Jackson Family

Michael Jackson died 6 years ago today, and TMZ has learned his estate went from the brink of bankruptcy to financial fortune ... and his kids are now better off than their famous dad.

Sources familiar with the financials tell TMZ, the estate has grossed nearly $2 billion since MJ's death. The money comes from the movies "This is It," the Cirque show "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour," 50 million albums sold and various other ventures.

After expenses, that $2 bil gets whittled down to around $800 million -- which is a very good return.

But the $800 mil gets significantly cut by taxes ... we're told to around $450 mil.

MJ's debts at the time of his death were around $500 million, so just on those 2 numbers the estate approaches being in the black.

But there are other ventures, like Sony, where the estate generates a lot of cash.

As for Michael's kids, there's a trust where millions gets distributed as they get older.

Our sources familiar with the financials tell TMZ ... if the estate were completely liquidated today, each kid would get around $100 million.

Not a bad bounce back from the edge of bankruptcy.

Joe and Katherine Jackson don't get together often, but they put aside their differences to celebrate Michael Jackson's firstborn graduating from high school.

According to our sources, the family shindig for Prince Jackson went down Saturday afternoon at Joe's house in Encino. We're told it was a small gathering -- about 35 people or so -- with Prince's aunts, uncles and cousins making up most of the crowd.

The party was catered, but just typical party food ... nothing too fancy ... especially considering how filthy rich the guest of honor is. Uncle Jackie and Grandpa Joe made speeches, along with Prince.

Prince graduated Saturday from the exclusive Buckley School -- and says he's going to LMU School of Film and Television ... following in the footsteps of other celeb kids Colin Hanks and Scott Eastwood.

Prince Jackson proudly donned a cap and gown Saturday as he became a high school graduate ... with honors no less.

Michael Jackson's oldest son got his diploma from the exclusive Buckley School in the San Fernando Valley.

La Toya, Katherine, Paris and other family members cheered Prince on. When Prince's name was announced the fam stood up, screamed and whistled. He flashed a big smile as he grabbed his diploma.

Prince has dabbled in entertainment -- appearing in the finale of "90210" -- but for now he's going the college route, but he's not going too far. Prince says he's going to Loyola Marymount University in L.A.

Joe Jackson and Chris Brown came together Thursday during the Cannes Film Festival, and it's no surprise because they have a very strong, common bond.

Brown has made no bones about it ... Michael Jackson was a hugely influential figure in his life and shaped his own singing and dancing.

And on the subject of singing and dancing ... Chris performed sitting down during what appears to be a fancy lunch at the insanely pricey Eden Beach hotel.

Jermaine Jackson has a laissez-faire attitude when it comes to his niece Paris Jackson, because he's down with her getting hitched at 17 if she's truly in love.

Paris and BF Chet Castellaw were photographed Saturday coming out of a Calabasas coffee shop and she was wearing a ring on her engagement finger. Thing is ... there are no diamonds in the setting, and it would seem the 18-year-old soccer player would show due matrimonial respect.

Nonetheless, check out Jermaine and his snappy duds.

Paris Jackson's coffee run with her BF is stirring some buzz she might be engaged -- but a closer look has us thinking ... it's not all that serious yet.

17-year-old Paris and Chet Castellaw -- an 18-year-old soccer player for Real So Cal -- hit up a coffee shop in Calabasas on Saturday, and when they walked out photogs were laser focused on the ring finger of her left hand.

Yes, Paris and Chet have been posting a bunch of cute coupley pics on social media -- and, YES ... she is sporting a ring where engagement jewelry traditionally goes.

Now, the reality check -- we're not seeing any diamonds, and if you were proposing to Michael Jackson's daughter ... you'd deliver a little ice. No?

9:55 AM PT -- Katherine's attorney, Perry Sanders, says, "Mrs. Jackson adamantly denies that she was advised of any sort of sexual harassment before Ms. Chase was relieved of her duties." He adds, "Sometimes people are discharged for one reason and wrongly think it is for a different reason. At any rate, a full investigation is underway and I suspect we have a misunderstanding that hopefully gets cleared up soon."

Michael Jackson's former chef claims while she was cookin' for Katherine Jackson's family, her nephew sexually harassed her, and when the cook asked for some kitchen aid, Katherine blew her off ... and now she's threatening a lawsuit.

You may recall Kai Chase ... she was in MJ's home the day he died and made the rounds on TV in the months that followed. Kai took a cooking job with Katherine in 2012 for $96k a year.

She says it didn't go well, because Trent Jackson, Katherine's nephew and confidante, was a real horndog. She claims he would approach her from behind and make grunting sounds, whisper sexual remarks in her ear, stare her up and down in a sexual manner, and sit in front of her in the kitchen with his legs open in a sexually suggestive manner.

Kai, who sent a demand letter to Katherine last month for money, claims she complained to the matriarch, and Katherine first apologized but then pooh-poohed her complaints, asking Kai to just tolerate Trent.

Kai claims in her letter she was fired shortly after she complained, and she was given a lame reason ... she "did not appear happy."

La Toya Jackson was out to dinner with the man we thought was her fiancé, but it turns out ... they called off their engagement and didn't tell anyone.

They seemed serious as they left Mastro's Thursday night.

La Toya chimed in from the passenger seat that Jeffre Phillips was a truth-teller. When our photog scoffed, Jeffre reiterated.

Michael Jackson's son could be the next great boxing prodigy -- because Floyd Mayweather says he is going to PERSONALLY train Prince Jackson ... now that he's apparently joined The Money Team.

Floyd was PUMPED when he saw the pics of Prince rollin' around Calabasas this weekend in a truck covered in "The Money Team" decals -- and yesterday, Mayweather told us he can't wait to train the kid.

"I haven't worked with him yet, but I look forward to working with him when I get back to Las Vegas," Mayweather told TMZ Sports.

But Prince's uncle Jermaine Jackson says all is not as it appears ... telling TMZ Sports his nephew is NOT an official TMT member and only got into the TMT vehicle because he likes big trucks.

Doesn't seem to matter to Floyd ... at this point, seems Prince is officially in the crew ... whether Jermaine likes it or not.

There's only been ONE person who spent his fortune more recklessly than Floyd Mayweather ... and now that person's son is an official member of Floyd's "Money Team."

Prince Michael Jackson was rollin' through Calabasas this weekend -- with "The Money Team" decals plastered all over his tricked out GMC truck ... joining other TMT members like Warren Buffett, Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne.

Prince is a HUUUGE fight fan -- and has been training in jiu-jitsu at the renowned Gracie Academy in Beverly Hills. Clearly, he's into boxing as well.

For the record, Floyd's spending sprees DON'T HOLD A CANDLE to MJ's shopping habits ... especially in Vegas, where Michael would spend MILLIONS of dollars in a matter of minutes.

Jermaine Jackson's hair is keeping a secret ... and it has to do with The Jackson Five.

We ran into Jermaine in Calabasas Thursday ... and what he told us is mind-bending. Look at his hair today, and look at a picture of him back in the day when he sang with Michael.

Is it really possible by un-greasing Jermaine he could go back to his ABC days?

Mind-bending, right?

Jermaine Jackson's hair is ... well, unexplainable.

On what would have been his 56th birthday, Michael Jackson's three kids -- Paris, Prince and Blanket -- visited his hometown of Gary, Indiana for a family celebration.

The occasion marked the first time all three Jackson children have been seen together in quite some time.

As TMZ first reported, Paris has recently reconnected with Jackson family members. after trying to take her own life by cutting herself a year ago. She's been living in Utah at a boarding school where she's receiving therapy.

Michael Jackson threatened his staff with animal poop balls ... and would freely piss all over the house ... so claim 3 former Neverland maids.

The 3 maids spoke with the New York Post, but did not want their names revealed. They tell scatological stories that paint a shocking tale of uncleanliness. One maid says when the urge hit, MJ would just unzip his pants and pee in the grand entry of Neverland.

The maids were shocked, because when guests like Oprah or Elizabeth Taylor would visit the floors would be waxed but all they could think of is ... they're stepping where Michael took a wiz.

Another maid says Jackson would track in animal poop from his mini-farm on the property and then threaten to throw poop snowballs at the help.

The maids say Jackson lived like a pig ... his bedroom was littered with half-eaten chicken, potato chips, empty wine and whiskey bottles. One maid said it was so bad, the place was infested with bedbugs.

Michael Jackson had code words and signals that he used with a boy he allegedly molested to describe various sex acts ... including "duck butter."

James Safechuck -- now 36 -- claims in his lawsuit against the MJ Estate ... the singer started abusing him when he was 10 ... when he traveled with Michael to Paris for the "Bad" tour in 1988.

In new court docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Safechuck says Michael taught him to use code words ... referring to his erection as "bright light, brick city" ... and calling semen, "duck butter."

Safechuck claims Jackson also used secret signals -- when they would hold hands, Michael would scratch the inside of James' hand with a finger ... to show he wanted to have sex.

Safechuck says MJ wanted a full-blown relationship with him ... to the point he performed a secret wedding ceremony with the boy with wedding ring and a marriage certificate.

He also describes how Michael would take him to various homes -- including a place called "The Hideout" in Century City -- where they would drink sweet, pink wine and watch porn ... including movies of children masturbating.

Safechuck says at one point ... he questioned his own sexuality -- because he also had a crush on Sheryl Crow, who was one of Jackson's backup singers. He says Michael found out and became jealous ... showing him unflattering pics of Crow without makeup.

Safechuck says the abuse stopped entirely when he reached puberty.

Howard Weitzman, attorney for the MJ Estate, tells TMZ the whole lawsuit should be scrapped because it was filed more than 20 years after the incidents supposedly happened ... and says Safechuck "has given sworn testimony that Michael never did anything inappropriate to him."

Paris Jackson is back in the L.A. area -- possibly with a boyfriend -- and we've learned the point of the visit is to re-establish Jackson family ties.

Paris was hanging out in Calabasas Wednesday night with some friends as guardian T.J. Jackson followed closely behind. It looks like the guy with the dark hair might be a date or a boyfriend.

Sources connected to the Jacksons tell TMZ ... the doctors who have been treating Paris after she tried to take her life have told her she needs to create a family support system ... because she's become estranged from her entire family.

We're told doctors were concerned 16-year-old Paris' only meaningful relationship has been with Debbie Rowe -- her biological mother who does not have custody.

Doctors want her to mend fences with Katherine, her siblings and other immediate family ... they think it's important to her healing.