Michael Jackson's Death: 5 Things You Didn't Know
For this list, we'll be examining some of the lesser-known facts that surround Michael Jackson's untimely death.
#4: His Death Is Considered a Homicide
While conspiracy theorists would have you believe that Michael Jackson is sipping champagne on a beach somewhere next to Elvis and Tupac, the truth is that he died on June 25th, 2009. And now his death is officially considered a homicide. In fact, Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician at the time of his death, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in 2011 and sentenced to four years in prison. Murray was the one who administered the lethal dose of propofol to Jackson the night before his death; and he did it outside of a hospital and without the proper equipment to monitor his patient’s vitals. Ultimately, he was deemed to be at fault for the singer’s death.
#3: He Died the Same Day as Farrah Fawcett
You’d be understandably forgiven if back in 2009 you didn’t realize that Farrah Fawcett, the actress and model best known for her portrayal of Jill Munroe on the TV series “Charlie’s Angels”, had passed away. You see, Fawcett died a few hours before pop icon Michael Jackson did. She was a star in her own right, but media coverage of her death was understandably overshadowed by that of Jackson’s own untimely demise. 62 at the time of her death, Fawcett received a posthumous Emmy nomination for the documentary “Farrah’s Story”, which she helped produce.
#2: He Was Planning a Comeback Show
In March of 2009, just months before his death, Michael Jackson announced that he was planning a concert tour called This Is It. The tour, which he claimed would be his “final curtain call”, would feature shows around the world. Soon after the announcement, Jackson travelled to Los Angeles to rehearse for the upcoming tour. Sadly, less than three weeks before the first This Is It concert, Jackson died. Later that year, the “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” documentary, which featured behind the scenes footage of Jackson preparing for his ill-fated tour was released. Despite its limited run, it became the highest grossing documentary of all time, a testament to Jackson’s worldwide popularity.
#1: He Is One of the Highest Earning Dead Celebrities
Cultural icons like Michael Jackson never truly die. They continue to impact the world long after they’re gone; sometimes in ways that are incredibly lucrative! Much like Elvis and Bob Marley before him, Jackson has continued to rake in cash despite the fact that he’s...well, dead. In fact, a Forbes report states that Jackson took in $825 million in 2016 alone. But it’s not all about money. Jackson also won a number of awards after his death, including four American Music Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Grammys. Even in death, he is still the King of Pop.