Even though they were famous, the Jackson brothers were broke. Discover how Tito, Michael, Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine, and Randy became poor via unpaid child support and failed businesses.
Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson ruled the charts and changed pop music.
Behind the glamour of celebrity and success, costly lifestyles, bad investments, and personal court disputes turned their once-lucrative careers into a succession of obstacles.
Tito Jackson
The Jackson 5’s excellent guitarist, Tito, helped the group’s ascent to stardom in the 1970s. After the group’s peak, he struggled financially, dramatically changing his path.
Tito continued his passion for music with a blues and jazz band, but his post-Jackson 5 career wasn’t financially secure.
His shows, frequently in small venues, earned $500 to $1,500, a pittance compared to The Jackson 5’s massive appearances. On September 15, 2024, Tito Jackson died driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
The Jackson brothers, TJ, Taryll, and Taj, who were successful in the 1990s with 3T, mourn their father. In a touching Instagram message, they mourned their father and paid tribute to the musician.
Jackson
Once one of The Jackson 5’s most famous faces, Jermaine sang many of their singles. The failure of his business operations left him unable to pay child support in 2010, revealing his financial woes.
Jermaine’s monthly income decreased to under $1,100, according to Los Angeles County court filings. Due to financial hardship, he requested a reduction in child support from $3,000 to $215 per month.
The singer also claimed his children’s mother made more. Despite winning $450,000 from “Big Brother” in 2007, Jermaine’s income rapidly deteriorated, and his once-glamorous lifestyle became untenable.
Jermaine had financial problems beyond child maintenance. According to reports, his five-bedroom, six-bathroom Calabasas rental was on the verge of foreclosure with a minimum auction offer of almost $2 million.
He reported $150,000 in jewelry, furs, and garments stolen from a bag at the house to the police. Jermaine faced jail time for unpaid child support of roughly $100,000, on top of rising bills and back taxes.
The R&B artist owing Alejandra Jackson, his children’s mother, thousands in court-ordered payments by 2013. Alejandra allegedly got California government officials to withhold his earnings until the debt was paid.
Alejandra sought aid from Los Angeles County Child Support Services after multiple payment concerns with Jermaine.
Officials requested a judge to order The Jackson 5 member to turn over the money or be jailed. Jermaine also faced a court suit in 2023 over 1980s sexual assault allegations, further ruining his reputation.
Marlon Jackson
Marlon, one of The Jackson 5’s quieter members, was recognized for his silky dance skills and harmony vocals that defined their style.
After the group’s success faded, he founded The Motherland Group, LLC to promote Nigerian tourism. He founded the Marlon Jackson Study Peace Foundation to promote global peace.
Marlon’s finances deteriorated despite these efforts. He was reportedly stocking shelves at a San Diego Vons supermarket in 2008 to make ends meet. Financial issues reportedly prompted the artist and his wife, Carol, to live in an extended-stay hotel.
Randy Jackson
Randy, the youngest Jackson sibling, joined the band after Jermaine left but still shaped its style in the 1970s and 80s.
The group’s fall highlighted his financial problems, especially after he pled guilty to bankruptcy fraud in 2001 for failing to declare a vehicle.
Randy struggled while he worked numerous jobs, including maintaining vehicles in Los Angeles. He often turned to his brothers for financial assistance, especially when he couldn’t pay his over $500,000 child support bills.
Jackie Jackson
Jackie, the oldest Jackson brother, was recognized for his beautiful vocals and stage presence in The Jackson 5. After the group’s demise, he struggled in business.
Jackie started an online clothes business and managed his son Siggy’s singing career in 2008. His ventures failed to provide financial stability.
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, captivated the globe with his unrivaled brilliance, famous dance moves, and chart-topping tunes. His financial struggles led to his downfall and harmed his family.
The legendary singer made millions from his music repertoire, including Beatles songs. However, his lavish lifestyle and spending soon overtook his income.
The debt payments alone cost Michael almost $30 million annually. A forensic accountant testified that Michael spent a lot on charitable donations, luxury things, travel, art, furniture, and jewelry during his wrongful death trial.
Michael used his valuable music archive to refinance hundreds of millions of loans to avoid bankruptcy. Despite these efforts, his debts escalated, and his luxurious California mansion, Neverland Ranch, nearly closed due to unpaid staff and maintenance.
Michael assisted his siblings financially by paying bills and lending money, which strained his finances. His departure from The Jackson 5 hurt their popularity.
Some members struggled to make ends meet, reminding them of their modest beginnings. Behind the scenes, Michael was accused of restricting his brothers’ careers.
Michael signed his siblings to MJJ but allegedly refused to release their music. “Michael’s mission was to make sure his family was broke, and he accomplished that through the industry, which mostly kowtowed to him,” said Bob Jones, legendary singer’s former longtime director of communications.
The Jackson family, including Michael, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1997. Jermaine’s Jackson Communications Inc. failed, leaving the family with almost $45 million in debt.
Michael and sisters La Toya and Janet Jackson avoided some legal ramifications. His financial instability and reluctance to assist his siblings recover contributed to a sense of communal financial catastrophe.
Tito, Michael, Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine, and Randy Jackson struggled with bankruptcy, debt, and personal issues despite their early success.
Mismanagement, failed projects, and personal mistakes turned their once-glamorous lives into cautionary stories of how rapidly fortunes can unravel, leaving a legacy of musical talent and financial despair.