Michael Jackson lived in Los Olivos, California, on his 'Neverland' ranch for almost 20 years, leaving the home in 2005.
The estate, which covered a 13,000-square-foot French country home sitting on a 2,700-acre theme park-style complex, was purchased by the late singer in 1988 and named after the imaginary land in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.
© Getty ImagesAccording to The New York Times, it featured a movie theater, a lake, and a train station, as well as an amusement park with a Ferris wheel and a petting zoo that became home to llamas, chimps, and other animals. It was open by invitation only, and zoning regulations prevented public access.
© Getty ImagesMichael's sister La Toya Jackson wrote in her 2011 book Starting Over that the ranch "was a living fairy tale, which Michael created to finally have a normal childhood and life for himself."
Police raid Neverland
However, in 2003, the property, which once cost around £1.2m a year to maintain, was raided by police as part of an investigation into the nature of Michael's friendship with a 13-year-old boy.
© Getty ImagesAt the time, The Guardian reported that the raid was carried out by the local county sheriff's department, accompanied by members of the district attorney's office.
It took place over several hours and was backed by a search warrant. Michael was in Las Vegas with his children at the time of the search amid the filming of his 'One More Chance' music video.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesAs per The New York Times, the Jackson 5 star was acquitted of all charges in 2005. It wasn't until 2019, following Michael's death in 2009, that the documentary Leaving Neverland was released, in which Wade Robson and James Safechuck made allegations of sexual molestation, which they claimed happened on the ranch estate.
According to La Toya Jackson, Michael vowed never to return to Neverland after his 2005 trial. "I hate this place," he said, per Starting Over. "I can't stand it. I never want to see it again. Never. I'll never come back here." He died at the age of 50, without ever returning to the ranch.
Who owns Neverland now?
Neverland, which was originally known as Sycamore Valley Ranch, remained in Michael's possession until his death. Though he abandoned it in 2005, Michael's fund management company, Colony Capital, put the residence into a new coventure that allowed it to remain partly in his possession.
© Getty ImagesThe company removed assets, including the petting zoo and the rides, after his death. In 2020, it was sold for $22 million to Michael's financial advisor, investment billionaire Ron Burkle. According to the Associated Press, the financial advisor saw Neverland Ranch as a "land banking opportunity."
