"Neverland" in 2001: The ranch was equipped with a zoo, a railroad and several theme park rides
Photo: Jason Kirk / Getty Images
Michael Jackson's famous Neverland ranch in California has been sold - more than ten years after the pop star's death.
Jackson had already given up Neverland as a result of a lawsuit;
during the trial he was accused of molesting a boy there.
Billionaire and investor Ron Burkle, a former friend of the Jackson family, bought the 1,100-acre property.
His spokesman announced on Thursday that he recently acquired the property.
Entrance from »Neverland«
According to the Wall Street Journal, the purchase price was $ 22 million.
In 2015 the asking price was 100 million dollars, in 2017 the property was still offered for 67 million dollars.
Neverland was renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch years ago.
According to Burkel's spokesman, the businessman discovered the property from the air when he was actually looking for other locations.
He then contacted Tom Barrack, the founder of the real estate company Colony Capital LLC.
The ranch wasn't actually on the market at the time.
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Michael Jackson (2006): After financial difficulties, he transferred the property to a real estate company
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
Jackson, who died of an overdose of the narcotic drug propofol in 2009 at the age of 50, bought the Los Olivos property, just under 200 kilometers north of Los Angeles, in 1988 for $ 19.5 million.
After financial difficulties, he transferred it to Colony Capital LLC in 2008.
Neverland - named after the fairytale land in "Peter Pan" - became Jackson's favorite retreat.
The ranch was equipped with a zoo, a railroad and several theme park rides.
The King of Pop often invited children to Neverland.
One of the invited boys later made the harassment charges against the singer, which led to the 2005 trial.
Jackson was eventually acquitted on all charges.
Jackson vowed never to return to Neverland after the trial.
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wal / Reuters
