[ad_1]
Friday, December 25, 2020
Michael Jackson heritage
Billionaire buys Neverland Ranch
Zoo, Ferris Wheel and Train: With “Neverland” Michael Jackson creates his own fairytale land. But there are also abuse allegations against the superstar. Now the outrageous property is changing hands for a bargain price.
The “Neverland” ranch of pop superstar Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, has been sold to an American billionaire. The California property was acquired by businessman Ron Burkle, as announced by his spokesman. According to information from the “Wall Street Journal,” Burkle is said to have paid the greatly reduced price of about $ 22 million. In 2015, $ 100 million was requested.
Jackson, deeply in debt, had already sold the “Neverland” ranch a year before his death. It was later acquired by investment firm Colony Capital for $ 22.5 million. According to his spokesman, the new owner sees the property as an “opportunity to do business with building land.” Burkle’s business empire, based in the state of Montana, branches out from the supermarket to the entertainment industry.
After the death of the “King of Pop,” the property, renamed “Sycamore Valley Ranch,” was up for sale for years. Last year, the price had already dropped to $ 31 million. The 1,100-acre property is 40 miles from Santa Barbara, Southern California. In addition to the main house with six bedrooms, there are three guest houses, a waterfall lake, several tennis courts and animal housing.
Jackson invited the little children to stay over.
Jackson had designed “Neverland” as a kind of fairy tale land. In its day, there was a zoo, a railway, a Ferris wheel, and other amusement parks. The “King of Pop” wrote some of his greatest hits on the estate. But it was also the place where he invited young children to spend the night. The location played a large role in the abuse allegations against Jackson.
Last year, two now-grown men reiterated their previous allegations of being sexually abused by the singer.
(Photo: picture-alliance / dpa / dpaweb)
Jackson was acquitted of the charges in 2005. After the trial, however, he vowed never to return to “Neverland.” In a 2019 documentary, two now-grown men reiterated their previous accusations of being sexually abused by the singer.
The megastar died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50 from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. The pop singer sold over 350 million albums and received 13 Grammy Awards.
