Paris Jackson is an American model, actress, and singer — and the only daughter of Michael Jackson. Born Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson on April 3, 1998, in Beverly Hills, California, she has spent her adult life building a career of her own in fashion, film, television, and indie-folk music, rather than trading only on her famous surname.
Quick facts: Full name: Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson. Born: April 3, 1998, Beverly Hills, California, United States. Nationality: American. Occupation: Model, actress, singer. Known for: Modelling with IMG Models, the albums Wilted (2020) and Happiest Day of My Life (2026), and roles in Gringo, Star, and American Horror Stories. Parents: Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. Siblings: Prince Jackson and Bigi Jackson.
Early life and background
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson was born on April 3, 1998, at Spaulding Pain Medical Clinic in Beverly Hills, California, and was named after the French capital in which she was conceived, according to her biographical record. She is the second child and only daughter of singer Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, and grew up at Neverland Ranch with her older brother Prince and younger half-brother Bigi (formerly known as Blanket). PEOPLE’s profile notes that after her parents divorced in 1999, Michael Jackson was given full custody of the children.
Her childhood was lived largely out of public view: she and her siblings often wore masks during public outings with their father to shield their faces from the press. That changed abruptly on June 25, 2009, when Michael Jackson died. Paris was 11 years old. At his televised memorial on July 7, 2009, she gave a short, unplanned speech, telling the audience her father had been “the best father you could ever imagine.” In 2010, she and Prince accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on their father’s behalf at the Grammy Awards.
She was educated at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California, alongside Prince, where she took part in flag football, softball, and cheerleading. She has spoken openly in later interviews about mental-health struggles in her teenage years, including post-traumatic stress linked to paparazzi attention, and about finding coping strategies through music, therapy, and affirmations — a candour that has become part of her public identity.
Career: modelling and acting
Paris Jackson’s professional career began in earnest in 2017. In January of that year she appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, and in March 2017 she signed a modelling contract with IMG Models. She has since appeared on magazine covers including Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Australia, walked in Jean Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture spring/summer 2020 show, and in September 2024 walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week for Maison Yoshiki Paris.
Her acting debut came the same month as her modelling signing, with a guest-starring role as Rachel Wallace on FOX’s Star in March 2017. She made her feature-film debut as Nelly in the crime comedy Gringo (2018), alongside Charlize Theron and David Oyelowo. Later screen work includes the third season of VH1’s Scream (2019), the film Habit (2021), in which she portrayed Jesus, and the role of Maya in the first story of FX’s American Horror Stories, which premiered July 15, 2021. More recent credits include Swarm (2023), Doctor Odyssey (2025), One Spoon of Chocolate (2025), and Street Smart (2026).
Career: music
Music is the thread Paris Jackson herself has called closest to her heart. With musician Gabriel Glenn she formed the folk duo The Soundflowers; the pair performed their first gig at Canyon Sessions on June 23, 2018, and released a self-titled EP on June 24, 2020, with Jackson singing and playing ukulele. AllMusic’s biography notes that she veered away from the pop and R&B sounds that made her father an icon, delving instead into folk- and rock-inspired music with introspective lyrics.
She signed a deal with Republic Records in 2020. Her first solo single, “Let Down,” was released on October 29, 2020, and her debut album, Wilted, followed on November 13, 2020, made in collaboration with Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull. She released The Lost EP on February 18, 2022, followed by singles including “Lighthouse” (2022) and “Just You” (2022). Her second studio album, Happiest Day of My Life, was released on August 21, 2026, through Republic Records.
Personal life and activism
Paris Jackson is an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Heal Los Angeles Foundation, and has said she began modelling partly to grow her platform and draw attention to activism. She joined protests in Los Angeles in May 2020 following the murder of George Floyd, posting a photo holding a sign reading “Peace Love Justice.”
From 2024 to July 2025, she was engaged to music producer Justin Long, her bandmate and partner since 2022; the engagement ended in July 2025, and her August 2025 appearance at the Venice Film Festival — for the Frankenstein premiere and the amfAR Gala — was widely covered as her first major public outing after confirming the split.
The November 2026 estate filing
On October 29, 2026, Paris Jackson petitioned a Los Angeles probate court to order a $600 million distribution from her late father’s estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, arguing the trust has remained unfunded more than 17 years after Michael Jackson’s death. TheWrap, which reviewed the filing, reports that it argues Michael Jackson intended his children to receive income from the trust from age 21 and principal from age 30 — Prince turns 30 within months, Paris turns 29 in April, and Bigi turns 25 in February. A hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. The estate disputes the claim: in a statement to People, it said the trusts cannot be fully funded until outstanding legal matters, including an IRS tax dispute, are resolved, and denied withholding payments from the beneficiaries. The filing is a legal dispute over timing and funding, not a payment already received — a distinction that matters for any estimate of her personal wealth (see her net worth).
Net worth snapshot
Paris Jackson’s net worth is estimated at $100 million to $150 million as of 2026, with Celebrity Net Worth putting the figure at $150 million — a total dominated by her position as a principal beneficiary of her father’s estate, alongside her own modelling, acting, and music income. Read the full breakdown, including the $65 million in estate benefits disclosed in court documents, in Paris Jackson’s net worth.
Frequently asked questions
Who are Paris Jackson’s parents?
Paris Jackson is the only daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. She has an older brother, Prince, and a younger half-brother, Bigi.
What is Paris Jackson known for?
She is a model signed to IMG Models, an actress (Gringo, Star, American Horror Stories), and a singer-songwriter whose albums include Wilted (2020) and Happiest Day of My Life (2026).
Why is Paris Jackson in the news in November 2026?
On October 29, 2026, she petitioned a Los Angeles court to order a $600 million distribution from Michael Jackson’s estate to the family trust for herself and her two brothers, arguing it has gone unfunded for more than 17 years. The estate disputes the claim, and a hearing is set for December 4, 2026.
Is Paris Jackson still engaged?
No. She was engaged to music producer Justin Long from 2024 until July 2025, when the engagement ended.
Sources
- Paris Jackson — Wikipedia
- All About Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Only Daughter — PEOPLE
- Paris Jackson biography — AllMusic
- Michael Jackson’s Daughter Seeks $600 Million From His Estate — TheWrap, November 3, 2026
- Paris Jackson seeks $600m trust fund from Michael Jackson’s estate — Tribune, November 3, 2026