape is pale with clumps of vegetation. The property shows circular structures between the buildings.|An aerial view of part of Jackson's 2,800-acre (11&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos, California, showing the rides]]In 2007, Jackson and Sony bought another music publishing company, [[Famous Music]] LLC, formerly owned by [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]]. The deal gave Jackson the rights to songs by [[Eminem]] and [[Beck]], among others.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Police Plan MTV Unplugged Performance, Michael Jackson Buys Rights to Eminem Tunes, and More |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 31, 2007 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/31/the-police-plan-mtv-unplugged-performance-michael-jackson-buys-rights-to-eminem-tunes-and-more/ |archive-date= June 2, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070602144131/https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/31/the-police-plan-mtv-unplugged-performance-michael-jackson-buys-rights-to-eminem-tunes-and-more/}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |last=[[RedOne]] |interviewer=Jan Blumentrath |title=Interview with RedOne, producer and songwriter for Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Akon, Kat DeLuna and Darin |publisher=[[HitQuarters]] |date=March 23, 2009 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.hitquarters.com/dev/index.php3?page=intrview/2009/March23_1_12_9.html |archive-date=June 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612201856/http://www.hitquarters.com/dev/index.php3?page=intrview/2009/March23_1_12_9.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In a brief interview, Jackson said he had no regrets about his career despite his problems and "deliberate attempts to hurt [him]".<ref>{{cite news |first=Eric |last=Talmadge |title=Michael Jackson 'wouldn't change' career |newspaper=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=March 8, 2007 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/2007-03-08-2208485574_x.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105122059/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/2007-03-08-2208485574_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> That March, Jackson visited a US Army post in Japan, [[Camp Zama]], to greet more than 3,000 troops and their families.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michael Jackson Greets Troops in Japan |publisher=CBS News |date=March 10, 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2019 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-jackson-greets-troops-in-japan/ |archive-date=February 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224173452/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-jackson-greets-troops-in-japan/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Jackson wows US troops during lavish Japan stint |website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2019 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-03-11/michael-jackson-wows-us-troops-during-lavish-japan/2213766 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626180840/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-03-11/michael-jackson-wows-us-troops-during-lavish-japan/2213766 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of September, Jackson was still working on his next album, which he never completed.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Elizabeth |last=Goodman |title=Will.i.am on Working with Michael Jackson |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 24, 2007 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/will-i-am-on-working-with-michael-jackson-were-taking-it-day-by-day-20070924 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030554/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/will-i-am-on-working-with-michael-jackson-were-taking-it-day-by-day-20070924 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, for the 25th anniversary of ''Thriller'', Jackson and Sony released ''[[Thriller 25]]'', with two remixes released as singles: "[[The Girl Is Mine 2008]]" and "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008]]".<ref>{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Friedman |title=Jacko: Neverland East in Upstate New York |publisher=Fox News |date=May 16, 2008 |access-date= May 22, 2008 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356282,00.html#3 |archive-date= May 19, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080519112250/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356282,00.html#3}}</ref> For Jackson's 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a series of greatest hits albums, ''[[King of Pop (album)|King of Pop]],'' with different tracklists for different regions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Choose the Tracks on Michael Jackson's 50th Birthday Album! |publisher=[[Sony BMG]] |date=June 20, 2008 |archive-date= June 28, 2008 |url=https://www.sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do;.tomcat2?newsId=20030829005656 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080628015938/https://www.sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do%3B.tomcat2?newsId=20030829005656}}</ref> That July, Fortress Investments threatened to [[Foreclosure|foreclose]] on Neverland Ranch, which Jackson had used as collateral for his loans. Fortress sold Jackson's debts to [[Colony Capital]] LLC.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Neverland Ranch Note Sold to Colony Capital |agency=[[Business Wire]] |date=May 11, 2008 |access-date=July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080511005036/en/Neverland-Ranch-Note-Sold-Colony-Capital |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717035515/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080511005036/en/Neverland-Ranch-Note-Sold-Colony-Capital |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Neverland escapes foreclosure hook |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=May 12, 2008 |access-date=July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/neverland-escapes-foreclosure-hook-1.729307 |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001120610/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/neverland-escapes-foreclosure-hook-1.729307 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November, Jackson transferred Neverland Ranch's title to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC, a joint venture between Jackson and Colony Capital LLC. The deal earned him {{Nowrap|$35 million}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Neverland peters out for pop's Peter Pan |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |agency=[[Press Association]] |date=November 13, 2008 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/people/neverland-peters-out-for-pops-peter-pan/2008/11/13/1226318822205.html |archive-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630052917/https://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/people/neverland-peters-out-for-pops-peter-pan/2008/11/13/1226318822205.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, Jackson arranged to sell a collection of his memorabilia of more than 1,000 items through [[Julien's Auctions|Julien's Auction House]], but canceled the auction in April.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Topping |first=Alexandra |date=April 15, 2009 |title=Michael Jackson memorabilia sale cancelled |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/15/michael-jackson-sale-cancelled |access-date=January 20, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120152436/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/15/michael-jackson-sale-cancelled |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2009, amid speculation about his finances and health, Jackson announced a series of comeback concerts, [[This Is It (concert residency)|This Is It]], at a press conference at [[the O2 Arena]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Guy |date=June 26, 2009 |title=Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/michael-jackson-the-final-decline-of-a-pop-legend-1720267.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/michael-jackson-the-final-decline-of-a-pop-legend-1720267.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022}}</ref> The shows were to be his first major concerts since the HIStory World Tour in 1997. Jackson suggested he would retire after the shows. The initial plan was for ten concerts in London, followed by shows in Paris, New York City and Mumbai. Randy Phillips, the president and chief executive of [[Anschutz Entertainment Group|AEG Live]], predicted the first ten dates would earn Jackson £50{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Foster |title=Michael Jackson grand finale curtain-raiser |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=March 6, 2009 |url=https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5854735.ece |archive-date= July 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718131618/https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5854735.ece}}</ref>

The London residency was increased to fifty dates after record-breaking ticket sales; more than one million were sold in less than two hours.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |title=Michael Jackson's "This Is It!" Tour Balloons to 50-Show Run Stretching Into 2010 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 12, 2009 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-tour-balloons-to-50-show-run-stretching-into-2010-20090312 |access-date= September 4, 2017 |archive-date= June 16, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180616001859/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-tour-balloons-to-50-show-run-stretching-into-2010-20090312 |url-status= dead}}</ref> The concerts were to run from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. Jackson moved to Los Angeles, where he rehearsed in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of the choreographer [[Kenny Ortega]], whom he had worked with during his previous tours. Rehearsals took place at [[Kia Forum|the Forum]] and the [[Staples Center]] owned by AEG.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Michael Jackson: The Last Rehearsal |magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life]] |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.life.com/image/88744450/in-gallery/29532/michael-jackson-the-last-rehearsal |archive-date= July 4, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090704103521/https://www.life.com/image/88744450/in-gallery/29532/michael-jackson-the-last-rehearsal}}</ref> By this point, Jackson's debt had grown to almost $500 million. By the time of his death, he was three or four months behind payments of his home in San Fernando Valley.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-michael-jackson-debt-20130812-story.html |title=Michael Jackson trial: Pop star was 'tapped out,' millions in debt |last=Gottlieb |first=Jeff |date=August 12, 2013 |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032045/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-michael-jackson-debt-20130812-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/11/21/michael-jacksons-personal-debts-paid-off-just-in-time-for-bad-25/ |title=Michael Jackson's Personal Debts Paid Off, Just In Time For Bad 25 |first=Zack O'Malley |last=Greenburg |website=Forbes |access-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111033635/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/11/21/michael-jacksons-personal-debts-paid-off-just-in-time-for-bad-25/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Independent]]'' reported that Jackson planned a string of further ventures designed to recoup his debts, including a world tour, a new album, films, a museum and a casino.<ref name=":0" />