Paris Jackson reveals truth of ‘strict’ childhood at Neverland Ranch

Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson. Photo: LISA O’CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images

Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, has offered a rare glimpse inside her extraordinary childhood at the famed Neverland Ranch.

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.”

Built in 1982, her famed pop star father purchased his primary estate, which was designed by Robert Altevers, in 1987 for $US19.5 million ($27.55m) and lived there for over 15 years, steadily transforming the estate into a kind of theme park.

Under Jackson’s 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.”

Paris clarified to Cooper that she “didn’t grow up” on the famed estate.

“It was only the first few years of my life that I was there,” she explained adding that she was homeschooled on the premise.

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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. Photo: Benett/Getty Images

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“The cool, very congruent line throughout my childhood that kind of started there and just continued on wherever we went was, if you’re good and you do your chores and you do your homework and you do the things you’re 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,” Paris added.

“It 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’t go to like Disneyland,” she said.

Cooper then posed, “Okay, so you weren’t like running around at an amusement park when you’re super, super young?”

“It would’ve been cool, but no, no, I probably would’ve grown up to be an asshole,” Paris quipped.

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

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

Paris Jackson talking about her home life on Call Her Daddy. Photo: YouTube.

“If we were living in Vegas and it’s like, ‘Okay, if you’re good, you can go to Circus Circus on the weekends,’ or we were like in some random place in Virginia, like, ‘Okay, if you’re good, you can go to Chuck E. Cheese this weekend,’” she explained.

However, Paris revealed did have some rules when it came to technology, adding that they “weren’t allowed” to watch TV, with the only exception being if it was the weekend.

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.

“It kind of just happened in the moment. It was kind of like … it happened on stage,” Paris revealed.

“I 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’s got to say something. Little bro is not going to do it. Older bro is not moving. All right,” she added.

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.

Built in 1982, Jackson purchased his primary estate, which was designed by Robert 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. Photo: Paul Harris/Getty Images

The location is just 5 miles north of the town of Los Olivos, about 50 miles from Santa Barbara. The grounds include a 4-acre lake with a waterfall, mountain views, a barbecue area, pool, pool house, tennis court, and basketball court.

Multiple buildings stand on the property, including three separate guesthouses, a 5,500-square-foot movie theatre with a stage, several barns, animal shelter facilities, corrals, and a maintenance shop.

Neverland. Photo: Paul Harris / Getty Images.

However, after being charged with and acquitted of child molestation, Jackson left the property in 2005 and didn’t look back.

In 2007, rumours of foreclosure against the estate began circulating, but Jackson’s team remained adamant that it was just a refinancing incident.

However, one year later, the Financial Title Company told Jackson that unless he handed over $US24,525,906.61 ($35m) the home and all of his things inside would go to auction.

In March 2008, Jackson’s lawyer, 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.

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. Photo: Kevin Mazur/MJ Memorial via Getty Images

Two months later, Colony Capital bought the defaulted loan for $US22.5 million ($31.7m).

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.

He sold off a portion of his property rights for $US35 million ($49.5m).

In 2020, Neverland Ranch was purchased by billionaire real estate investor Ron Burkle for $US22 million ($31m) — it was previously listed for the much higher price of $US100 million ($141m) in May 2015.

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