Top 50 Unknown and Amazing Facts about Michael Jackson
Known as the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson is still regarded as one of the most recognizable and significant individuals in music history. Jackson started his career as a child star alongside his siblings in the Jackson 5, enthralling audiences with his extraordinary stage presence and precocious talent. He was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana.
His solo career shot him to international superstar status, with albums like Thriller (1982) going on to become the all-time best-selling record. Jackson’s ground-breaking music videos, including “Beat It,” “Thriller,” and “Billie Jean,” transformed the business and elevated MTV to a national icon.
Recognized for his trademark dance routines, such as the moonwalk, his unparalleled vocal abilities, and his inventive blend of pop, rock, and R&B, Jackson redefined the potential of an entertainer. Throughout his life, the media gave his humanitarian efforts, strange personal life, and controversies a great deal of coverage.
Despite his fame, there are many little-known and fascinating facts about Michael Jackson that even his biggest fans might not be aware of. Let’s dive into 50 amazing and unknown facts about the legendary artist.
1. Early Start in Showbiz
Michael Jackson began his career at a remarkably young age. He was only 6 years old when he joined his brothers in the family band, “The Jackson 5.” By the time he was 8, Michael had already become the lead singer.
2. First Solo Album at 14
Michael’s first solo album, Got to Be There, was released when he was just 14 years old. It was a precursor to his solo stardom, showing the world that Michael was destined for greatness even outside his family band.
3. Guinness World Record for Most Charities Supported
Michael Jackson holds the Guinness World Record for supporting the most charities—39 in total. He was known for his generous philanthropic efforts, helping causes related to children, education, and poverty.
4. Bubbles the Chimpanzee
One of the most famous pets in pop culture history, Michael’s pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, often accompanied him to public events. Bubbles lived with Michael at his Neverland Ranch and even slept in a crib in Michael’s bedroom.
5. Co-Wrote “We Are the World”
Michael co-wrote the humanitarian anthem We Are the World in 1985 with Lionel Richie. The song was performed by an ensemble of famous artists and raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa.
6. The Moonwalk: Not His Creation
While Michael Jackson popularized the “Moonwalk” in his performance of Billie Jean, the move was actually inspired by street dancers and was called the “backslide.” Michael perfected it and made it a symbol of his stage performances.
7. Neverland Ranch
Michael Jackson’s famous home, Neverland Ranch, was more than just a mansion. It was a 2,700-acre property that included a private amusement park, a zoo, and a movie theater. It was named after the fictional island in Peter Pan where children never grow up.
8. A Love for Animals
Apart from Bubbles, Michael Jackson had a deep love for animals. His Neverland Ranch was home to a variety of exotic animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, and even a giraffe named Jabbar.
9. Vitiligo Condition
Michael Jackson’s changing skin color was due to a skin condition called vitiligo, which causes the loss of pigment in patches of the skin. This condition became more prominent in the 1980s, and he eventually used makeup to even out his skin tone.
10. Highest-Grossing Tour by a Solo Artist
Michael’s Bad World Tour (1987-1989) was the highest-grossing tour of its time. It was the first solo concert tour to earn over $100 million in revenue, solidifying Michael’s status as a global superstar.
11. Friendship with Princess Diana
Michael Jackson was good friends with Princess Diana of Wales. Before a London performance of Dirty Diana, Michael offered to remove the song from his setlist out of respect for her, but Princess Diana insisted he perform it, saying it was her favorite song.
12. Record-Breaking Thriller
Michael’s Thriller album remains the best-selling album of all time, with over 66 million copies sold worldwide. Released in 1982, Thriller produced numerous hit singles, including Billie Jean, Beat It, and the title track, Thriller.
13. First Black Artist on MTV
Michael Jackson became the first black artist to have a music video on heavy rotation on MTV with his hit Billie Jean. His breakthrough paved the way for other African-American artists to find success on the network.
14. Voice Work for “The Simpsons”
Michael Jackson made an uncredited guest appearance on The Simpsons as the voice of Leon Kompowsky, a character who believed he was Michael Jackson. His contribution to the episode Stark Raving Dad remains a fan favorite.
15. A Patented Shoe Design
Michael invented a shoe to help create the illusion of leaning forward in his Smooth Criminal performance. The design was patented, and the shoes were fitted with a special mechanism that allowed Michael to perform the famous 45-degree lean on stage.
16. Wanted to Play Spider-Man
Michael Jackson was a huge fan of comic books and once attempted to buy Marvel Comics in the 1990s because he wanted to play Spider-Man in a movie adaptation.
17. Guinness World Record for Most Awards Won
Michael Jackson holds the Guinness World Record for the most awards won by a single artist. Throughout his career, he received 13 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Legend Award, and numerous other honors.
18. Humanitarian Legacy
Michael Jackson donated over $500 million to charity throughout his life, supporting causes ranging from children’s hospitals to AIDS research and disaster relief efforts.
19. Collaborations with Global Icons
Michael Jackson collaborated with numerous music legends during his career, including Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and Freddie Mercury. His duet with McCartney, The Girl Is Mine, was one of the most successful singles of the 1980s.
20. Eccentric Stage Outfits
Michael Jackson’s iconic wardrobe included sequined gloves, military-style jackets, and fedoras. His fashion choices became as legendary as his music and influenced countless artists.
21. Pepsi Commercial Accident
In 1984, while filming a Pepsi commercial, Michael Jackson suffered severe burns when pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire. This accident marked the beginning of his use of pain medication, which later became a significant issue in his life.
22. The Jackson 5 Cartoon
During the 1970s, Michael and his brothers starred in their own animated series, The Jackson 5ive. The show featured cartoon versions of the Jackson family and their musical adventures.
23. Never Learned to Read Music
Despite being one of the greatest musicians of all time, Michael Jackson never learned to read or write music formally. He composed his songs by singing melodies and rhythms into a tape recorder and relied on his team to transcribe the music.
24. A Guinness World Record for Thriller Video
The Thriller music video, directed by John Landis, set a record for being the longest music video at the time of its release in 1983. The 13-minute short film is still considered one of the greatest music videos of all time.
25. Child Star to King of Pop
Before achieving solo fame, Michael was a child star with The Jackson 5, scoring hits like I Want You Back and ABC. His transition from a child star to the King of Pop is one of the most successful transformations in entertainment history.
26. Voice Changes
Michael’s voice changed over time due to his aging process, but he kept his unique high-pitched speaking voice throughout his life. This distinctive voice became one of his most recognizable traits.
27. The Victory Tour
The Victory Tour was Michael’s last tour with The Jacksons, and it was a massive success. It grossed over $75 million in 1984, making it the highest-grossing tour of that year.
28. The Unbreakable Sales Record
Thriller is not only the best-selling album of all time, but it was also the first album to have seven top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
29. Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk
Michael’s moonwalk is one of the most famous dance moves in history. He first performed it on live television during the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever show in 1983.
30. Longest-Running Song on Billboard
Michael’s song You Are Not Alone became the first song in the history of Billboard to debut at number one on the Hot 100 chart.
31. Record-Breaking Super Bowl Performance
Michael Jackson’s halftime show performance at the 1993 Super Bowl is still considered one of the greatest in history. His appearance drew a massive television audience, boosting the popularity of the halftime show as a major cultural event.
32. The Never-Performed Album
In 2009, just before his untimely death, Michael was preparing for his This Is It concert tour. The tour was set to take place in London but was sadly never realized due to his passing.
33. Music Video Pioneer
Michael revolutionized the music video industry by turning videos into short films. His elaborate productions for songs like Thriller and Black or White elevated the art form and set a standard for future artists.
34. First International Superstar
Michael Jackson was one of the first artists to achieve true international fame. His popularity spanned across continents, making him a global cultural icon.
35. A Multilingual Singer
Though he primarily sang in English, Michael Jackson performed songs in Spanish and French during his international tours, endearing himself to fans around the world.
36. An Unusual Fear
Michael Jackson had a peculiar fear of dogs. Despite this, he loved animals in general and famously cared for various exotic pets at his Neverland Ranch.
37. The Final Album: Invincible
Invincible, released in 2001, was Michael Jackson’s last studio album. Although it received mixed reviews, it topped the charts in over 10 countries and has since gained appreciation from fans and critics alike.
38. Set the Standard for Music Production
Michael worked with legendary producers such as Quincy Jones to create some of the most technically advanced albums of his time. Thriller was praised for its innovative sound production and engineering.
39. Ownership of The Beatles’ Catalog
In 1985, Michael Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing, which owned the rights to most of The Beatles’ songs. He later merged it with Sony to form Sony/ATV Music Publishing, making him one of the wealthiest music publishers in the world.
40. Art Enthusiast
In addition to his musical talents, Michael Jackson was an avid art collector. He spent millions of dollars on paintings, sculptures, and other works of art from some of the world’s most famous artists.
41. The Theme Park That Never Was
In the 1990s, Michael Jackson had plans to build a massive theme park called Wonderland, which would have been even bigger than his Neverland Ranch. However, the project never materialized.
42. A Hidden Talent for Drawing
Michael was a talented artist who enjoyed sketching in his free time. Some of his drawings have been displayed in art galleries and exhibitions around the world.
43. First Person to Achieve 100 Million Records
Michael Jackson became the first artist to sell over 100 million records globally, a milestone that further cemented his status as the King of Pop.
44. A True Showman
Michael Jackson was known for his meticulous attention to detail in his live performances. From his costumes to his choreography, every element of his concerts was carefully planned and executed to perfection.
45. Black or White: A Groundbreaking Video
The music video for Black or White was revolutionary for its use of morphing technology, a digital effect that allowed faces to seamlessly transition from one person to another. It was one of the most expensive videos ever made at the time.
46. A Private Person
Despite being one of the most famous people in the world, Michael Jackson was notoriously private. He often went to great lengths to shield his children from the media and lived a life away from the public eye whenever possible.
47. A Record-Setting Grammy Night
At the 1984 Grammy Awards, Michael Jackson won a record-breaking eight awards in one night for his work on Thriller. This remains one of the most iconic moments in Grammy history.
48. Pioneer of the Music Video Industry
Michael Jackson revolutionized the music video with his cinematic productions, elevating music videos into art forms that told stories. His innovative approach to storytelling in videos like Thriller and Bad changed the music industry forever.
49. Collaborated with a Princess
Michael Jackson recorded a duet with Princess Stephanie of Monaco called In the Closet. The song was a hit and appeared on his 1991 album, Dangerous.
50. Forever Immortalized
Michael Jackson’s influence on music, dance, and pop culture remains unparalleled. His groundbreaking achievements in the entertainment industry have inspired generations of artists, and his legacy continues to thrive long after his passing.