Even 9 years after his death, the King of Pop still reigns as one of the best selling artists of all time. His 13 Grammys, 26 American Music Awards, and 39 Guinness World Records, establish him as pop king supreme. Michael Jackson is known for his ultra catchy music, expert dancing and revolutionary music videos. He was a singer adored by fans worldwide both before and after his death.

Michael Jackson first shined onstage in 1964 with his older brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, in their band the Jackson 5. Their recognizable hits, “ABC” and “I Want You Back,” catapulted the youngest Jackson into stardom. In 1971 Michael paired up with Motown Records to create his first solo album. This launched a career of numerous successful records and singles, including “Bad,” “Beat It” and "The Way You Make Me Feel.” And who can forget the music video for “Thriller?” This music video broke the mold and was the most expensive video made in its time.

His death just prior to the “This Is It” tour in 2009 was mourned by millions of people across the globe. The King of Pop left behind a huge legacy, that no musical artist has matched since.

With his passing, Michael left behind a garage full of cars. For someone who was driven only by chauffeurs since the 90s, he had quite an appreciation for all types of vehicles; big, small, old and new. After his death, the contents of his garage were being eyeballed by fans of the musician and car enthusiasts alike. Let’s take a look at 15 of the cars Michael Jackson left behind, and 5 he used in videos.

19 Loyal To His Car

When Michael Jackson got on stage, all eyes were on him; those slim, black pants, a bedazzled military style jacket and of course the silver glove. Screaming fans and aggressive paparazzi were a constant nuisance. Michael appreciated the attention while he was performing, but eventually the attention in his regular life got to be too much.

In 1985, the singer bought a Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL. He used the car on his short commute from his home in Encino to his recording studio in Los Angeles. 3 years later, Michael needed an escape from 24 years of celebrity status. He uprooted from the San Fernando Valley to Los Olivos, where he made the Neverland Ranch his home.

Michael chose to stop driving himself in public in the early 90s, but he remained loyal to his Mercedes.

The car went with him to Neverland, and its sole purpose became driving Michael around the 2700 acre property. I guess getting from his private zoo to his amusement park was too long a walk. He kept the car for several more years, and then passed it along to his Aunt for her birthday. After his death, Michael Jackson’s reliable Mercedes was sent to auction. The car raked in $100,000 at The “Music Icons” auction in New York’s Hard Rock Cafe.

18 Driving Mr. Michael

It’s apparent that Michael Jackson had an affinity for old cars. His garage had several classics stored, not because he wanted to drive them, but just because he wanted to have them. He understood the value of unique and unusual cars, and sought them out to fill his garage.

One of the cars Michael collected was a rare car with an unusual history. It was famous not because the pop celebrity owned it, but because of its appearance in a certain film. The 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood was recognizable as the exact one used during the filming of Driving Miss Daisy. By 1954, the Cadillac brand had been known as the “Standard of the World” for more than half a decade. In ‘54, the 4 door limo received a complete redesign, making the vehicle more luxurious in looks and better in performance.

The Fleetwood’s distinguishable tail fins were reinvented, and the overall size of the car was increased, providing a more spacious ride for its wealthy passengers. The limo was the first car that implemented the use of safety glass. It also received a revolutionary new Hydramatic auto transmission, that increased the horsepower by almost 10% (to get Miss Daisy and Michael where they needed to go just a little bit quicker).

17 Caddy Catastrophe

Although Michael Jackson didn’t drive himself in public much after the early 1990s, he still was high in demand and had places to be. He had records to release, skin-related doctors appointments, and molestation trials to attend (don’t worry, if you were living under a rock he was not charged). Since Michael was still active in the public eye, he had to be transported somehow.

Jacko’s mode of transportation was a fleet of Cadillac Escalades over the years. He said he chose the large, luxurious SUVs because he felt safe in them. They were generally black, as most celebrity cars are, and had extremely dark tinted windows, to evade the constant attention of the paparazzi.

We saw Michael leaving and arriving at various events in these Cadillacs. In January of 2004 he pled "not guilty" to seven counts of child molestation and was acquitted. Following a day of deliberations Michael left the courtroom, greeting adoring fans outside. As the screaming crowd mobbed the large SUV, the dancer agilely climbed on the roof of it, dancing for a hot second as the audience went wild.

Not long before his death, In summer of 2009, Michael had an appointment at Cedars-Sinai hospital. His driver lost control of the Escalade, hitting an ambulance. The EMTs got out to take photos of the damage, when the King of Pop exited the hospital, jumped in the SUV and sped away.

16 “Bad” Limousine

Michael went from black to white, a shocking transformation at the time. Michael also admitted to two rhinoplasty surgeries and having cosmetic surgery to his chin (creating a dimple).

With these changes came extensive unusual behavior. It seemed Michael was constantly in the news for one thing or another; buying a pet monkey named Bubbles, sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow the aging process, and a successful collaboration with Disney in the release of Captain EO.

The King of Pop (now being referred to as Wacko Jacko by the media), hadn't released an album in five years, and finally came out with Bad. The album seemed a success, with 9 hits including "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Dirty Diana." But at the 1988 Grammys, the artist was snubbed. This year also saw the release of Moonwalk, his autobiography, where he talked of the abuses he suffered growing up.

As the star attempted to retreat even further into his seclusion, he purchased another limousine. A 1988 Lincoln Town Car. This limo was significantly more conservative than his others, with subdued gray leather and fabric interior. The intent was still the same; to travel in luxury and privacy. The car was also sent to Julien's Auction following his death.

15 Jackson’s Jimmy

By the time Michael Jackson passed away, he had accumulated debt of nearly a half-billion dollars. While he was still alive, he sought out the famed Julien's Auction, to empty Neverland of its belongings and help continue to fund his lavish lifestyle. Over 2,000 items were sent to be auctioned. A crew of 30 men over the course of 90 days collected and indexed items from the stars life.

Some of his possessions sent to auction included several recognizable costume pieces, decor and art from his home, statuettes from award shows and his infamous silver glove. Well, one of his infamous silver gloves (there were actually around 20 in existence). That one crystal encrusted glove was estimated to sell around $80,000. But in Julien's words, this was the "greatest auction that never happened."

After all of that collecting and categorizing, the often unpredictable star put a halt to the whole event, when his production company sued Julien, saying the auction was not authorized by the King of Pop. Now the majority of the auctions valuables sit in 5 warehouses in So Cal.

One of the auction's never sold items was Michael's 1988 GMC Jimmy. The rough riding, gas guzzling half ton High Sierra wasn't worth much, although owned by a superstar. Not incredibly desirable in his life, or his death, the 4 wheel drive car would have raked in less than 10 grand at auction.

14 Touring In Excess

Even at a young age, Michael Jackson spent much of his life on the road. Now it might not be the road trip most people are used to; filled with pit stops at tourist traps and gas station hot dogs. Nevertheless, Michael was as much a road warrior as any other frequent traveler.

In 1970, Michael joined his family for the Jackson 5's first national tour. The popular troupe of brothers broke records in multiple cities.

A concert in Buffalo, NY even had to be canceled due to threats on the young pop singer's life. 9,000 fans were refunded the money for their tickets when that concert was canceled.

But like all good stars, the show must go on. Michael completed 6 tours in 6 years, taking his music worldwide, with concerts in the Philippines, Australia, South America, Hong Kong and the UK. All of this traveling by the ripe old age of 18. And the tours didn't stop here. As a legal adult, he continued his reign, achieving a total of 16 tours in his lifetime.

Now if you're a celebrity as big as Michael, your tour bus is going to be fully equipped and as comfortable as they come. In 1997, the famed singer utilized a Neoplan Touring Coach. The opulent bus included leather sofas, an in-suite bedroom, and a porcelain, gold and granite bathroom. The coach was road-trip luxury fit for a king.

13 Reproduction Roadster

Many of the cars in Michael Jackson's garage had little value as vehicles themselves. They weren't the traditional collectibles that you would see in the garage of the ultra wealthy. Were it not for being owned by one of the most famous singers in the world, several of his vehicles would have had no value at all now. However, Michael knew what he liked, and kept his collectibles in pristine condition.

One of the cars sent to Julien's Auction was a replica 1909 Detamble Model B Roadster. The bright green open-top car from the turn of the century utilized a crank start engine (a far cry in technology from other cars in the singer's garage). The old school car was a reproduction, hence the custom paint job, which included a code of arms, and the famous initials of Michael Joseph Jackson on the side of the doors.

I don't imagine Michael ever used this car to get to and from recording sessions. The car may have never been driven by Michael at all. But either way, the pop singer's possession was set to bring in around $4,000 to $6,000. Had the auction happened, you could have owned a piece of the Michael estate for less than a few thousand dollars. What would your friends think when they saw that automobile in your garage?

12 Pop Star Police Bike

In 1988, Michael Jackson released a feature length art film titled Moonwalker. The hour and a half long film didn't use a standard narrative, with a beginning, middle and end. Instead the movie made use of 9 short films. All of the shorts were actually music videos for his Bad album, and he used clips from Moonwalker for his concert performances.

One thing you'll notice in Moonwalker is the use of motorcycles and cars as a reoccurring theme and focal point of the short storylines. One of these was a Harley-Davidson FXRP Police Special. Now, could it be that Michael's exposure to this police Harley in 1988 caused him to make a different motorcycle purchase 13 years later?

We may never know if the motorcycle from the film did influence his purchase, but Michael eventually bought a 2001 Police Harley-Davidson motorbike. The Harley was to be sent to auction in 2009, and photos were released of the bike in Michael's Neverland driveway. The bike was complete with a standard black and white police paint job, and traditional red and blue lights. At auction, this police bike would have maxed its bid around $7,500. Do you think it came with one silver motorcycle glove?

11 Fire Marshal Michael

Following his uproot to the Neverland Ranch, and the establishment of his charity, "Heal The World," Michael Jackson became keen on inviting children to enjoy the attractions of his 2,700-acre estate. He had bought the property in 1988 for somewhere between $19 and $30 million. With the purchase, came Michael's custom additions.

The Neverland Train Station was built to mimic the entrance of Disneyland, and the rest of the property aligned with what you would expect from a theme park designed by a boy who didn't want to grow up. The amusement park included two railroads, beautifully artistic gardens, roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and an arcade. But having your own private theme park, and having kids there to enjoy it, comes with safety concerns.

Michael Jackson outfitted a 1986 GMC High Sierra 3500 into a bright red fire truck. Converting the truck included the addition of a water tank, hoses, and flashing red lights. Thank goodness there was never a fire on the property. The vehicle only managed 115 horsepower. Towing around a tank full of water would have taken a while. We can presume any fire that occurred would have wreaked havoc before the converted fire truck might have arrived.

10 MJ’s Chariot

Michael Jackson was special in so many ways. He had a charisma that charmed fans, family and other celebrities. His talent and interesting personality set him apart from any other singer, possibly ever. And his death made him all the more infamous. For a man that was so unique, he had an especially odd taste in vehicles.

If you walk into a wealthy pop star's garage, you will probably see an assemblage of traditionally valuable and expensive cars. You might see a collection of classic American muscle. Or maybe a row of European supercars. Either way, Michael's non-traditional personality is apparent in the kinds of vehicles he chose to purchase.

One of the most unusual vehicles taking up space in his garage, wasn't a car at all, but a horse drawn carriage. The red and black open air carriage could seat four passengers plus the driver. In the true style of a star known for his music, Michael had the carriage outfitted with a CD Player (those shiny, silver discs that were popular in the late 90s and early 2000s), and a sound system. This modernized carriage was set to auction at around $10,000. Can you imagine the musical star traipsing around Neverland behind two live horses, and jamming to one of his Platinum albums?

9 Custom Cart For The King

In 1983, a book was written by psychologist Dan Kiley, in which he introduced the world to the term "Peter Pan Syndrome." While this is not a recognized diagnosis in the medical field, its characteristics are the perfect descriptor of the King of Pop. Peter Pan Syndrome usually refers to men who were very sheltered growing up, and in turn never fully matured. Kiley recognized this inability to grow up and handle adult responsibilities in many of the young boys he was treating.

Michael Jackson had a self-proclaimed infatuation with J.M. Barrie's fantastical tale. He was quoted as saying, "I am Peter Pan. He represents youth, childhood, never growing up, magic, flying." Over the years, Michael showed his childlike characteristics and love for the fantasy tale. A quick Google search brings up numerous artist renditions with Michael Jackson as Peter Pan. Even at his aptly named home of Neverland Ranch, the King of Pop had an assortment of Peter Pan themed decor.

Now what does this have to do with cars? Well, it’s not a car so much as it's an electric golf cart. The boy who couldn't grow up would use the cart to get around his Neverland Ranch. The cart was built by Western Golf And Country, and featured a highly unusual custom paint job on the hood, of Michael dressed as Peter Pan with the Jolly Roger flying nearby.

8 Thrilling Car

Michael Jackson was always on the cutting edge of music. His style of singing was iconic, with legendary vocal gasps, raspy yells and passionately sung lyrics. His dancing was groundbreaking. He was the man who invented the moonwalk. Nothing more needs to be said.

What really set Michael apart as a multifaceted performer was his revolutionary music videos. He released hit after hit, and the videos that accompanied them were not only entertaining, but shocking and inspiring. Thriller was called a “watershed moment in music history.” In 2009, the video was added to the National Film Registry and they called it “the most famous music video of all time.”

The 14-minute music video was Michael’s opportunity to satisfy his horror craving. The monster effects, choreography and vocals were mesmerizing. If you think back to the first few minutes of the video, you’ll recall that a very Americana version of Michael drives into frame in a white, convertible 1957 Chevy Bel Air. In true horror movie fashion, the car chugs to a stop. Michael knowingly explains that it’s out of gas...and that’s the only glimpse we see of the car in the video. Yet it’s the perfect choice for that retro portion of the 80s hit. Bel Airs were beautifully crafted, with their hooded headlights and exaggerated fins. It was an iconic car for an iconic video.

7 Misunderstood Matador

When a celebrity is as big as Michael Jackson, there’s bound to be controversy afoot. The King of Pop definitely had his fair share. He was always in the public eye, and everything from his personal life to his lyrics and dance moves were scrutinized.

In 1991 came the release of Dangerous, Michael’s 8th album. Accompanying the album were 9 short films, one for each song. “Black or White,” the first track, came with an especially contentious short.

The video was released to a highly offended audience due to the final 4 minutes of the song. At the end, Michael morphs from a panther into himself, and then proceeds to go outside and destroy a car. He's seen dancing on the hood of an AMC Matador. He also violently smashes the car windows and beats the Matador with a crowbar.

Matadors garnered a reputation as one of the "worst passenger cars of all time," according to Hagerty Insurance's customers. The four door version, like the one used in the short, was considered one of the ugliest car designs. Its lack of desirability may be why they decided to destroy it.

The smashing of the car, gyrating pelvis, and crotch grabbing caused many networks to re-edit the video, removing the final part of the story. Michael released an apology stating, "It upsets me to think that 'Black Or White' could influence any child or adult to destructive behavior, either sexual or violent."

6 Space Michael

In 1988, with the release of Moonwalker, came "Smooth Criminal," a wildly successful song and video that received multiple Music Video Awards. It was inspired by the Godfather, with a gangster-esque theme. One of the most memorable moments in Michael's "Smooth Criminal" video, and live concert performances, was his use of the inventive anti-gravity lean.

In the 40 minute long video for “Smooth Criminal” (the song portion is only about 10 minutes), the pop star uses some wish upon a star magic to transform into a futuristic, flying Lancia Stratos Zero.

The space-age style car was created by Bertone, an Italian automobile company, in 1970. The car was initially a concept, but Marcello Gandini and Giovanni Bertone wanted to build more than a proof of concept. They took the engine from a rescued Lancia Fulvia HF, and dropped it into the low, sleek, futuristic body of the Stratos Zero.

In Transformers The Musical...I mean, "Smooth Criminal," the aerodynamic spaceship design of the Stratos Zero, and the sound effects of a roaring engine, aids Michael's escape from the gangsters. He successfully defeats the bad guys, and rescues a group of children. No surprise there; with a little bit of Disney style magic, Michael is the hero, and kids are saved.

5 Pop Star And Pepsi

Michael Jackson didn't just act in his own music videos. The versatile star was also in multiple commercials, starting with Alpha Bits with the Jackson 5 in 1971. When he was at the top of his game, during the Bad era, Michael signed a commercial contract with one of the biggest soft drink companies in the world, Pepsi.

The multi-part series of Pepsi commercials didn't come without their issues. In now released footage, you can see for yourself the terrifying experience the pop star had while filming one of the scenes. In the intro, Michael was meant to dance his way on stage to an explosion of pyrotechnics. Unfortunately, the timing for the special effects were off, causing Michael's hair to catch on fire. The accident resulted in second and third degree burns to the singer's scalp and face. This caused a major lawsuit to the soft drink brand.

However, Michael completed the filming of the commercials, and in part two we see an ultimate 80s getaway car. Pepsi chose a 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider as the hero car. It's not the official Spider, there was actually only one of those made. But the custom job by a California reproduction company was incredibly precise. The car has been bought and sold a few times, and as of 2017, the asking price was just under $800,000.

4 Retro Ride

In the early 2000s, Michael Jackson was well into the scary looks territory. Yet his unusual appearance didn't seem to have an affect on his popularity or success. When you're as talented a star as Michael, looks might attract some attention, but it really comes down to the art. The King of Pop was the ultimate artist, and he continued to produce hit after hit well into the new millennium.

In 2001, the singer came out with "You Rock My World." The song was from what would be his 10th and last studio album before his death. The album was a chart topper worldwide, and the song was one of his last hit singles, making it into the Billboard's Top 10. The thirteen and a half minute music video included several other celebrities besides the pop singer (Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando, to name a few).

Although the video isn't focused on any particular hero car, we do see glimpses of old classics to reinforce the retro styling of the story's theme. In the first minute of the noir-styled film, we see Michael and Chris eating at a Chinese restaurant and ogling a hot young woman from the window. In the foreground, a convertible 1964 Cadillac DeVille is featured. We only see the car in a few shots, but its intimidating appearance and unparalleled luxury made it a great choice. The car foreshadows the gangsters Michael encounters in the rest of the video.

3 Suzuki Love

Michael Jackson considered Japan to hold one of his most loyal and unconditional fan bases. This is why he chose Japan as his first public appearance following his 2005 acquittal. The superstar once said "Japan is one of my favorite places to visit in the world." His lucrative relationship with the Asian country stems back years and years, and even extended to a commercial contract with Suzuki Motorcycles.

In 1981, the musical sensation joined up with Suzuki to promote their new line of scooters. The Japanese moped was branded "Suzuki Love," with their slogan being stated in that easily recognized, breathy falsetto, "love is my message."

These commercials came at a time when Michael was on top with hits from the Off The Wall album. His song "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was the first major hit solo in which Michael had complete creative control. It was also the first single in 7 years to achieve #1 on Billboard's Top 100. And after only a few months of being on the air, the song was recognized as a hit by being certified Gold, and later Platinum.

In one of the commercials, we see Michael dancing his own unique choreography, the likes of which have never been topped by another dancer. He even incorporated a few flashy turns of the throttle, just to show he understood that he was selling a scooter, not a dance move.

2 Limos Galore

When you think celebrity, you think limo. Riding in luxury to an award show, sipping champagne on the way to a press meeting, picking up a pill prescription at the local pharmacy… So it’s no wonder that Michael Jackson often spent time in limos. They may not be the best paparazzi evading ride, but we would expect nothing else from the King of Pop.

Well, Michael Jackson didn’t just ride in leased limos, he owned 4 of his own. They were the ultimate level of luxury. One, in particular, had an especially gaudy custom interior, chosen by Michael himself. The 1999 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph was as excessive as they come, with royal blue interior, rich walnut accents, leather and details laced in 24-carat gold. At auction in 2009, following his death, the Seraph’s value was listed around $140,000 to $160,000.

Another of his four limos was a 1990 Rolls Royce Silver Spur II. This long, elegant ride was nearly as gaudy as the last, and also customized for the pop star. It was all about contrast, with vibrant white leather and rich black trim. The already tinted windows added extra privacy from the paparazzi with thick white curtains. The limo was complete with a full bar, perfect for throwing back a cocktail to help the medicine go down.

1 A Van For The King

Michael Jackson's career continued to ascend after the 80s ended. He was already highly successful and well-known worldwide, but the early nineties continued to catapult him into stardom. In 1991, Michael renewed his music contract with Sony, breaking the record with a $65 million arrangement. His album, Dangerous, came out and garnered numerous awards and accolades.

In 1992, we saw Michael increase his charitable ventures, with the foundation of "Heal The World." This charity further established his love and adoration for children, and his desire to help kids in need. With the charity, he would bring underprivileged kids to his famous Neverland Ranch, to enjoy the magic Michael had to offer (don't get any ideas, I'm referring to the property's roller coasters and petting zoo). He also used the charity to send money to needy children in war torn and impoverished countries outside of the US.

Just like Michael Jackson's unusual personality, the star had an affinity for unusual cars. It was not long after this time that Michael purchased a 1993 Ford Econoline van. The average looking 90s van came with a few celebrity upgrades, to accommodate the boy who didn't want to grow up, and the kids he entertained. The van had a leather interior outfitted with tv screens for each passenger and a video game console.

Sources: truemichaeljackson.com, motor1.com, imcdb.org, wikipedia.org