Having a father who was one of the biggest idols in modern musical history – and one of the most controversial figures in Hollywood – it would seem impossible to live a private life.
But Michael Jackson‘s youngest son, Prince Michael II, better known as Blanket, has miraculously done just that.
Despite growing up with paparazzi trailing him and the media covering his every movie, Blanket – who ditched the nickname and now goes by Bigi instead – practically left the limelight altogether in the years after his father’s shock death.
Up until now, that is. The notoriously private now 22-year-old was thrown back into the public eye this week after news hit the web that he had become embroiled in a legal battle with his grandmother and former guardian, Katherine Jackson.
Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Prince Michael II, has become embroiled in a legal battle with his grandmother. He’s seen with her and his siblings with Justin Bieber in 2012
Since his father’s death, the singer’s youngest son, previously known as Blanket but now goes by Bigi, has lived a relatively quiet life. He’s seen as a kid with his dad and siblings
Bigi’s life has certainly been a rollercoaster ride from the start. Michael welcomed him via surrogate in 2002, and before he was even one years old, he had become embroiled in his first controversy.
At nine months, his father decided to hold him over his hotel balcony to show him off to his adoring fans below; pictures of the hitmaker dangling the baby off the edge of the hotel railing quickly made their way around the web, sparking massive backlash against Michael and a fierce interest in his new son.
Then, just over one year after he was born, things only got worse when Michael was charged with seven different counts of child sexual abuse.
The shocking allegations against him only drew an even bigger spotlight onto every detail of the singer’s personal life, as well as the relationship with his children.
He did his best to shield little Bigi, as well as his siblings Prince and Paris Jackson, from the horrific ordeal – making them cover their faces with bizarre masks or pieces of fabric if they ever stepped outside.
He worked tirelessly to try to protect them from the media storm surrounding his ongoing trial, but the efforts for anonymity only fueled the world’s intrigue into pop sensation’s mysterious offspring.
Amid the devastating allegations that their dad was facing and the media picking apart their entire family, the kids ultimately spent most of their time confined to Michael’s now-infamous Neverland ranch, which was also the place where his alleged victims claimed that the abuse took place.
After spending the first years of their life shrouded in secrecy and scandal, Bigi and his siblings faced another tragic blow when their father passed away suddenly from acute propofol intoxication in 2009 at age 50.
His childhood was shrouded in secrecy and plagued by scandals, heartbreaks, and tragedies – including his dad’s child sexual abuse trial. Bigi is seen in 2011
As Bigi comes back into the spotlight after years of hiding, FEMAIL went ahead and recapped his journey from start to finish. He’s seen earlier this month during a rare outing
Bigi, who was only seven at the time, showed his face clearly to the world for the first time ever at the memorial service; he and his siblings went to live with their grandmother Katherine, and they did their best to move forward.
But unfortunately, the heartbreak didn’t end there for them. In 2012, Paris took to social media to beg for help after she said her grandmother had gone ‘missing’ and wasn’t answering their calls.
It was later revealed that Katherine had been staying at a spa and that her phone wasn’t working, and their cousin, TJ Jackson, was given emergency temporary custody.
Bigi retreated from the spotlight after that, unlike his older siblings, who have since become stars in their own right.
He rakes in $8 million annually from his dad’s immense fortune, and lives in a lavish six-bedroom $2.6 million mansion, but it seems he spent much of his teenage years doing what any boy would do – watching Marvel movies and reading comics.
The extremely private star is rarely ever seen, doesn’t partake in interviews much, and has no social media accounts – but despite his best efforts, it seems Bigi cannot escape the public eye.
He’s now become the center of attention once again, amid the recent news that he has gone to war with his own grandmother over funds from his late father’s estate.
As Bigi comes back into the spotlight after years of hiding, FEMAIL recapped his journey from start to finish – from his unusual childhood and what it was really like to reside on the Neverland ranch to what happened to him following his father’s death and what he’s doing now.
Take a look inside the life of Blanket ‘Bigi’ Jackson, the most private of Michael’s three kids.
Embroiled in controversy before he even turned one years old: Bigi was instantly skyrocketed into the spotlight after his dad was spotted dangling him over a balcony as a baby
Bigi was embroiled in scandal almost immediately after his birth. At only nine months old, he became the center of controversy after his dad held him over the edge of a balcony (seen)
While staying at the lavish Adlon Hotel in Berlin, the musician showed off his young son to the crowds of adoring fans below, dangling the baby over the railing in 2002
Unlike Michael’s first two kids, who he welcomed with Debbie Rowe, Bigi – born Prince Michael II – was born via surrogate on February 21, 2002. The identity of his mother has never been revealed.
‘I used a surrogate mother and my own sperm cells,’ the singer later told biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli.
‘She doesn’t know me and I don’t know her. I didn’t care what race she was so long as she was healthy and her vision was good. And her intellect – I wanted to know how intelligent she is.’
Bigi was given the nickname Blanket at a young age from his dad, who once explained to reporters, ‘It’s an expression I use with my family and my employees.
‘I say, “You should blanket me, you should blanket her with something,” meaning, like, a blanket is a blessing. It’s a way of showing love and caring.’
But almost immediately, the youngster was shrouded in scandal. At only nine months old, he became the center of controversy after his dad held him over the edge of a balcony.
While staying at the lavish Adlon Hotel in Berlin, the musician showed off his young son to the crowds of adoring fans below.
But when he dangled the baby over the railing, many wondered if it was safe – and quickly started questioning his abilities as a father.
‘I offer no excuses for what happened,’ he said afterwards. ‘I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children.
A childhood shrouded in scandal and secrecy: Michael tried to conceal his son by covering his face with veils and masks – as the singer weathered a media circus over his sexual abuse allegations
In 2003, just one year after Bigi was born, Michael was charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse. He’s seen at the trial in 2005
During the trial and the years that followed, Michael did his best to shield Bigi, as well as his other kids, from the public eye, covering their faces with masks or pieces of fabric
Bigi’s childhood was shrouded in secrecy and scandal – as his father’s sexual abuse accusations dominated headlines throughout much of his upbringing.
In 2003, just one year after Bigi was born, a man named Gavin Arvizo accused Michael of molesting him when he was 13 years old, and the hitmaker was charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to commit a child sexual abuse felon.
Michael had previously been accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 by someone named Jordan Chandler, but they settled out of court.
Paris later stated in 2010 of wearing the disguises, ‘It wasn’t always comfortable, but I appreciated it.’ She’s seen with her brother in 2002
The trial began in 2005 and lasted four months, and every aspect was covered by the media, sparking an even bigger interest into Michael’s personal life, which included his relationship with his three kids.
The musician denied the allegations and was acquitted on all counts in June 2005, but his reputation was already tarnished.
During the trial and the years that followed, Michael did his best to shield Bigi, as well as his other kids, from the public eye.
‘I grew up in a fishbowl and will not allow the same to happen to my child. Please respect our wishes and give my son his privacy,’ he said following eldest son Prince’s birth.
Whenever he would step out in public with them, he would often cover their faces with masks or pieces of fabric.
He worked tirelessly to try to protect them from the media storm surrounding him, but the efforts for anonymity only fueled the world’s intrigue into pop sensation’s mysterious offspring.
Since they were homeschooled and hardly ever went out due to the paparazzi, the three kids spent almost all of their time at Michael’s now-infamous Neverland ranch in California
The estate was a dream for kids – filled with rides, toys, and even a zoo – but Paris has insisted that she and her siblings didn’t get to partake in the fun as much as some may think
Debbie once revealed that it was her idea to cover the kids’ faces after she read some ‘terrifying’ threats they had received.
‘That was my request, not his,’ she said in 2003. ‘He’s very proud of his children – I’m the one who’s terrified.
‘I’m the one who’s seen the notes that someone’s gonna take his children. I’m sure one day he’ll ask the children, “Do you want to wear the scarf?”
‘I will have immediate heart failure. But he’s not going to make his children do something they don’t want to do, he’s not that kind of parent.’
Paris later stated in 2010 of wearing the disguises, ‘It wasn’t always comfortable, but I appreciated it.’
‘My dad spoke to me like an adult. He told us the reason for the masks was he wanted us to have our own life without him,’ Prince has also reflected.
The Billie Jean crooner did his best to give Bigi and his siblings a normal childhood despite their extraordinary circumstances.
He enthralled a deep love of family in his three kids, which meant they formed an extremely strong bond from a young age.
‘When we were growing up, my father would say, you know, “We could have nothing, but you look around in this room, your brother, your sister, and me, that’s all you’ll ever have,”‘ Prince previously told Good Morning Britain in 2022.
‘And that always stuck with my siblings and I, and we have such a close relationship.’
Since they were homeschooled and hardly ever went out due to the paparazzi, the three kids spent almost all of their time at Michael’s now-infamous Neverland ranch in Los Olivos, California.
The estate was a dream for kids – filled with rides, toys, and even a zoo – but Paris has insisted that she and her siblings didn’t get to partake in the fun as much as some may think.
‘We were very privileged growing up, but when it came to things like getting toys and going on the rides, we had to earn that,’ she said.
‘It was very clear to us that those rides and the zoo were for underprivileged children – children who were sick and couldn’t go to Disneyland.
‘If we were good, and we did our homework and we worked hard throughout the week, maybe we could go at the weekends, but we had to earn it.’
Thrown into the ‘real world’ after his dad’s sudden death: Bigi showed his face publicly for the first time at his father’s memorial, and went to live with his grandmother, Katherine
Michael passed away on June 25, 2009 – when Bigi was seven – and for the first time in his life, the world got a clear look at his face when he attended the memorial service
Afterwards, Michael’s mom Katherine Jackson (seen with Michael at his trial in 2005) received custody of Bigi and his siblings
‘Michael put masks on them to protect them and to keep them safe,’ the singer’s sister La Toya Jackson (seen with Bigi and Alexandra Burke in 2011) said. ‘He’s gone now. The mask comes off’
In the years that followed, the three Jackson children made rare appearances at various events and red carpets, but they mostly lived normal lives out of the spotlight. They’re seen in 2012
Michael passed away on June 25, 2009 – when Bigi was only seven years old – and for the first time in his life, the world got a clear look at his face when he attended the memorial service without something shielding it from view.
Afterwards, Michael’s mom Katherine received custody of Bigi and his siblings.
They leaned heavily on one another for support. Prince once explained, ‘I think with any siblings, you know, you grow up in a situation and factors that are very similar. Just like in that situation, you have a bond with them because nobody else really understands how you grew up or how you were raised.’ Bigi is seen in 2012
‘Michael put masks on them to protect them and to keep them safe from anyone who wanted to hurt him,’ the singer’s sister La Toya Jackson said in 2011.
‘He’s gone now. The first thing my mother did was say to them, “Today we’re unmasking you. Today the masks come off.”‘
In the years that followed, the three Jackson children made rare appearances at various events and red carpets, but they mostly lived normal lives out of the spotlight.
They leaned heavily on one another for support. Prince once explained, ‘After his passing, and us being thrown into the real world, my siblings, honestly, they picked up the slack that I unfortunately left behind.
‘I think with any siblings, you know, you grow up in a situation and factors that are very similar.
‘Just like in that situation, you have a bond with them because nobody else really understands how you grew up or how you were raised.
‘But they 100 per cent understand you and it’s a very raw, unfiltered relationship. Especially when there’s a lot of people who may not have the best intentions for you.
But the family become the subject of media attention again in 2012, when Paris took to Twitter to reveal that they hadn’t seen their grandmother ‘in a week.’ Bigi is seen in 2012
It was later reported that Katherine had been at a spa in Arizona and that her phone hadn’t been working. The kids are seen in 2012
‘It’s very easy to get caught up in a lot of fake personalities, so I think it’s only made us stronger as siblings to have that bond, to have that very real and raw relationship with each other, that we know it’s always love.’
But the family become the subject of media attention again in 2012, when Paris took to Twitter to reveal that they hadn’t seen their grandmother ‘in a week.’
As of 2019, their cousin, TJ Jackson (seen in 2022), said in an interview that they were mainly under his care
‘My grandmother is missing. I haven’t spoken with her in a week, I want her home now,’ she wrote. ‘If anybody sees my grandmother please call the authorities.’
An emergency hearing over the children’s custody was called, and their cousin, TJ – who is the son of Michael’s brother Tito Jackson – was given temporary guardianship.
It was later reported that Katherine had been at a spa in Arizona. She reportedly claimed that she didn’t know her grandchildren were trying to reach her because her ‘iPad was taken away from her and her room telephone was not working,’ per CBS News.
The court later ruled that she and TJ would share parental duties of the three kids.
As of 2019, TJ said in an interview that they were mainly under his care. He explained, ‘When [Michael] passed, my brothers and I, we went to our grandmother and basically told her, however we can help, we want to be there.
‘Whenever she’d go out of town she’d always call me to see if I can come by and watch them.
‘I think she knew I was the only one with a child, so she knew I thought like a parent and I would take care of them like a parent.
‘In time, as she’s gotten older, she’s kind of phased out of it and now I’m officially just the sole guardian. She relinquished it recently.
‘But I was always there with my brothers, and I think it’s important because she’s almost 90 years old and she’s a grandma, she needs to relax.
‘It’s tough raising kids, let alone teenagers, for anyone, let alone a 90-year-old. So I think it was the right thing and she needs to relax and enjoy her grandkids as a grandmother.’
Trying to stay out of the spotlight while raking in $8 million a year: Bigi does his best to live a private life, but was thrust back into the public eye amid the news that he’s at war with his grandma
Bigi now lives an extremely quiet life out of the spotlight, and unlike his older siblings, he doesn’t even use social media. He’s seen in 2019
But he does appear on their accounts once in a while, and is sometimes seen on rare outings around Los Angeles. He’s pictured with his brother in 2022
In 2015, he shed the nickname that he’d had for his whole life and started going by Bigi instead. And in 2017, his sister Paris shared a snap with him and Prince on Christmas (seen)
Bigi now lives an extremely quiet life out of the spotlight, and unlike his older siblings, he doesn’t even use social media.
When he turned 18 in 2019, she gave another rare glimpse of the then-teenager while sharing a touching tribute in honor of his birthday (seen)
But he does appear on their accounts once in a while, and is sometimes seen on rare outings around Los Angeles.
In 2015, he shed the nickname that he’d had for his whole life and started going by Bigi instead.
And in 2017, he was seen for the first time in years when his sister, Paris, shared a snap with him and Prince on Christmas.
When he turned 18 in 2019, she gave another rare glimpse of the then-teenager while sharing a touching tribute in honor of his birthday
‘My little brother is a legal adult today. What the f**k,’ she wrote alongside a photo of him posing with some friends. ‘I used to change his diapers, this is such a trip.
‘Proud of the handsome, intelligent, insightful, funny, and kind young man he has become. He likes privacy so that’s all I gotta say. Happy birthday little bro.’
In 2019, Bigi and Prince launched a movie review channel on YouTube together, but only one episode exists on the account.
In it, the brothers discussed the Marvel flick Avengers: Endgame with their cousin, Taj, and special guest James Sutherland.
While it’s unclear if he’s currently enrolled in college or what he’s studying, it seems Bigi has a fierce passion for the movie industry.
‘When I grow up I want to be a director because it’s fun, and I make little movies when I’m at my house with cousins and friends,’ he said in 2012 in the Jacksonology: Our Story documentary.
Prince also dished on his brother’s potential future career as a filmmaker back in 2019 – something he believed Bigi gained from their late father.
In 2019, Bigi and Prince launched a movie review channel on YouTube together, but only one episode exists on the account
While it’s unclear if he’s currently enrolled in college or what he’s studying, it seems Bigi has a fierce passion for the movie industry. He’s seen with his brother last year
‘My brother has a really unique talent to be able to tell you, even a movie he hasn’t seen, he’ll tell you what year it came out,’ he revealed to Entertainment Tonight.
‘He knows the director, the staff, the crew, everybody behind it that you wouldn’t know.
‘He really thinks and studies about film in a different way that you would notice and that comes with his upbringing with my dad encouraging him to study film.
‘We had a film teacher at a very young age. So it was really his idea and he was championing behind it.’
Bigi sat down for an extremely rare interview with Good Morning Britain in 2021, during which he spoke about his passion for environmentalism ahead of the COP26 climate change conference.
‘I do think it’s important that we all know about it. I think we have some work to do but our generation knows how important it is,’ he said.
Michael reportedly left 40 per cent of his $500 million fortune to his kids, and per the New York Post, each of them receive an annual allowance of $8 million.
On top of the yearly payments, it’s been reported that they are set to receive $33 million each, paid out in three different increments when they reach age 30, 35, and 40.
In February 2023, Bigi wrote, directed, and produced a short film called Rochelles.
He lives in a lavish $2.6 million Calabasas mansion, which he bought in 2020 following his 18th birthday.
The six-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom abode is located in an extremely private, gated community with 24/7 guards on patrol.
Against his best efforts, Bigi was recently thrown back into the spotlight after it was revealed that he had become embroiled in legal battle with his grandmother and former guardian, Katherine.
He lives in a lavish $2.6 million Calabasas mansion, which he bought in 2020 following his 18th birthday (seen). It has six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms
Bigi is now attempting to stop Katherine (seen together in 2009) from using his late father’s estate money to fund her ongoing legal battle between her and Michael’s executors
According to TMZ, he is attempting to stop Katherine from using his late father’s estate money to fund her ongoing legal battle between her and Michael’s executors John Branca and John McClain.
Katherine has been battling it out in court with the men over the late Thriller singer’s catalog.
And while Bigi was reportedly on her side at first, he switched gears after she filed an appeal against the judge’s ruling earlier this year.
Attorneys for Bigi said in court documents that he felt the appeal would not be a successful one and didn’t want to depreciate the value of the estate with expensive legal bills.
His legal team requested the court ‘use its best judgment’ in ruling for Katherine to be reimbursed for ‘reasonable attorney’s fees’ she racked prior to appealing the court’s ruling.
His lawyers added that Bigi hoped to keep his position on the matter under wraps, encouraging the court to maintain confidentiality on certain aspects of the legal conflict.
Bigi ‘is a very private person and may have said nothing if he knew that his words or positions could become public,’ his lawyers said.
‘That, in turn, would have denied the trial court of the ability to hear and consider all aspects of the proposed action.’
