{"id":65353,"date":"2026-08-14T22:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/65353\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T22:37:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:37:15","slug":"paris-jackson-lifts-the-lid-on-childhood-at-dad-michaels-neverland-ranch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/65353\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Jackson Lifts the Lid on Childhood at Dad Michael’s Neverland Ranch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Jackson<\/a>‘s daughter, Paris<\/a>, has offered a rare glimpse inside her extraordinary childhood at the famed Neverland Ranch.<\/p>\n

Paris, 28, lifted the lid on her experience residing at the fun-filled estate, which was named after the mythical land of Peter Pan, from 1988 to 2005, while appearing on Alex Cooper’s podcast, “Call Her Daddy.”<\/a> <\/p>\n

Built in 1982, her famed popstar father purchased his primary estate, which was designed by\u00a0Robert Altevers, in 1987 for $19.5 million and lived there for over 15 years, steadily transforming the estate into a kind of theme park.<\/p>\n

Under Jackson\u2019s ownership, the compound once held as many as 22 structures, including a zoo with exotic animals, amusement park rides, and now iconic landscaping that spelled out the word “Neverland.”<\/p>\n

Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, has offered a rare glimpse inside her extraordinary childhood at the famed Neverland Ranch, where amusement park rides were part of everyday life.Dave M. Benett\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Paris clarified to Cooper that she “didn\u2019t grow up” on the famed estate. <\/p>\n

“It was only the first few years of my life that I was there,” she explained adding that she was homeschooled on the premise. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe cool, very congruent line throughout my childhood that kind of started there and just continued on wherever we went was, if you\u2019re good and you do your chores and you do your homework and you do the things you\u2019re supposed to do, then on the weekends you can go and see some animals and you can go ride some rides and you can go to the movies,\u201d Paris added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was made very, very clear that all of the attractions there were not for us, that did not belong to us, that was for, you know, underprivileged children that were terminally ill that couldn\u2019t go to like Disneyland,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cooper then posed, “Okay, so you weren\u2019t like running around at an amusement park when you\u2019re super, super young?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would\u2019ve been cool, but no, no, I probably would\u2019ve grown up to be an asshole,\u201d Paris quipped.<\/p>\n

Paris then revealed that chores in her family were taken very seriously, adding that whenever the children completed their household duties, they were rewarded.<\/p>\n

She then explained that they “hotel-hopped” and wouldn’t often reside in the same place for more than a year.<\/p>\n

Paris, 28, lifted the lid on her experience residing at the fun-filled estate, which was named after the mythical land of Peter Pan, from 1988 to 2005, while appearing on Alex Cooper’s podcast, “Call Her Daddy.” YouTubeBuilt in 1982, Jackson purchased his primary estate, which was designed by\u00a0Robert Altevers, in 1987 for $19.5 million and he lived there for over 15 years, steadily transforming the estate into a kind of theme park.Paul Harris\/Getty ImagesUnder Jackson\u2019s ownership, the compound once held as many as 22 structures, including a zoo with exotic animals, amusement park rides, and landscaping that spelled out the word “Neverland.”Paul Harris\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we were living in Vegas and it\u2019s like, \u2018Okay, if you\u2019re good, you can go to Circus Circus on the weekends,\u2019 or we were like in some random place in Virginia<\/a>, like, \u2018Okay, if you\u2019re good, you can go to Chuck E. Cheese this weekend,\u2019\u201d she explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, Paris revealed did have some rules when it came to technology, adding that they \u201cweren\u2019t allowed\u201d to watch TV, with the only exception being if it was the weekend. <\/p>\n

The songstress also opened up about the moment she spoke at her father’s memorial service in 2009 when she was just 11 years old. Michael passed away on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt kind of just happened in the moment. It was kind of like … it happened on stage,\u201d Paris revealed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not gone back to watch it to see how quickly it all happened, but it felt like it happened very slowly, and it felt like someone\u2019s got to say something. Little bro is not going to do it. Older bro is not moving. Alright,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Neverland is anchored by a 12,598-square-foot, Normandy-style main house with six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. The first-floor primary suite features a private loft and two bathrooms.<\/p>\n

The location is just 5 miles north of the town of\u00a0Los Olivos<\/a>, about 50 miles from\u00a0Santa Barbara<\/a>. The grounds include a 4-acre lake with a waterfall, mountain views, a barbecue area, pool, poolhouse, tennis court, and basketball court.<\/p>\n

Multiple buildings stand on the property, including three separate guesthouses, a 5,500-square-foot movie theater with a stage, several barns, animal shelter facilities, corrals, and a maintenance shop.<\/p>\n

However, after being charged with and acquitted of child molestation, Jackson left the property in 2005 and didn’t look back.<\/p>\n

The musician told Cooper that she “didn\u2019t grow up there. It was only the first few years of my life that I was there and I\u2019d wake up and I\u2019d go to school.\u201dGilbert Flores\/Variety via Getty ImagesReflecting on her homeschool experience, she explained, “Yeah, I\u2019d wake up and go to the room that was our classroom and we would go to school.\u00a0YouTube<\/p>\n

In 2007, rumors of foreclosure against the estate began circulating, but Jackson’s team remained adamant that it was just a refinancing incident.<\/p>\n

However, one year later, the Financial Title Company told Jackson that unless he handed over $24,525,906.61, the home and all of his things inside would go to auction.<\/p>\n

In March 2008, Jackson’s attorney, L. Londell McMillan, revealed that they had made a deal with the investment group and the auction would not take place. The details of the deal were never revealed.<\/p>\n

Two months later, Colony Capital bought the defaulted loan for $22.5 million.<\/p>\n

One month before moving into the home where he would later die, Jackson transferred the title of the home to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company, LLC.<\/p>\n

He sold off a portion of his property rights for $35 million.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Neverland Ranch was purchased by billionaire real estate investor\u00a0Ron Burkle\u00a0for $22 million\u2014it was previously listed for the much higher price of $100 million in May 2015.<\/p>\n

Cooper then posed, “Okay, so you weren\u2019t like running around at an amusement park when you\u2019re super, super young?\u201dYouTubeThe songstress also opened up about the moment she spoke at her father’s memorial service in 2009 when she was just 11 years old. Michael passed away on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. Kevin Mazur\/MJ Memorial via Getty Images<\/p>\n

After Burkle purchased Neverland, eagle-eyed onlookers noticed that construction had quickly started in and around the property, leading some to suggest that the billionaire was transforming the property into a new Soho House venue.<\/p>\n

However, he insisted to The Wall Street Journal that this was not the case, telling the outlet that he was simply hoping to return the dwelling to its former glory.<\/p>\n

“It was kind of a depressing place. It wasn\u2019t the beautiful place that it was before. It just needed flowers and life in it again,” he said.<\/p>\n

As for the estate’s most infamous former owner and the unsavory accusations that had previously been made against him, Burkle, who served as a financial adviser to Jackson before his death, said that the rumors and speculation did not factor into his decision to buy the home.<\/p>\n

“Michael Jackson hasn\u2019t lived there in over 15 years,” he pointed out.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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