Michael Jackson was one of the most iconic music figures in history. His name ranks as high as the Beetles and Elvis Presley. Jackson dazzled us with his unique sound and original dance moves. The world was in awe when Jackson debuted the Moonwalk and released singles such as Billy Jean, Thriller and Jam. Millions of people flocked to his world tours and even more bought his albums. Jackson's Thriller is the best selling album of all time.
Throughout his lucrative career, Jackson amassed a fortune of more than $500 million. Having that kind of money allowed Jackson to purchase anything he desired. One of his most lavish purchases was Neverland Ranch, a developed property in Santa Barbara, California where Jackson used to live. Jackson's wealth also allowed him to purchase any car he desired. Since he was used to luxury, Jackson enjoyed cruising around in limousines. He also wanted to decorate Neverland with a few cars, so he purchased rare classic cars that most car collectors would struggle to find.
We wanted to see what cars Jackson owned, so we peeked inside his collection and discovered an array of vehicles. Some of the cars Jackson kept at Neverland and others he kept elsewhere. Enjoy the article and like always be sure to share it with a friend. Let's get started.
15 Neverland: GMC High Sierra Firetruck
Jackson named Neverland after the fantasy island in the Peter Pan story. Considering that Jackson wanted to make the ranch seem like a fairytale, the obvious choice in vehicles that he would purchase for boys to enjoy was a firetruck.
Jackson opted for a 1986 GMC High Sierra. He used the firetruck as a prop to decorate Neverland. Everything that Jackson did was out of the ordinary, so his firetruck purchase shouldn't come as a surprise. Regardless of one's age, who wouldn't want to own a firetruck? That's almost every boy's dream.
14 Neverland: Detamble Model B
Neverland was supposed to be a magical place where visitors got lost in fantasy. One of the ways that Jackson ensured that Neverland visitors got the best experience was by displaying classic vehicles. One of the classics that Jackson had on display was a 1909 Detamble Model B.
The car was a two-seater with a crank-start combustion engine. Although the car is a classic, the only aspect of the car that wasn't appealing was that it was a replica. The side panels had a code of arms and monogrammed initials MJ. The car is an absolute stunner.
13 Neverland: Electrified Horse Drawn Carriage
Kim Kardashian described Neverland as the most magical place on Earth when she celebrated her 14th birthday at Jackson's home. Jackson was adamant about making Neverland one of the most sought after themed parks. One of the ways that he decorated the ranch was with unique rides.
Jackson purchased an electrified horse-drawn carriage. On the side of the carriage are the words Neverland Valley. Although the carriage is old, Jackson kept it in pristine condition. The carriage helped visitors to pictures themselves in the early 1900s era during their Neverland tour.
12 Elsewhere: Mercedes Benz 500 SEL
The '80s was a great time for Jackson. He became a household name and money started to pour into his account. To congratulate himself on the hard work, Jackson purchased a 1985 Mercedes Benz 500 SEL. Besides the luxurious, spacious cabin that the car provided, it also had a 5-liter V8 engine that was capable of pumping out 228 horsepower.
The car's top speed was 137 mph. That might not sound a lot in today's comparison, but the car was a big deal in the '80s. Most Mercedes owners commended the manufacturer's efforts for producing a reliable car.
11 Elsewhere: Cadillac Escalade
Many celebrities have chosen the Escalade as their preferred ride to get to venues. Jackson wanted to be the best entertainer, who entertained people wherever he went. When fans swarmed his Escalade, Jackson stood on the roof and greeted them.
Escalade was Cadillac's first model in the SUV market, and the U.S. automaker has kept it in production since 1998. Apart from the spacious cabin and comfortable ride, the Escalade has a 6.2-liter engine, capable of pumping out 420 horsepower. That is a lot of power for a heavy vehicle.
10 Elsewhere: Harley Davidson Motorbike
Most people had never seen Jackson ride a motorbike, but he has used several vehicles in his music videos as props. Jackson used an AMC Matador in his Black and White music video, as well as a police spec 2001 Harley Davidson Road King as a prop in another shooting.
Motorcycle News reported in 2009 that Jackson had placed the Harley on auction along with 2,000 other personal items from Neverland. Other items that Jackson had on sale was a Rolls Royce, entertainment memorabilia, items he used on tour and arcade games.
9 Elsewhere: Ferrari Testarossa
One might think that the manufacturer didn't need help marketing its magnificent vehicles, but Ferrari didn't mind that the Miami Vice producers featured a Testarossa in the program or that Pepsi sat Jackson behind the wheel of a Testarossa during the shooting of a commercial.
The automaker produced the Testarossa between 1984 and 1996. Pepsi was impressed by the car but wanted a special model for the advert, so the drinks manufacturer commissioned Ferrari to produce a convertible. According to Motor Authority, the car was on sale for $799,900.
8 Elsewhere: Cadillac DeVille
One of the longest lasting vehicles on the market from a U.S. automaker was the Cadillac DeVille. The automaker produced the car from 1958 until 2005. One of the reasons that the DeVille managed to stay on the market for almost half a century was due to the strong engines that Cadillac fitted in the car and offered as variants. Jackson's DeVille, which he used in a music video, was a 1964 model.
The car boasted a 6.4-liter V8 engine. The other engine option for that generation was the 7-liter V8 engine, capable of producing 340 horsepower. The DeVille accounted for two-thirds of all Cadillac's sales at the time.
7 Elsewhere: Neoplan Touring Bus
Jackson pursued a solo career after leaving the Jackson 5. He needed a comfortable ride while on the road, so Jackson opted for a private bus. The bus was a 1997 model, which Jackson used during the History tour and other appearances. Jackson wanted to feel optimal luxury, so he ensured that the Neoplan bus had individual seats and booths, as well as a king's crown embroidered into the carpet.
The King of Pop also had a bathroom line in gold, porcelain, and granite. I wouldn't have expected anything less from one of the biggest pop sensations in the world.
6 Elsewhere: Rolls Royce Silver Seraph
After the issues at Neverland, Jackson stated that he had moved out of the ranch as he felt that it wasn't his home any longer. One of the cars that Jackson didn't have at Neverland was a 1999 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph.
The manufacturer ensured the car provided as much performance as luxury, so Rolls Royce fitted a 5.4-liter V12 engine, capable of pumping out 322 horsepower. Rolls Royce wanted to make the car exclusive by producing just over 1,500 units during the five years it kept the car in production. Jackson decorated the car with 24-carat gold.
5 Elsewhere: Lancia Stratos Zero
Marcelo Gandini designed the Lancia Stratos Zero for the 1970 Turin Auto Show. Gandini's intention for the unique vehicle was to pique the visitors' interest. He was obsessed with eccentric designs. "All that mattered was to get people talking," said Gandini. It seems that Gandini and Jackson shared an affinity for the abstract.
When Jackson debuted the Moonwalk, he featured a 1988 Lancia Stratos Zero in the music video to make his moves and the ambiance futuristic. People were in awe when they saw the Moonwalk, and the Lancia Stratos Zero was the cherry on the cake.
4 Elsewhere: Rolls Royce Silver Spur II
Stars like to travel first class all the way. Jackson wasn't an exception to the rule. He owned at least four limousines. One of the limousines was a Rolls Royce Silver Spur II. Jackson's limousine was a 1990 model and trimmed in contrasting white leather and black fabric. It seems that the tinted windows weren't enough for Jackson to remain surreptitious, so he also fitted white curtains. Jackson's Silver Spur II also had a full-service bar.
The Silver Spur IIs are scarce, so collectors will have a difficult time finding one of the few models that remain.
3 Elsewhere: Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln produced the Town Car across three generations between 1980 and 2011. Jackson owned a 1988 model, part of the first generation. His Lincoln Town car was a limousine, but the standard model that Lincoln made was the largest car that the Ford Motor Company had produced. Jackson's limousine had gray leather and tinted windows to ensure that Jackson was comfortable and had privacy.
The Lincoln Town Car hasn't had a direct replacement, though the automaker considers the Lincoln Continental as the car's replacement from 2017.
2 Elsewhere: Cadillac Fleetwood
Most people didn't know that Jackson was a car connoisseur. He enjoyed vehicles that looked elegant and provided him with luxury. One of the cars that Jackson loved was his 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood. The car had an elegant exterior and provided Jackson ample space. The Fleetwood that Jackson owned wasn't famous only because it belonged to the King of Pop but also due to its appearance in the movie Driving Miss Daisy.
The car is more than 50 years old, but Jackson ensured that it looked like it rolled off the production line a few days ago.
1 Elsewhere: GMC Jimmy High Sierra
Besides owning firetrucks, limousines, vintage vehicles from the early 1900s, Jackson also owned modern vehicles such as the GMC Jimmy High Sierra. Jackson owned a 1988 model but ensured that the car remained in pristine condition for the years that it was in his possession. Considering Jackson maintained his vehicles, it showed that he was a car lover and respected his vehicles.
The Jimmy High Sierra was a sports-utility vehicle that General Motors produced. The car's design is similar to a Ford Bronco, prompting one to think that GM introduced it as competition to the Bronco.
Sources - Motor Authority & Motorcycle News