Death of Michael Jackson

==Services==

===Memorial===
{{Main|Michael Jackson memorial service}}
[[Image:MichaelJacksonMemorial 02.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A white round building that has one glass front wall showing with a sign in red text that reads "Staples Center" in capital letters. In the background, there are multiple people walking in front of the building and a white parked car and a cloudy blue sky. | A worldwide audience of an estimated 2.5 to 3 billion people saw coverage of the memorial held in the [[Staples Center]], pictured here during the memorial service.]]
A private family service was held at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]] in Los Angeles, after a public memorial at the [[Staples Center]] in Los Angeles, California on July 7, where Jackson had rehearsed on June 24, the day before he died. The memorial service was organized by Jackson's concert promoter, [[AEG Live]] (who also own and operate the Staples Center).<ref>{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Parks|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a163368/aeg-to-release-jackson-memorial-tickets.html|title=AEG to release Jackson memorial tickets|publisher=Digital Spy|date=July 3, 2009|access-date=February 26, 2010|archive-date=July 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705120210/http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a163368/aeg-to-release-jackson-memorial-tickets.html|url-status=live}}</ref> AEG originally planned to charge for tickets,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cdn.singersroom.com/content/2009-07-03/AEG-Live-Backtracks-Over-Michael-Jackson-Funeral-Tickets-Offers-Giveaway/|title=AEG Live Backtracks Over Michael Jackson Funeral Tickets, Offers Giveawayerrors|date=July 3, 2009|access-date=May 6, 2013|publisher=cdn.singersroom.com|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235919/http://cdn.singersroom.com/content/2009-07-03/AEG-Live-Backtracks-Over-Michael-Jackson-Funeral-Tickets-Offers-Giveaway/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but following public pressure, AEG instead distributed the 17,500 tickets for free through an online lottery that attracted over 1.2&nbsp;million applicants in 24 hours,<ref>{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Nick|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5744787/Thirteen-applications-per-second-for-Michael-Jackson-memorial-tickets.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5744787/Thirteen-applications-per-second-for-Michael-Jackson-memorial-tickets.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Thirteen applications per second for Michaeldate=July&nbsp;6, 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London | date=July 6, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and over a half-billion views of the webpage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/michael-jackson-5.html |title=Website for Jackson tickets gets 500&nbsp;million hits in first hour |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 3, 2009 |access-date=July 28, 2009 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193934/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/michael-jackson-5.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The service was broadcast live around the world, and was believed to have been watched by more than 2.5 billion persons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|title=News|work=msn.com|access-date=November 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807110046/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|archive-date=August 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807110046/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2014|title=Hazarika'{{'}}s funeral creates world record|date=August 7, 2014|access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

Jackson's solid-bronze casket (which reportedly cost $25,000)<ref name=HarlowJuly5>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6638226.ece|first=John|last=Harlow|title=Police target 30 in hunt for Michael Jackson's drug suppliers|work=The Sunday Times|location=UK|date=July 9, 2009|access-date=July 4, 2009|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018215910/https://www.the-tls.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> was placed in front of the stage. Numerous celebrity guests attended the services.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8009534 |title=Michael Jackson to be Buried in Famed Hollywood Cemetery |agency=ABC News |date=July 6, 2009 |author=Sarah Netter, Emily Friedman |access-date=February 26, 2010 |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230640/http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8009534 |url-status=live }}</ref> His brothers each wore a single, white, sparkling glove, while [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Jermaine Jackson]] and others sang his songs. Jackson's then 11-year-old daughter, [[Paris Jackson|Paris]], broke down as she told the crowd, "I just want to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine&nbsp;... and I just want to say I love him&nbsp;... so much."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/blog/2009/jul/07/michaeljackson Liveblogging Michael Jackson's funeral and memorial service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202095539/https://www.theguardian.com/news/blog/2009/jul/07/michaeljackson |date=February 2, 2017 }}, ''The Guardian'', July 7, 2009.</ref> [[Marlon Jackson]] said, "Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone."<ref name=BBCJuly7>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8137700.stm Fans and family remember Jackson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8137700.stm |date=March 5, 2016 }}, BBC News, July 7, 2009.</ref>

===Burial===
According to reports, Jackson's burial was originally scheduled for August 29, 2009 (which would have been his 51st birthday).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/18/michael-jackson-burial-scheduled-for-august-29th-at-forest-lawn/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822145858/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/18/michael-jackson-burial-scheduled-for-august-29th-at-forest-lawn |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |title=Michael Jackson Burial Scheduled For August at Forest Lawn |first=Daniel|last=Kreps |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> His service and burial were held at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale|Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park]] on September 3, 2009.<ref name="time-090903" /> The burial was attended by his family members, his first wife [[Lisa Marie Presley]], and his friends [[Macaulay Culkin]], [[Chris Tucker]], [[Quincy Jones]], [[Eddie Murphy]], and [[Elizabeth Taylor]], among others.<ref name="mtv-090904"/> The service began with Jackson's three children placing a golden crown on his casket.<ref name="mtv-090904">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1620834/20090904/jackson_michael.jhtml |title=Michael Jackson's Kids Lay Golden Crown On His Casket At Funeral |first=Gil |last=Kaufman |publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]] |date=September 4, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2010 |archive-date=September 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906175125/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1620834/20090904/jackson_michael.jhtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jackson's funeral cost $1 million,<ref name="funeralcost1"/><ref name="rollingstonefuneralcosts">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/11/michael-jackson-funeral-cost-1-million-objections-against-estate-executors-dropped/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116021451/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/11/michael-jackson-funeral-cost-1-million-objections-against-estate-executors-dropped/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2009 |title=Michael Jackson Funeral Cost $1&nbsp;Million; Objections Against Estate Executors Dropped |first=Daniel|last=Kreps |magazine=Rolling Stone  |date=November 11, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> including $590,000 for Jackson's crypt; $11,716 for guest invitations;<ref name="funeralcost1"/><ref name="rollingstonefuneralcosts"/>  $30,000 for security and luxury cars; $16,000 for the florist; and $15,000 for the funeral planner.<ref name="funeralcost1"/> Jackson's family planned the funeral. Howard Weitzman, a lawyer for the estate executors, said that Jackson's "bigger than life" lifespan matched the lavishness of the funeral.<ref name="funeralcost1">{{cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/11/local/me-jackson11 |title=Michael Jackson's funeral cost more than $1&nbsp;million, court documents show |author=Harriet Ryan. Victoria Kim |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 11, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2010 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018230213/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-11-me-jackson11-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rollingstonefuneralcosts"/>

Jackson is interred in the Holly Terrace section in the Great Mausoleum of [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], a cemetery in [[Glendale, California]]. The mausoleum is a secure facility and is not accessible to the general public or to the media, except on an extremely limited basis. His unmarked [[crypt]], which is partially visible at the tinted entrance of the Holly Terrace mausoleum, is covered in flowers fans leave, which are placed by security guards outside the crypt.<ref name="time-090903" /> The family had considered burying Jackson at [[Neverland Ranch]]. However, some family members objected to the site, saying that the ranch had been tainted by the 2005 trial and police raids of the property.<ref name="time-090903">Alexander, Bryan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090906025630/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1920240,00.html Picking Jackson's Burial Place: Security Was Key], ''Time'', September 3, 2009</ref> Also, the owners of the ranch would have had to go through a permitting process with county and state government before establishing a cemetery at the site. In July 2010, security was increased at the mausoleum due to vandalism by fans leaving messages such as "Keep the dream alive" and "Miss you sweet angel" in permanent ink.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272633250.shtml
 |title        = Jackson Fans Graffiti Tomb
 |work         = National Ledger
 |date         = July 14, 2010
 |access-date   = July 15, 2010
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100717010201/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272633250.shtml
 |archive-date = July 17, 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>