An actual photo taken inside Neverland from one of Jackson’s “private” rooms.

When you look at all the really insane tchotchkes that Michael Jackson had, along with the fact that he was basically running a full amusement and zoo park on his estate, it’s no wonder that he was blowing through cash faster than he made it. The sheer numbers are kind of astounding though. Fox News has a breakdown of Michael Jackson’s expenses in 1999 when he filed for his second divorce and he spent an average of $2.3 million a month back when he was living in Neverland. That’s more than most middle class Americans will see in a lifetime. He ended up at a rented home still living pretty lavishly before he died. His children’s former nanny claimed that they once had to bunk with friends to make ends meet, though, and that Jackson blew $1 million on antiques at a time when his family needed somewhere to live:

Michael Jackson left behind a legacy of being an amazing artist but he also left behind $400 million worth of debt. And as the man who had the best-selling album of all-time (“Thriller”), has had the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard charts of any male and has won more awards than any other artist, many are asking how on earth he managed to rack up so many unpaid bills?

Aside from losing tens of millions of dollars during his child molestation trial, Jackson didn’t put out any significant new material since 1997. But more detrimental to his finances was his notorious big-spending. Last week we revealed his automobile fixation (he had 75 cars registered under his name) and according to financial statements at the time of his divorce to Debbie Rowe in 1999, his cost of living at the time averaged a whooping $2,339,300 per month.

Documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court in September of 1999 show that Jackson spent $95, 700 on the gardening alone to maintain the sprawling Neverland Ranch. Security costs totaled another $51,900. Upkeep on his famous zoo/amusement park was another $66,200 and housekeeping/PR expenses stood at around $60,200 bringing the grand total monthly household expense to an astonishing $358,600. Colony Capital, the company that bought Neverland in 2008, is now responsible for the ranch’s maintenance.

When it came to personal expenses, the court documents show Jackson reportedly forked out $178,100 on legal services, $120,000 on personal/property insurance, $25,600 on medical needs, $42,600 on gifts — but only $100 a month on entertainment. Overall, his personal expenses were estimated at $1,420,600 monthly. In addition, MJ spent $85,500 on transportation and a further $475,200 on MJJ Productions and Optimum Productions.

Overall, it would cost $2,339,300 to live the life of Michael Jackson for just one month. And that would likely put anyone in debt.

[From FoxNews.com]

Bauer-griffin has photos taken inside Neverland during the time of Jackson’s trial and while the hall and main areas were technically clean the side offices and rooms looked kind of trashed. They were filled with junk and mementos just kind of piled up and in no particular order. It’s kind of sad to see that he was a real candidate for one of those Mission: Organization type shows where people spend the first few minutes recounting the personal issues that led them to be pack rats. What would Michael Jackson say? “I hoard objects in a vain effort to try and recapture my lost childhood”? He had wealth beyond our wildest dreams but he was too busy chasing the things he lost to enjoy the stuff he wasted all his money on. They’ll surely make a museum out of Neverland, though, and it will be some ideal version of the chaos and pain that it hid amid all the bric-a-brac.

These photos are from December, 2003, and are described as:

Exclusive pictures of Michael Jackson’s bedroom, dressing room and bathroom at Neverland taken as part of prosecution evidence and shot during an official PD search of Neverland Ranch.

The pictures show that although Neverland was well maintained and regularly cleaned, the areas “off limits” to anyone not specifically invited were untidy and dirty.
There is even evidence of motion sensors used to warn of anyone approaching Michael’s private rooms.

[From Bauer-griffin photo description]