Michael Jackson: fake death, finance rows and 2 new albums?

Rumours about the late singer get more wacko

Michael Leonard, Wed 1 Jul 2009, 5:03 pm UTC

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson and The Beatles

Unravelling the finances of Michael Jackson's estate will take years – after all, the ownership rights of Jimi Hendrix's music are still disputed nearly 40 years after his death.

Jackson's biggest asset was his 50% share in Sony / ATV Music, which owns rights to The Beatles' back catalogue and over 7000 other songs. Jackson's share was estimated to have a having a net worth of $390.6m in 2007.

But with The Beatles' music due on Rock Band very soon, their catalogue remastered for September re-release, and the songs undoubtedly coming to iTunes one day, the value now will be even higher.

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The Beatles on Rock Band would have made Jackson millions

It's been rumoured Jackson left his rights to The Beatles songs to Paul McCartney in his will. Only time will tell if that's true, and even if Jackson has the right to do that.

Jackson's main financial asset could pay off a heap of the debts he left behind, so Macca may not see his and John Lennon's songs returned very soon at all. A bidding war for The Beatles songs' rights would be sure to enrage McCartney.

UPDATE: McCartney has now denied this was ever the case. But still there are no clear reports as to what will happen to Jackson's stake in Sony / ATV.