Paris Jackson Recounts Childhood at Neverland Ranch

Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop star Michael Jackson, has provided a rare account of her childhood experiences at the iconic Neverland Ranch. Speaking on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Jackson, now 28, detailed the unique environment of the estate, which was named after the mythical land from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Michael Jackson purchased the primary estate, designed by Robert Altevers, in 1987 for $19.5 million, and resided there for over 15 years, transforming it into a personal theme park. The ranch, built in 1982, reportedly featured up to 22 structures during Jackson's ownership, including a zoo with exotic animals and amusement park rides, alongside distinctive landscaping that spelled out "Neverland."

Jackson clarified that her time living at Neverland Ranch was primarily during the initial years of her life, stating, "It was only the first few years of my life that I was there." She was homeschooled on the premises. A consistent principle throughout her childhood, which began at Neverland, was that privileges were earned through good behavior and fulfilling responsibilities. Jackson explained, "if you’re good and you do your chores and you do your homework and you do the things you’re supposed to do, then on the weekends you can go and see some animals and you can go ride some rides and you can go to the movies." This system ensured that access to the ranch's attractions was not a given but a reward.

Furthermore, Paris Jackson emphasized that the extensive attractions at Neverland Ranch were not intended for her and her siblings' personal use. She stated, "It was made very, very clear that all of the attractions there were not for us, that did not belong to us, that was for, you know, underprivileged children that were terminally ill that couldn’t go to like Disneyland." This policy aimed to reserve the magical experience of the ranch for children facing significant health challenges, rather than for the children of the estate's owner. When asked by Cooper if she ran around the amusement park as a very young child, Jackson humorously replied, "It would’ve been cool, but no, no, I probably would’ve grown up to be an asshole." This perspective highlights a deliberate effort by Michael Jackson to instill a sense of gratitude and perspective in his children regarding the extraordinary circumstances of their upbringing.