LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s mother will receive full custody of the late singer’s three children, CBS’ “The Early Show” reports.
The deal was hatched after weeks of discussions between the Jackson family and Debbie Rowe, the music icon’s ex-wife who is the mother of his two oldest children, Prince Michael I, 12, and Paris Katherine, 11. Jackson also has a third child, Prince Michael II (Blanket), whose mother is a never disclosed surrogate.
Under the terms of the custody agreement, Katherine Jackson will grant visitation rights to Debbie Rowe, however the singer’s ex will not receive the big payday that many had speculated about.
“There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson,” said L. Londell McMillan, the attorney for the family matriarch.
Katherine Jackson was awarded temporary custody of the children shortly after her son’s death on June 25.
McMillan would not address rumors that Jackson has a fourth child, a 25-year-old rapper named Omer Bhatti, who was reportedly born after the King of Pop had a one-night stand in the mid-1980s with a Norwegian woman named Pia Bhatti.
“I’m not in the rumor business,” said McMillan. “I’m in the law business. I’m not going to even entertain those questions right now.”
The attorney also dispelled rumors that Katherine Jackson is contesting her son’s 2002 will, which awarded the management of his estate to the singer’s longtime business partners, John McClain and John Branca.
“Our concern is for anyone to have extraordinary powers, they need to have extraordinary trust and integrity,” explained McMillan.
While Jackson died with a debt estimated to be more than $300 million, the stakes are high with his musical legacy likely generating millions into the forseeable future and beyond.
“That estate is worth, in my estimation, a couple of billion dollars,” he said. “You hear $500 million. Don’t buy it.”
