Paris Jackson scored a big win for her late father Michael Jackson’s estate after a Los Angeles judge ruled that third-party law firms must return $625,000 in unauthorized bonus payments.
The court sustained Paris’ objection to the bonuses paid by executors John Branca and John McClain — who she claims are abusing their positions — to attorneys for the Jackson estate during the second half of 2018, and the judge ruled Paris can seek reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
“Ms. Jackson’s objection to the $625,000 of bonus payments made in the second six months of 2018 is sustained. The bonus payments are not approved; they are disallowed. The payments shall be returned to the estate,” the motion, acquired by People, reads.
The ruling represents a major victory for Paris, 28, because it directly validates her efforts to enforce financial accountability on an estate she believes is being mismanaged.
A spokesperson for the king of pop’s daughter said that she “has always been focused on what’s best for her family and this ruling is a massive win for them.”
“After years of delay, the Jackson family will finally get the transparency and accountability measures Paris has fought for,” the statement continued.
“The Jackson estate is supposed to be a prudent, fiscally responsible entity that supports the Jackson family – not a slush fund to help John Branca live out his Hollywood mogul fantasies.
After months of engaging in sexist, scorched-earth tactics against a beneficiary, it’s time for John Branca to acknowledge his many missteps and act in the best interest of the family he has a fiduciary duty to protect.”
By sustaining her objection, the judge proved that the executors cannot issue large payouts without proper oversight.
The court ensured Paris will not have to pay out-of-pocket for holding the executors accountable.
The court decision shifts the litigation costs away from her personal funds and sets a precedent that protects the beneficiaries — Paris, alongside her brothers, Prince, 29, and Bigi, 24. Legal battles between Paris and the estate have caused a rift between the siblings.
Attorneys for Jackson’s estate, and therefore Branca and McClain, told People that while they “disagree with the decision, we fully respect it and plan to move forward accordingly.”
“We are gratified that the Court itself recognized and praised the work of the executors and its outside counsel in today’s decision,” and in addition, the executors “created real and substantial generational wealth for the estate’s beneficiaries.”
“And, to be clear, none of the $625,000 in bonuses – which represent only a small fraction of the Estate’s expenses for the period in question — were paid to the executors, and the court did not in any way say that the executors had made any inappropriate payments to themselves,” the statement continues.
In April 2026, Paris accused Branca and McClain of using legal filings and media to “mock and belittle” her, demanding greater transparency in annual accounting.
While Paris alleged the executors operate with a lack of transparency and personal attacks, estate attorney Jonathan Steinsapir countered that her claims are a false media campaign intended to distract from legal setbacks, including a lost November 2025 anti-SLAPP motion.
Steinsapir emphasized to People that Paris has received $65 million in benefits and will “inherit many hundreds of millions more.”
Meanwhile, four siblings in Michael Jackson’s “secret family” recently revealed to 60 Minutes Australia that Jackson had repeatedly sexually abused them for years.
