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Michael Jackson ordered to pay £12million or lose Neverland
Updated 14:14pm on 28 Feb 2008
Financial trouble: Michael Jackson, here in Japan last year, has been ordered to pay £12m - or lose his beloved California estate Neverland
The self-proclaimed King of Pop, 49, owes three months arrears on the sprawling 2,800 acre property in Santa Barbara County, California.
The reclusive singer has been told to pay up or the entire estate, including the land, house and fairground, will be offered for sale at auction on the court county steps on 19 March.
The trustee of Neverland, the Financial Title Co., filed court papers at Santa Barbara County Superior Court on Monday.
The company warned Jackson: "You are in default of a deed of trust. Unless you take action to protect your property it may be sold at a public sale."
Jackson hasn't lived at the sprawling ranch since his June 2005 acquittal of child molestation charges and has spent the past few years living in Bahrain, Ireland and Las Vegas.
The Thriller star bought the ranch in the hills above the California coastline in 1988 and named it Neverland after the whimsical land in J.M. Barrie's classic Peter Pan story.
After building a zoo and fairground, Jackson invite young fans and children's charities to visit and hosted many parties at the estate.
In March 2006, Jackson was fined £85,000 for failing to pay his Ranch employees' wages since December 2005 and their workers' compensation had lapsed.
Up for sale? The sprawling ranch outside Santa Barbara, California, could be sold at auction next month if Jackson fails to pay up
Lavish entrance: The gilded Jackson family crest greets visitors to Neverland
Reader views (4)
He should be allowed to keep the house because he is so talented.
- Simon Payton, London, UK, 28/02/2008 10:21
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He had a mortgage on the property in 1988 when his earnings were out of this world. Seems to me that he and his financial advisers can't be that good at business 'because he should have purchased the property outright!
- Sam, Lewisham, 27/02/2008 21:41
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I was just wondering why MJ has to pay up 12.5 Million dollars. What is the money for please? That is the only thing I don't understand. Is he paying the money because he has a house or what is the money based on?
- Tracy, Manchester, 27/02/2008 21:01
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I'm sure the £12.5 million Michael Jackson is alleged to owe on his Neverland property will be sorted out very soon, and he will keep his home. Neverland has bought MJ nothing but bad luck, and he'd be better of selling it for that reason alone.
- Ben S, London, 27/02/2008 13:11
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