Exclusive: Jackson Paid Rowe Millions
Published
TMZ has obtained court documents that show just how much money Debbie Rowe raked in by divorcing Michael Jackson.
TMZ reviewed court transcripts from a hearing last June. Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Hall, told Judge Stephen Lachs, "Mr. Jackson was under an agreement with Petitioner (Rowe) here, which he was to pay her -- did pay her about four or five million dollars up front, gave her a mansion in Beverly Hills, and then was to pay $900,000 a year for a number of years if she abided by agreement terms."
Jackson stopped paying Rowe her annual stipend after claiming she violated their confidentiality agreement by publicly speaking about him. The dispute is ongoing.
Also in the court file -- a declaration dated January 26, 2004, in which Rowe declares, "I have just been advised by Michael's 'inner circle' that he is abusing drugs and I was even given the name of the physician that is prescribing all of Michael's medications, which I fear is dangerous not only to Michael but also to the children."
Rowe and Jackson are locked in a bitter custody battle. Yesterday, TMZ broke the story that the California Court of Appeal ruled Rowe's parental rights were not terminated by an earlier court order and that she can pursue custody of the former couple's two children.