Jackson Closes Neverland Ranch

Despite promises to pay workers, and even receiving a one-day extension from the State of California to pay off his fines, Michael Jackson has shuttered up his prize estate, the Neverland Ranch estate, and laid off most of the staff. (See Michael Jackson to Pay Workers at Neverland Valley Ranch).

The King of Pop had landed himself in trouble last week when it was discovered by the California Department of Industrial Relations that he had failed to pay workers' compensation insurance. At that point, Jackson was fined $69,000, or $1,000 per employee. To compound his problems, Michael Jackson had not been paying his employees, who cited $306,000 in unpaid wages. Jackson received a fine from the State of California in the amount of $100,000 for not paying his employees. (See Trouble at Neverland Ranch) Jackson has managed to dodge legal action by paying the employees their back wages, though he has not paid the fines.

At that time, the Neverland Ranch was ordered closed, and the employees had been asked to leave. Michael Jackson was ordered to pay the fines and pay the employees their back wages before 2,600 acre (1,100 hectare) Neverland Ranch estate could be re-opened to the public. As the ranch is home to such exotic animals as tigers, a crocodile, giraffes, snakes and even orangutans, local animal welfare officials had been caring for the animals.

Reuters has published a statement from Michael Jackson's spokeswoman Raymone Bain. "It is public knowledge that Mr. Jackson currently resides in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain," she said. "He therefore decided to close his house and reduce his workforce. This is a common practice when a residence is vacant for an extended period of time." After being acquitted on charges of sexually molesting a minor last year, Michael Jackson has lived in Bahrain, an island nation in the Persian Gulf, attempting to keep out of the media spotlight. Jackson is currently staying as a guest of Bahrain's royal family.

In an article posted on theFox News website, Roger Friedman reported that "Michael Jackson has shut down his Neverland Ranch for good. Employees were summoned to the ranch Thursday at 5 p.m. PST in staggered groups, given back pay for 12 weeks through today and told the ranch had been shut down by the California Department of Labor." This has been denied by Michael Jackson's spokeswoman. ABC News reports Raymone Bain as saying, "Reports indicating that Neverland has been closed or 'shut down' for good are inaccurate."

The 2,600-acre (1,100-hectare) Neverland Ranch, located in Santa Barbara Country in Central California, possesses a theme park, a 37,000 sq. ft. house, a theater, and a zoo, making it one of the most illustrious, elegant and notorious estates in California. With an estimated value somewhere in the ballpark of $35 million for the estate, Neverland Ranch could be sold to offset some of Michael Jackson's mounting debt. Despite turning a $47.5 million investment in purchasing the rights to all of the Beatles songs, which proved to become valued at $400 million after Jackson sold part of the stake to Sony, Jackson has been strapped for cash after lengthy court battles. As well, maintenance of the Neverland Ranch estate has been placed in the tens of millions of dollars.

Jackson has been rumored to be interested in buying Cliveden, in Berkshire, England. The estate was made infamous, as it was the backdrop for the Profumo sex scandal. As well as settling his living situation, Michael Jackson has been working on trying to record a song to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina, entitled "From the Bottom of my Heart". The single is yet to be released.

Jackson used to be on top of the pop music world, recording such hits as Bad, Thriller, Billie Jean and Black or White. He recorded one track, Scream, with his sister, Janet Jackson.

[Additional Sources: Reuters, Fox News, ABC News]