KUALA LUMPUR: Although it's been nearly 15 years since his passing, Michael Jackson's children are still reportedly unable to benefit from the great legacy left by their father.
In a recent news report, after the legend's tragic death in 2009, it is still unclear now who will inherit the King of Pop's vast fortune, estimated at RM8.6 billion.
Since his death, Jackson's fortune has continued to grow, reportedly bringing in half a billion dollars in just three years, according to media reports.
Despite being named in Jackson's will, his three children, namely Prince, 27; Paris, 26; and Bigi, 22, have not received anything from their father's inheritance due to a long-running legal dispute.
According to Jackson's will filed in 2002, the estate would be distributed to the "Michael Jackson Family Trust," with 20 percent going to charity, the rest going to his mother, Katherine Jackson, and a portion to his three children.
But the distribution of wealth among the three children is not simple due to a dispute between Jackson and the US' Inland Revenue Service.
Until this dispute is resolved, his children cannot access any of their US116 million (RM508 million) inheritance.
Although his children have not yet received their full inheritance, they are said to be provided with a substantial sum of allowance from a trust set up by their late father.
In March, Bigi was reported to have filed a case against grandmother Katherine, to stop her from using money from the estate to pay for her legal counsel's fee.
In 2009, Joe (Michael's father who died in 2018) also filed to claim a portion from the inheritance, but it was denied.