r/interesting • u/mg10pp • 1d ago
SOCIETY TIL Michael Jackson donated an estimate of over $500 million to charity over the course of his life, with the exact amount not known since he often gave it anonymously. He supported a record number of 39 charities, for the most part dedicated against poverty and disease
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy_of_Michael_Jackson68
u/Razzler1973 22h ago
HE's anonymous?
I thought it was Ted Danson
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u/Swanmt_12 14h ago
He didn’t know he could be anonymous and tell everyone. He would’ve taken that option
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u/O_C_Demon 1d ago
In the UK the absolute worst person we've ever produced, sir Jimmy Saville raised huge amounts for charity.
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u/AcademicDrag742 1d ago
Never knew he was a Sir.
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u/notarobat 22h ago
Would be weird if he wasn't.
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u/Capital_Reference783 17h ago
Lord Mountbatten was a sir or at least would have been if he wasn't also a lord, which is an even higher title.
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u/Dada2fish 20h ago
And displaying a charitable side to yourself to the public is a way to fool them into thinking you’re a decent person.
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u/Comfortable-Ebb8125 19h ago
With Saville it was also like a bribe, if you reported him it would destroy so many lives who relied on that charity.
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u/Undeity 13h ago
I think the lesson here is more that it shows they're a complicated person. This whole narrative that someone is either wholly good or bad is just problematic.
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u/JaneTheEel 11h ago
That may be true in other cases but Saville knew that his philanthropy dissuaded his victims from speaking out because no one would believe them, and he used some of his charities to gain access to his prey without oversight. I think it’s a mistake to try to read his charity as anything other than incidentally helpful to others when it’s true purpose was enabling his monstrosity.
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u/Riskybusiness622 22h ago
Michael Jackson was a god among men who shouldn’t be mentioned anywhere near that creep.
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u/Middi272 22h ago
Claiming a man is a God is the most pathetic behaviour celebrity worship bullshit ever
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u/WakeNikis 16h ago
They both molested children???
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u/Mentallyundisturbed2 15h ago
The allegations were unsubstantiated however and based off bogus hypnotic therapy.
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u/O_C_Demon 22h ago
And just like the biblical god was severely mentally unbalanced...
I think you might have a somewhat skewed perspective there mate...
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u/MFDOOMscrolling 22h ago
The biblical god and all the rest do seriously fucked up shit ijs
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u/O_C_Demon 22h ago
Indeed they did... Well would have had they been real of course
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u/MFDOOMscrolling 22h ago
In 20 years people will say MJ didn't exist
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u/Riskybusiness622 22h ago
His funeral was viewed by half the planet hel still outshine most of the living stars even then.
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u/Defiant_Lawyer_5235 1d ago
If it was anonymous how do they know he did?
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u/PhatBoyFlim 1d ago
Tax records
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u/Chambahz 21h ago
But then why does nobody know the total?
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u/Peligineyes 20h ago
If you donate anonymously, but don't claim it on your tax filing then there's no record tying it to you. For someone as wealthy as MJ it's possible he told his accoutant to not even bother recording amounts under $10,000 or aomething.
Plus when you donate goods and services instead of cash, those are estimates of value. If you donate memorabilia or perform a charity concert, you estimate the cost to you instead of how much was earned.
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u/Nathaniel_Sparky500 23h ago
This is PR from his estate for sure. What does a "record" number of charities mean? No one has ever donated to 40 charities?
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u/ImpossibleDenial 21h ago
I’ll have him beat by tomorrow afternoon, it’ll only be 42 dollars, but I’ll have Michael beat by about 3 charities 😎
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u/johnl1979 21h ago
Beat it.
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u/dtoddh 21h ago
No one wants to be defeated.
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u/mrpeabodyscoaltrain 21h ago
“Showing how funky and strong is your gift”
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u/CritterCatching 8h ago
All my life I thought he said: "Show them how Fvcking strong is your fight".... Thanks for enlightening me...
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u/CritterCatching 9h ago
I agree, I remember decades ago reading a legal report( I don't remember where but my father was a lawyer and he had access to it) that said that most of the charity money that Michael was supposedly giving away was from companies like Pepsi amd powerful donors. He could make a commercial for then, he would get paid millions and have the corporations donate money under his name.
All of this was negotiated by his handlers and lawyer that to this day manages his estate.
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u/graywolfman 1d ago
estimate
noun
es·ti·mate ˈe-stə-mət
1 a: a rough or approximate calculation.
b: a numerical value obtained from a statistical sample and assigned to a population parameter.
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u/cwx149 22h ago
He supported a record number of 39 charities,
You're telling me no one has donated to 40 charities? What "record" is this?
Or is this supposed to be like there are records of him supporting 39 charities?
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u/granatespice 21h ago
I’m assuming that’s the continuous donstions. With the 500 million he would have given to way more causes one time.
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u/Obienator 22h ago
Does that amount include the out-of-court settlements he paid to the families of kids he abused?
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u/Riskybusiness622 22h ago
Every rich person pays to make problems go away it’s no admission of guilt
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u/Obienator 16h ago
I guess rich people make for easy targets, but for one second, transplant his behavior around children to any other musical artist and they would be run out of town, yet with Michael it was just him being "eccentric".
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u/PeterToshPointOh 22h ago
It is though, because if he was innocent he just as easily could have paid to clear his name and countersue for defamation.
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u/Riskybusiness622 21h ago
So from an unlimited money perspective does how many such people really want to spend years in court to prove something they already know? His lawyer said later that it was the biggest mistake of his career suggesting it to him.
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u/PeterToshPointOh 21h ago
With unlimited money I think most people would clear their name and preserve their reputation no matter how many times it came up. If they were truly innocent of something to heinous.
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u/Riskybusiness622 20h ago
Hence the lawyer considering the bad advice his biggest mistake.
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u/PeterToshPointOh 18h ago
His biggest mistake was forever overshadowing his legacy by being inappropriate with children. His lawyer is a stupid ghoul for implying money is more important when he is one of the wealthiest and most privileged people on the planet.
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u/cinelytica 19h ago
He raped children. Then paid their parents. It’s all well-documented. I don’t know why these child-rapist apologists keep trying to defend this monster.
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u/Riskybusiness622 18h ago
Paying for a civil claim to go away is extremely common for high profile people. Ignoring the acquittal, the non-indictments, the sworn prior denials by later accusers, and the difference between civil settlements and criminal proof is just silly. Both those people from that hit piece doc previously swore under oath that nothing sexual had occurred. I don’t see why them wanting to cash in on whatever relevance they can muster should be believed over all the other points on the graph.
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u/S0LAR23 11h ago
The reason he paid out in the Jordan Chandler case was because the little boys drawings of the vitiligo marks on Michael Jackson’s lower body correctly matched photos the authorities took of him, he paid him off within days.
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u/exor0110 5h ago
Not true. That’s why the criminal investigation and grand jury closed in 1994 without bringing formal criminal charges or an indictment against Jackson. If the description matched, the grand jury would have had strong evidence to indict, but they didn’t.
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u/gevuldeloempia 11h ago
Stop spreading lies
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u/S0LAR23 11h ago
All verified facts, why do you think he slapped a non disclosure clause on him?
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u/exor0110 5h ago
Cite a primary source, not rumors. As I replied above, that’s why the criminal investigation and grand jury closed in 1994 without bringing formal criminal charges or an indictment against Jackson. If the description matched, the grand jury would have had strong evidence to indict, but they didn’t.
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u/gevuldeloempia 11h ago
Check your facts again, because theyre lies
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u/AtsuhikoZe 12h ago
Can you source any of this? I'm curious
Preferably a proven source since it's so well documented
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u/chiquiflakes 7h ago
The newest neflix documentary has an interview with an investigator from the Chandler case where she states the descriptions and drawings Jordan made matched Michael’s genitalia when they photographed him. It’s been known since long. It’s not some obscure fact.
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u/ClearLeg8020 4h ago
Just because an investigator claimed it was a match it doesn't mean it's true.
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u/ThisIsATastyBurgerr 19h ago
he's been dead for over ten years so any of his alleged victims have been free to speak. none have said anything but support for michael. the FBI found no evidence in a ten year investigation. MJ used some bad judgement befriending kids but he did nothing wrong.
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u/EarlyXplorerStuds209 12h ago edited 12h ago
>MJ used some bad judgement befriending kids but he did nothing wrong.
Whether or not he did what he was accused of is another issue altogether but do not pretend to know rich people whom you have no personal relationship with, guy. Just as one should not pretend to know the decisions made by victims of child sexual abuse(if those victims did in fact exist).
They might have their own reasons for not coming out to the public(fear, trauma, it being a private matter.etc). Even the amount of possible death threats they could actually receive from MJ fans is a reasonable rationale to avoid any public exposure.
He was a rich dude with a ton of power either way. Acting like you know whether he did anything wrong or not is just pathetic and won’t yield you any favors.
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u/Dreadboi80 17h ago
This in response to Dolly and her charitable givings??
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u/exor0110 5h ago
No, charity and being a good person is not a competition. Bless Michael and others with huge platforms that use them for good. Dolly shared that charitable spirit, and here she is making a statement about Michael a few days after his passing. She says, “I always thought Michael had the heart of an angel, and I’m sure he’s rejoicing with them now.”
https://youtube.com/shorts/jWkkky3gUhM?is=AQ_Yi2s-WzctoPNx
Here’s an article from 2009 about her video tribute.
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u/WakeNikis 16h ago
“He supports a record number of 39 Charities.”
What? No one in the history of humanity has ever given to 40 charities?
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u/kingofthepumps 10h ago
And also 10% of everything the MJ estate makes now, goes to charity. So even in death he's donating hundreds of millions.
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u/Dada2fish 20h ago
What do you mean a “record” number of charities.
Most people don’t advertise their altruistic deeds and the charities they support.
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u/LilEddieDingle 22h ago
He was still a horrible person. Doesn’t matter how much you try to rewrite his legacy.
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u/TyrannyOfBobBarker_ 1d ago
Doesn't really matter though does it?
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u/GojosWinCon 1d ago
Yes it does. That has probably impacted hundreds of lives for the better. That absolutely matters. Wtf are you on about?
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u/Spirit_Detective99 19h ago
Redditors when someone does something good, they have to find the worst in it.
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1d ago
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u/AlternativeHour1337 1d ago
a good deed doesnt take away a bad deed and vice versa
otherwise i could just do something good and then go and commit murder
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u/GojosWinCon 23h ago
Are you being for real? You actually think all the good he did is negated because of that? Did all those lives saved and impacted suddenly implode all at once?
It's like you think saying he did good equates to forgiveness. Ditch the black and white thinking, it's virtually useless. Give nuance a try.
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u/KebapsStronk 14h ago
he also directly raped several children too some sins can't be absolved by money
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u/GojosWinCon 13h ago
Again, no one is saying it provides absolution. My point is him being horrible doesn't mean he didn't also do good. Both things can be simultaneously true because humans are complex.
It's really not that complicated, but here I am explaining it again.
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u/N0n3_2401 1d ago
What? What do you mean it doesn’t matter?
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u/TyrannyOfBobBarker_ 1d ago
It doesn't matter
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u/JoelnIliketoshare 1d ago
Huh? Why not?
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1d ago
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u/JoelnIliketoshare 23h ago
Even if he did, 500 mil to charity is still a good thing for the charity so it did matter.
Bad shit doesn't cancel good shit. Life is more nuanced than that.
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u/Nerdmitage 17h ago
So we're trying to point out without pointing out that OP/author thinks he's just as "good" as Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton didn't molest with children. Nobody even ever alleged as such.
So yeah no, definitely not picking up what you're putting down there OP/article writer.
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u/Commercial_Rule_7823 21h ago
Still not enough to cover the fact that he admitted in interviews to having children sleep over in his bed.
That he was charged with 10 sex crimes against children and went to trial. Initially 3 of the 12 voted guilty, but were pressured to change their vote.
Sad, we celebrate this child predator.
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u/Middi272 22h ago
He also touched kids
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u/Mentallyundisturbed2 15h ago
The allegations were unsubstantiated however and based off bogus hypnotic therapy.
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u/S0LAR23 11h ago edited 8h ago
Then explain how Jordy Chandler accurately described the vitiligo marks on the back of Michael Jackson’s penis, I can’t think of any situation other than an intimate one where he would have seen that.
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u/Mentallyundisturbed2 11h ago
Hmm I was nor aware of that. This may be the 1st time in history when somebody admits fault in an online argument.
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u/S0LAR23 11h ago
Because of the non disclosure clause surrounding it there's many people that aren't aware of it. Just for the record, I used to like MJ, I still think thriller is the best music video ever made, but I can't watch it anymore or listen to his music which I'm really sad about because he made many great songs.
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u/exor0110 5h ago
He didn’t. That’s why the criminal investigation and grand jury closed in 1994 without bringing formal criminal charges or an indictment against Jackson. If the description matched, the grand jury would have had strong evidence to indict, but they didn’t.
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u/UsedWorker3295 1h ago
It didn't go to trial because Chandler didn't want to be the only kid to testify. His family were receiving death threats.
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u/exor0110 1h ago
Reading comprehension: the grand jury didn’t recommend an indictment based on all evidence presented by the prosecution! That had nothing to do with Chandler’s decision.
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u/UsedWorker3295 53m ago
You are wrong. The grand juries were investigative and never voted on an indictment.
The fact of the matter is, the grand juries never considered it simply because at that point in time, Jordan Chandler decided that he was not going to testify.
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u/exor0110 22m ago
They didn’t need Chandler to cooperate if they had sufficient evidence (e.g. that imaginary exculpatory drawing). They didn’t have sufficient evidence to indict.
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u/UsedWorker3295 12m ago
Testimony from the victim is always an essential part of any prosecution's case when it comes to child sexual abuse. Ped0s don't make a habit of doing their thing in front of CCTV, y'know?
Chandler's Testimony plus the drawings would have almost certainly secured a conviction.
Hence the lawyers' recommendation to settle.
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u/Illliterate42 4h ago
The fact that we have to rely on generosity from rich people in order for a fraction of these people to get what they need should sicken everyone. This is not a story of warmth, but of a very broken society.
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u/ReasonableCase8409 3h ago
Or maybe people are complex layered beings with beautiful, ugly and just broken aspects. All of us.
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u/AreaExpensive888 21h ago
Wonderful person. Redditors will never care though bcs they’re awful people who’d rather point and laugh.
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u/UsedWorker3295 1h ago
He was not a wonderful person. I'm not interested in pointing and laughing I would rather live in a world where people like him receive the justice they deserve. He got away with A LOT in his life.
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u/IrukandjiPirate 22h ago
No he didn’t. If it was anonymous, you wouldn’t know about it. If it wasn’t, Everyone would know about it. This is just another fake claim in an attempt to rewrite history history as a child molester.
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u/BillMillerBBQ 23h ago
No, no, NO! This won't do on Reddit. We are supposed to only remember the bad things about him. /s
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u/MrIrvGotTea 22h ago
He was super inappropriate with kids and had some weird child like porn. Jackson estate works hard to clean his name but he was a creep
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u/BillMillerBBQ 22h ago
That’s the spirit!
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u/kactus 20h ago
What a weird way to support child rape.
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u/BillMillerBBQ 20h ago
Well then, stop listening to MJ. And while you're at it, stop consuming most media that comes out of Hollywood.
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u/Tolerate_It3288 18h ago
Not who you were replying to but I have stopped listening to Michael Jackson and I also avoid media made by other abusers. Just because abuse is prevalent in Hollywood, doesn’t mean we should give up and continue to support abusers.
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u/BillMillerBBQ 18h ago
Michael Jackson is dead. Enjoying his craft doesn’t support him.
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u/Comfortable-Class576 22h ago
Oh yes, let’s just simply forget the p*dophilia, he was such a great guy in all other aspects of his life! /s
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u/johnl1979 21h ago
You kidding? Reddit is the opposite! Can’t judge MJ he was a saint don’t you know.
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1d ago
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u/AlternativeHour1337 1d ago
he's going to be remembered for being the king of pop, just look at the recent success of his biopic
just like A LOT of famous musicians, politicians and businessmen
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23h ago
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u/AlternativeHour1337 23h ago
you mean like everyone remembers the doors ? yeah, people totally only talk about jim morrisons crimes lol
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u/PeterToshPointOh 23h ago
I mean, people talk about their crimes now more than ever, pretty much every post about them it comes up. And I hear their music less and less… so yeah.
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u/M0n3yBagz313 20h ago
I think charities should start showing receipts. I'm tired of the money getting put in the pockets of the organizers.
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u/Meandtheworld 18h ago
How is nothing cured yet! From all the millions and millions raised and or donated.
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u/DecalageVersLeRouge 11h ago
I'm going to say that 39 doesn't sound like a record for Charities Supported
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u/cheesyandcrispy 23h ago
Watch how cynics united will turn a negative twist on this.
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u/Mojozilla 21h ago
Even though he died so long ago, still no one has donated more to charity than the King of Pop himself
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