Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson has offered a different look at life around Neverland Ranch. She revealed that access to its famous rides came with a catch for her and her brothers. During an appearance on Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Paris said their father, Michael, treated the attractions as a weekend reward rather than an everyday perk.
Michael Jackson’s children could visit the amusement park after doing chores and homework, Paris says
Paris Jackson explained on the podcast that she and her brothers, Prince and Bigi, did not actually “grow up” at Neverland. She spent only the “first few years” of her childhood there, while the family moved frequently afterward.
Even as their surroundings changed, one household rule stayed put. They had to finish the chores, complete the homework, and behave properly before earning a fun weekend outing. “You do your chores…you do your homework…you do the things you’re supposed to do, then on the weekends you can go and see some animals…some rides and… movies,” she said.
Paris recalled being told that the park’s attractions were reserved for the children it was created to help. She explained that the facilities were meant for underprivileged and terminally ill kids who might not otherwise get the chance to visit major theme parks like Disneyland.
The same reward system followed the siblings beyond Neverland. Paris recalled that the family sometimes “hotel-hopped,” staying in different places for less than a year. In those situations, the incentive simply changed. A good week might earn a trip to Circus Circus in Las Vegas or Chuck E. Cheese elsewhere. Television also remained off-limits during the week unless the children used it for film study with the sound turned off.
Neverland was essentially its own private world, not just a place for Michael Jackson to live. As per the New York Times, he bought the approximately 2,700-acre California estate in 1988, filling it with carnival rides, a train, a zoo and a massive 13,000-square-foot main house. The ranch later became the focus of heavy public scrutiny. After Michael died in 2009, the property remained on the market for years before selling for $22 million in December 2020.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
