Neverland Ranch and Private Zoo
In 1994, Michael Jackson bought his famous Neverland ranch, where he used to have a private zoo that included animals such as an elephant, lions, tigers, orangutans, snakes, giraffes, and much more. In the mid-2000s PETA filed complaints that the animals were being mistreated, but an inspection found no evidence to show this. MJ started relocating the animals to zoos and sanctuaries in the mid-2000s, approving where each one went. After his death, the remaining animals were also relocated.
The property featured a variety of attractions, including three railroads, notably the 3 ft narrow gauge Neverland Valley Railroad with a steam locomotive named Katherine after the owner’s mother. It also boasted an amusement park complete with a Ferris wheel, Carousel, Zipper, Octopus, Pirate Ship, Wave Swinger, Super Slide, roller coaster, bumper cars, and an arcade. Additionally, the master closet housed a secret safe room for enhanced security[1]. Many of the features have since been taken down and replaced after the property was listed for sale[2].
Photo Credit: Wikimedia/John L. Wiley http://flickr.com/jw4pix
Bubbles
Bubbles was MJ’s most famous pet who he rescued from a cancer research clinic in 1985 at three years old. This chimp slept in a crib in Jackson’s bedroom and was allowed to use his bathroom. Bubbles was a performer as well and could dance and do the moonwalk. He would tour around the world with MJ and often appearing at events. When MJ’s son Prince Michael was born, Bubbles became a bit jealous and aggressive, so he was moved to an animal sanctuary[3].
Bubble is currently still alive and spends his retirement at a private sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida. He shies away from the spotlight these days and isn’t a fan of being on camera anymore[4]. He likes to spend his time painting and hanging out with his best chimp friend Ripley, who once appeared on an episode of Seinfeld[5].
In April 2024, Jon Bon Jovi recalled a wild night partying with Bubbles in the 1980s.
Rikki
While MJ had many exotic birds and parrots, Rikki was a favorite of his and got to live in his mansion instead of his aviary. After his death, Rikki was sent to the Banjoko Wildlife Preserve in Arizona[7]. Another of Jackson’s notable pet parrots was Siberia, who was known to whistle at pretty women. Rikki is seen in the clip below.
Orangutans and Chimpanzees
MJ had two orangutans and not much is known about them. He also had two other chimps that weren’t famous like Bubbles. One chimp called Max was mentioned in the press by a housekeeper for using MJ’s mansion walls as his toilet. It’s assumed they all were sent to sanctuaries.
Gypsy
Michael Jackson had several elephants on his Neverland Ranch. One was Gypsy, a gift from actress Elizabeth Taylor. One of MJ’s best friends, she got him this elephant to thank him for hosting her 8th wedding at his Neverland Ranch in 1991. And if that seems like quite a hefty thank-you gift, note the receipt for the wedding came to around $1.5 million, which Jackson also picked up.
Thriller and Sabu
MJ got two tiger siblings as kittens in 1998 and named them Thriller and Sabu. They eventually were sent to Shambala Preserve, which is a big cat sanctuary in California run by celebrity Tippi Hedren. Sadly Thriller died of lung cancer at the age of 13 in June 2012.
Spiders
MJ admitted to loving spiders and had large enclosures with a variety of rare types. He once appeared limping at a trial in 2002, saying it was because he was bitten by one of his tarantulas.
Giraffes
MJ had four giraffes in his zoo, which were sent to the Banjoko Wildlife Preserve in 2007. They were named Rambo, Princess, Jabbar Jr and Annie Sue.
Snakes and Reptiles
MJ had a collection of snakes, reptiles and crocodiles, with the most well-known being a boa constrictor named Muscles and a 18-foot albino python named Madonna.
Flamingos
On Neverland ranch you could find 13 Chilean flamingos, who now live at the Cape May County Zoo in New Jersey.
Livestock
MJ had a variety of livestock as well, including a ram called Mr. Tibbs and llamas named louie and Lola, along with zebras and alpacas.
Dogs
To top it off, Jackson of course had a pack of dogs on his ranch. The most famous was Large the bulldog who often appeared in photos with him. His other dogs were named, Sasha, Shadow, Spanky and Black Girl.
Kenya
Paris, Prince, and Bigi (Blanket) Jackson had a childhood dog together named Kenya, a Chocolate Labrador gifted to them by their father, Michael Jackson, for Christmas in 2006. Kenya passed away in October 2020 at the age of 14. The video below shows the moment Kenya was revealed to Jackson’s kids. The video, with his song “You Are My Life” playing in the background, was also famously played during Jackson’s wrongful death civil trial.
F**k man I don’t know how to do this… On 10/26/20 my closest friend of almost 14 years died. I’ve been trying to think of words to say that could capture what Kenya means to me but there doesn’t seem to be anything good enough to say. I couldn’t imagine my life without Kenya as he was so important for my growth. I’ll miss his loud breathing, stinky breath, random farts, his soft ears and multiple chins. This dog meant so much to me it really hurts to see him go. But I’m grateful he was in his house with someone he loved, I’m thankful I got to say goodbye to my baby. There will never be a dog like you buddy you’re a one of kind. R.I.P. to my baby, my puppy, my bear, I won’t forget you. I would really appreciate it if everyone would send me or tag me in any photos or videos of Kenya.
–Paris Jackson, Instagram
Katie and Thriller
Paris, Prince, and Bigi (Blanket) Jackson has two childhood cats called Katie and Thriller.
Ali
Another pet elephant of Michael Jackson was Ali. After living on Neverland Ranch since the early 1990s, he retired in 1997 to live at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Ali made headlines in April 2024 for undergoing tusk surgery.
Childhood German Shepherds
Growing up Michael Jackson and the Jackson family had three German Shepherds named Duke, Heavy, and Black Girl.
Ben
As a kid, Michael Jackson had several pet rats, with his favorite being a white rat named Ben (seen on his shoulder here). Ben was named after one of Jackson’s early hit songs, titled “Ben.” It was recorded for the 1972 horror movie Ben, which had killer rats in it.
Michael Jackson
Birthday
August 29, 1958 (66)
Links (Tags)
Michael Jackson is also known as MJ and occasionally known as the King of Pop. He liked to collect exotic pets and animals. Michael Jackson is famous for his singing and performance career and also for the controversy surrounding his lifestyle in the press. Over the years after he passed away, Michael Jackson’s pets on Neverland Ranch were adopted by charity groups and non-profit organizations that homes the animals. Some are still around today.
Michael Jackson lived from August 29, 1958 until June 25, 2009. And, because of his career, he’s widely considered to be one of the most famous and influential performing artists in modern history. Jackson had his own private zoo at his Neverland Ranch. The zoo housed a plethora of trained and untrained pets including his most favorite (and famous) chimpanzee named Bubbles. Jackson’s ownership of many exotic animals made him a subject of criticism from animal activists. Animal activists accused Jackson of animal cruelty after people found his abandoned Neverland Ranch Zoo in squalor. The tabloids surfaced photos of the rusted and very small cages the animals lived in. Needless to say, this was not a good look for the Prince.
The Guinness World Records recognizes Michael Jackson as the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”. He earned an estimated $750 million in his lifetime. In fact, even after his death he remained one of the top-earning celebrities and was pulling in $825 million in gross sales for 2016. Currently, his estate’s net worth is estimated to be around $600 million.
Michael Jackson’s daughter is Paris Jackson and his son is Prince Jackson. He also has a son named Bigi Jackson, formerly known as “Blanket”, who keeps his life private.
Michael Jackson Pets and Animal Collection on the Neverland Ranch
Throughout his adult life, MJ invested a sizeable amount of his fortune into his animal collection. And, his iconic home, Neverland Ranch, housed a myriad of exotic animals in his private zoo. On any given day, Michael would be able visit his pet elephant, lions, tigers, baboons, orangutans, flamingos, snakes, giraffes, alligators, a llama, and more.
After his death, Michael Jackson’s animals at Neverland Ranch became dispersed to new locations and owners. His two tigers, Thriller and Sabu, are now at Shambala. Shambala is a wild-animal preserve in Arizona, run by Melanie Griffith’s mother and actress Tippi Hedren. Rikki, his favourite bird, and his four giraffes all live at The Voices of the Wild Foundation in Page, Arizona. The alligators and a python named Madonna now live at a roadside zoo in Oklahoma. The flamingos now live in a zoo in New Jersey and two orangutans went to live with a private owner in Connecticut. Sources have just recently reported that MJ’s favourite chimpanzee, Bubbles, is residing at the Centre for Great Apes in Florida.
Michael Jackson Collaborations
Michael Jackson’s collaborations includes amazing works with some of the most influential artists in the world.
Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger – State of Shock: The song was released in July 1984 in a joint venture between The Jacksons and Mick Jagger. State of Shock became one of biggest hits from the Jacksons’ Victory album, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was originally set to feature Freddie Mercury. Listen to the Song.
Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney – Say Say Say: Released in October 1983, Say Say Say became number one hit in the United States , Canada, Norway, Sweden and several other countries, reached number two in the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten in Australia, Austria, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Switzerland and over 20 other nations. In 2013, Billboard magazine listed the song as the 41st biggest hit of all time on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Listen to the Song.
Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – Scream: “Scream” is the lead single from Michael Jackson’s ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995). At a cost of $7 million, it was listed in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive music video ever made; however, director Mark Romanek has refuted the claim, saying that there were two other music videos from the same era which cost “millions more” than the video for “Scream”. Listen to the Song.
Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury – There Must Be More To Life Than This: The song was originally written by Freddy Mercury in 1981, recorded with Michael Jackson in 1983, and later released to the public in 2014. Listen to the Song.
Michael Jackson & Britney Spears – The Way You Make Me Feel: The song was original released by Epic Records on November 9, 1987 as the third single from his seventh studio album Bad. It was written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones. In September 2001, Michael Jackson performed “The Way You Make Me Feel” with Britney Spears at the “30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years” concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Listen to the Song.
