Michael Jackson’s Sons Reveal Heartbreaking Wish for Neverland Ranch 17 Years After His Death — But There’s One Major Obstacle Standing in Their Way

LOS OLIVOS, CALIFORNIA — November 2, 2026

Seventeen years after Michael Jackson’s death, his two sons are hoping to bring a very special part of their father’s legacy back to life.

Not his music.

Not his legendary stage performances.

And not the enormous fortune associated with the King of Pop.

Instead, Prince Jackson, 29, and his younger brother Bigi Jackson want something far more personal.

They reportedly hope that Neverland Ranch, the extraordinary California estate where they spent part of their childhood, can once again become a place of happiness for children facing illness and hardship.

But there is one significant obstacle.

The brothers no longer own the property — and the man who purchased it for approximately $22 million now holds the power to determine its future.

According to a new report from Page Six, the brothers’ hopes are rooted in memories of their father and the charitable mission he once associated with Neverland.

And the property’s current owner has now responded.

The Childhood Home They Never Forgot

Hidden among the rolling hills of California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Neverland Ranch was unlike almost any other celebrity residence.

Michael Jackson purchased the approximately 2,700-acre estate in Los Olivos in 1988.

Inspired by the magical island from Peter Pan, he transformed the property into a private fantasy world.

There were amusement park rides.

A train station.

A movie theater.

A zoo.

And enormous grounds filled with attractions that made the estate feel like something from a childhood dream.

For fans, Neverland became one of the most recognizable symbols of Jackson’s extraordinary lifestyle.

But for Prince and Bigi, it was something different.

It was home.

The brothers grew up surrounded by a world most children could only imagine.

Yet beneath the spectacle were ordinary family memories — spending time together, playing games and enjoying moments with their father.

Those memories remain deeply meaningful long after Jackson’s death in June 2009 at age 50.

And now, the brothers reportedly hope the estate can help create happy memories for other children.

Prince Jackson Wants to Restore Its Charitable Purpose

According to a source close to the Jackson family who spoke with Page Six on November 1, Prince believes Neverland should be preserved in a way that reflects his father’s original intentions.

He would particularly welcome the estate becoming involved in charitable activities again.

The source explained that Prince values Neverland’s history and its potential to support children dealing with serious illnesses or financial hardship.

That ambition closely reflects the work Prince has already undertaken.

In 2016, he co-founded the Heal Los Angeles Foundation while studying at Loyola Marymount University.

The organization supports underserved communities through educational opportunities, wellness initiatives, food distribution and other programs.

Its activities have included school partnerships and charitable drives benefiting families in need.

For Prince, helping disadvantaged children is not merely a way to remember his father.

It has become part of his own public life.

And restoring some of Neverland’s charitable role would connect his present work to a place that shaped his childhood.

Bigi Jackson Has One Important Condition

While Prince is comfortable speaking publicly about his father’s legacy, Bigi has generally chosen a much more private life.

The younger Jackson son, formerly known as Blanket, rarely discusses personal matters in public.

According to the family source, Bigi shares Prince’s wish to preserve Neverland’s significance.

But he reportedly does not want the estate transformed into a major tourist attraction.

For him, Neverland is not simply a famous property that could attract large crowds.

It is a place containing deeply personal family memories.

The source indicated that Bigi would nevertheless support opportunities for children facing difficult circumstances to experience the property’s special atmosphere.

The brothers’ reported preferences are slightly different.

Prince emphasizes its charitable potential.

Bigi places greater importance on privacy and preservation.

But both reportedly share one central goal.

They want their father’s former home to be remembered for more than its celebrity history.

They want its future to reflect the happiness Jackson once hoped to bring to children.

The Forgotten History of Neverland’s Charity Events

Long before discussions about the estate’s future, Neverland hosted numerous charitable gatherings.

Michael Jackson welcomed children, families and nonprofit organizations to the sprawling property.

Some visitors were living with serious medical conditions.

Others came from disadvantaged backgrounds.

For many, the visit provided an opportunity to experience attractions that would otherwise have been inaccessible.

In 1993, Jackson welcomed nine families associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

During their visit, the families enjoyed amusement rides, arcade games, a movie screening and a barbecue.

Jackson personally greeted the visitors and spent time with them.

In December 2004, approximately 200 children attended a holiday celebration at Neverland.

The festivities included entertainment, refreshments, amusement rides and a visit from Santa Claus.

The estate was also used for fundraising events benefiting charitable organizations.

One such event in September 2003 supported causes including Make-A-Wish and a Brazilian charity helping families facing poverty.

These gatherings formed part of the history that Prince and Bigi reportedly hope to preserve.

The $22 Million Sale That Changed Everything

Although the Jackson brothers have a powerful emotional connection to Neverland, they do not own or control the estate today.

After Michael Jackson’s death, the property underwent significant changes.

It was listed for sale in 2015 with an asking price of approximately $100 million.

But finding a buyer proved difficult.

The asking price was reduced several times.

Eventually, in 2020, billionaire businessman Ron Burkle purchased the estate for approximately $22 million.

The sale marked a new chapter in Neverland’s history.

The former home of one of the world’s most famous entertainers became privately owned by someone outside the Jackson family.

And that change created the biggest challenge facing the brothers’ reported hopes.

They may want Neverland to serve children again.

But any new use would require the cooperation of its current owner.

The Current Owner Finally Responds

Page Six contacted a representative for Ron Burkle about the future of the property.

His spokesperson confirmed that Burkle respects Neverland’s history and understands its special meaning to Michael Jackson’s family.

The representative also explained that Jackson’s children and relatives remain welcome to visit the estate.

That connection has not been severed despite the change in ownership.

More significantly, the spokesperson said Burkle remains receptive to charitable events at the property.

The businessman has previously made other private residences available for charitable causes.

Neverland, however, remains a private residence.

There has been no announcement that the estate will reopen as a public amusement park or permanent children’s charity destination.

Nevertheless, Burkle’s willingness to consider charitable activities suggests that some form of the brothers’ reported vision may be possible.

Whether that possibility becomes a formal arrangement remains unknown.

A Father’s Legacy Beyond the Music

Michael Jackson remains one of the most influential performers in popular music history.

His albums, performances and music videos changed the global entertainment industry.

But his personal life and the history of Neverland also remain subjects of significant public scrutiny and debate.

For his children, the estate represents an intimate part of their family history.

Prince has previously spoken about how unusual his childhood was.

While promoting the Michael Jackson biopic earlier in 2026, he reflected on growing up surrounded by the estate’s remarkable attractions.

He recalled seeing animals such as elephants and giraffes while enjoying ordinary family activities.

Only as he grew older did he fully understand how different his upbringing had been from that of most children.

For Prince, Neverland was both extraordinary and familiar.

It was where his family spent time together.

And those memories have influenced how he thinks about preserving the property.

Could Neverland Open Its Gates Again?

The possibility of Neverland hosting charitable activities has attracted renewed attention following Page Six’s report.

But several important questions remain unanswered.

Would future gatherings focus on children experiencing serious illnesses?

Could nonprofit organizations arrange special visits?

Would events take place only occasionally, rather than through permanent public access?

And could such activities be organized while preserving the privacy that Bigi reportedly values?

For now, there is no confirmed plan to transform Neverland into a new charitable institution.

The brothers’ wishes were described by an unnamed family source, and representatives for Prince and Bigi did not provide direct comments to Page Six.

Burkle’s representative expressed openness to charitable use, but did not announce a specific project.

The distinction matters.

An idea can be meaningful without yet becoming a concrete plan.

And Neverland’s future remains in the hands of its current owner.

Seventeen Years Later, the Memories Remain

When Michael Jackson died in 2009, Prince and Bigi were still young.

Today, they are adults with their own ambitions and interests.

Prince has embraced charity work and public appearances.

Bigi has maintained a more private life.

But the childhood home they once shared with their father remains important to both of them, according to the family source.

For many people, Neverland is remembered as a grand estate filled with expensive attractions and extraordinary displays of celebrity wealth.

For Jackson’s sons, its meaning is much more personal.

It represents time spent with their father.

It represents family memories that cannot be recreated.

And it represents a place that, at various points in its history, welcomed children who were facing difficult circumstances.

The brothers reportedly hope those memories can inspire something meaningful in the future.

They cannot simply reopen Neverland themselves.

They cannot decide what its next chapter will look like.

But the current owner’s willingness to consider charitable events leaves open the possibility of a new purpose for the property.

Seventeen years after losing their father, Prince and Bigi Jackson reportedly share a wish: that the place where they once experienced childhood happiness might someday bring that same joy to children who need it most.

And for a property once known around the world as Neverland, that possibility may be the most meaningful next chapter of all.