Prince and Bigi Jackson want their late father’s Neverland Ranch restored as a refuge for sick and underprivileged children, a family source has revealed.
The brothers, now 29 and 23, have no ownership stake in the 2,700-acre Los Olivos, California, estate. Businessman Ron Burkle purchased the property for approximately $22 million in 2020, but the siblings’ emotional connection to their childhood home remains powerful.
“At the end of the day, they want their father’s legacy respected, and they know how much it meant to him to create a place where kids could just be kids and forget about whatever difficulties they were going through,” the source close to the family said.
Prince, the elder brother, has built his own record of charitable work. He co-founded the Heal Los Angeles Foundation in 2016 while attending Loyola Marymount University. The organization partners with Loreto Elementary School in northeast Los Angeles and runs food and toy drives for underserved families, drawing direct inspiration from Michael’s humanitarian legacy.
“Prince really appreciates the history of Neverland and would love to see it have a charitable purpose again, especially when it comes to helping sick and underprivileged children,” the insider shared. “Given how involved he’s been in charity work himself, it’s something that’s particularly meaningful to him.”
Bigi, who was previously known as Blanket, takes a more reserved approach to the spotlight. “Bigi is much more private and would prefer that Neverland not become some big tourist attraction, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t support finding a way to bring some of that magic back for children who could really benefit from it,” the source explained.
The brothers’ vision centers on preservation rather than commercialization. “They’d love to see the property preserved and used in a way that honors what Michael originally wanted it to be,” the source said.
Burkle’s camp has signaled openness to this direction. A spokesperson for the businessman delivered a statement emphasizing his respect for the property’s history.
“Since acquiring the property, he has welcomed Michael’s children and family to spend time there whenever they wish, recognizing the personal connection they have to the home,” the spokesperson wrote.
The statement continued with Burkle’s broader philanthropic pattern: “Ron has a long history of making his private residences available for charitable events and causes, including his properties in Palm Springs, La Jolla and Green Acres, which has developed a charitable identity of its own.”
The spokesperson added a key caveat about the estate’s current status: “While Neverland remains a private residence, Ron continues to welcome opportunities to host charitable events there.”
Michael Jackson purchased the sprawling property in 1988 and transformed it into a fantasy retreat inspired by J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan.” The estate became famous for its amusement park rides, train station, movie theater and zoo, with the pop star regularly hosting children and their families for days of escape and entertainment.
The charitable gatherings were substantial and frequent. In 1993, Michael hosted nine Make-A-Wish families, personally greeting guests and guiding them through arcade games, a screening of “Aladdin,” a barbecue and carnival rides. His spokesperson said charitable and civic organizations brought groups to Neverland at least three times a month. A December 2004 holiday celebration drew roughly 200 children for amusement rides, animals, candy canes, popcorn and a visit from Santa Claus, with Michael making a surprise personal appearance. The ranch also served as a fundraising venue, including a September 2003 event benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a Brazilian charity aiding impoverished children.
The property’s trajectory shifted after Michael’s death in June 2009 at age 50. It was listed for $100 million in 2015 before multiple price reductions, eventually selling to Burkle five years later.
Reps for Prince and Bigi did not respond to the outlet’s requests for comment on the source’s claims.