20 Things You Didn’t Know About The Legendary Michael Jackson was originally published on globalgrind.com
1. MJ was a victim of physical abuse from his father as a child. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, he shed tears and claimed that he was so terrified of his father that he would often vomit when he saw him.
![MJ was a victim of physical abuse from his father as a child. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, he shed tears and claimed that he was so terrified of his father that he would often vomit when he saw him.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351780569931.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
2. His favorite animated character from childhood was Pinocchio.
![His favorite animated character from childhood was Pinocchio.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351766094507.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
3. When MJ listened to the songs from his days in The Jackson 5, he said he sounded like “Minnie Mouse.”
![When MJ listened to the songs from his days in The Jackson 5, he said he sounded like “Minnie Mouse.”](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351766043743.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
4. His middle name was Joseph – Michael Joseph Jackson.
![His middle name was Joseph – Michael Joseph Jackson.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351778719727.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
5. “Billie Jean” is allegedly based on a true story. MJ claims an obsessive fan tried to say he was the father of her child.
![“Billie Jean” is allegedly based on a true story. MJ claims an obsessive fan tried to say he was the father of her child.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351760571423.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
6. His first song to hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart was “Ben” in 1972.
![His first song to hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart was “Ben” in 1972.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/1435176070273.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
7. MJ was a huge Beatles fan. He paid $47 million for the publishing rights to the Beatles back catalogue in 1985 and sold a share of it to Sony in 1995 for $95 million.
![MJ was a huge Beatles fan. He paid $47 million for the publishing rights to the Beatles back catalogue in 1985 and sold a share of it to Sony in 1995 for $95 million.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351766239493.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
8. Get this… The costumes for the “Thriller” video came from the Salvation Army.
![Get this… The costumes for the “Thriller” video came from the Salvation Army.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351773317175.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
9. Jackson invented and owns the patent for the special anti-gravity boots he wore that allowed him to lean forward extremely far in live performances of “Smooth Criminal.”
![Jackson invented and owns the patent for the special anti-gravity boots he wore that allowed him to lean forward extremely far in live performances of “Smooth Criminal.”](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351773341156.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
10. MJ loved animals, and had several…strange pets. He had a python called Crusher, two llamas called Louis and Lola, and his most famous pet was Bubbles, the chimpanzee.
![MJ loved animals, and had several…strange pets. He had a python called Crusher, two llamas called Louis and Lola, and his most famous pet was Bubbles, the chimpanzee.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351773288994.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
11. Sources say MJ “borrowed” the Moonwalk from street dancers he saw outside a hotel.
![Sources say MJ “borrowed” the Moonwalk from street dancers he saw outside a hotel.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351766001848.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
12. The original song title for “Thriller” was “Starlight.”
![The original song title for “Thriller” was “Starlight.”](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351776759467.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
13. Sources say MJ slept in an oxygen tent to live longer and for cosmetic purposes.
![Sources say MJ slept in an oxygen tent to live longer and for cosmetic purposes.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351766216718.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
14. MJ was a proud owner of a 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch that has a theme park, a menagerie, and a movie theater.
![MJ was a proud owner of a 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch that has a theme park, a menagerie, and a movie theater.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351777640578.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
15. “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin was one of MJ’s closest friends, and is the godfather of two of Jackson’s children.
![“Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin was one of MJ’s closest friends, and is the godfather of two of Jackson’s children.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351773364324.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
16. MJ’s estate signed a deal with Sony that gave them access to his unreleased recordings for $250 million.
![MJ’s estate signed a deal with Sony that gave them access to his unreleased recordings for $250 million.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351760626129.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
17. MJ often wore a black armband to remind people of the suffering of children around the world.
![MJ often wore a black armband to remind people of the suffering of children around the world.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351773409058.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
18. The Los Angeles mansion he was renting just before he passed away once belonged to Sean Connery.
![The Los Angeles mansion he was renting just before he passed away once belonged to Sean Connery.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351760655449.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
19. MJ was allegedly a pretty avid reader… He was once accused by a library of owing $1 million in overdue book fines.
![MJ was allegedly a pretty avid reader… He was once accused by a library of owing $1 million in overdue book fines.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351766303488.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
20. Wikipedia, Twitter, and AOL’s Instant Messenger all crashed at 3:15PM on the day MJ died: June 25, 2009.
![Wikipedia, Twitter, and AOL’s Instant Messenger all crashed at 3:15PM on the day MJ died: June 25, 2009.](https://globalgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/06/14351783193475.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)