Key takeaways
Michael Jackson (1958-2009), known as the "King of Pop," is the artist behind Thriller (1982), the best-selling album in history. Born in Gary, Indiana, he sold more than 350 million records worldwide, won 13 Grammy Awards, and remains one of the most certified artists in the United States according to the RIAA.
Michael Jackson is, first of all, a silhouette: a hat, a glove, a red jacket, a way of standing before he even sings. Behind those images is the journey of a child from Gary, Indiana, who became one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. This is his story — his rise, his influence, his private life, and the questions that still surround him.
Who is Michael Jackson?
An American singer, dancer and songwriter born on 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana, and who died on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles. Known as the "King of Pop," he is one of the best-selling artists of all time, carried by Thriller (1982), the best-selling album ever recorded. He transformed the place of dance in pop music, established the music video as a genuine form of spectacle and influenced a large share of the artists who came after him.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Born | 29 August 1958, Gary, Indiana, USA |
| Died | 25 June 2009, Los Angeles (aged 50) |
| Known as | The King of Pop |
| Years active | 1964-2009 (Jackson 5 from 1964; solo career from 1971) |
| Signature album | Thriller (1982), best-selling album of all time |
| Grammy Awards | 13 total, including 8 in a single night in 1984 |
| Record sales | 350+ million worldwide (RIAA-cited figure) |
| Spouses | Lisa Marie Presley (1994-1996); Debbie Rowe (1996-1999) |
| Children | Prince, Paris, Prince Michael II ("Blanket") |
| Honors | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (solo, 2001); Songwriters Hall of Fame (2002) |
Michael Jackson grew up in Gary, an industrial city in Indiana, in a family of nine children. His father Joseph quickly spotted his voice and brought him, together with his brothers, into the family group: the Jackson 5, formed in 1964 and signed to Motown Records in 1968. Michael was still a child, but he soon became its lead singer.
In the late 1960s, the Jackson 5 enjoyed their first major hits with I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save and I'll Be There: their first four singles all reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1969 and 1970, a feat that remains without equal for a group. Michael was already drawing attention: a clear voice, a striking energy, a stage presence rare for his age. That childhood spent on stage would leave a lasting mark on his relationship with work, the public and fame.
The Jackson 5's run of four consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 (1969-1970) has never been repeated by another group's debut releases.
With his solo career, Michael Jackson gradually moved away from the image of the child star. Off the Wall, released in 1979 and produced with Quincy Jones, established a more grown-up sound blending soul, funk and disco. Three years later, Thriller propelled him to an entirely different scale.
With Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller, the album lined up hit after hit. The video for Thriller, directed by John Landis and conceived as a short film of nearly fourteen minutes, went beyond simple musical accompaniment, with its own storyline, choreography and staging. At the 1984 Grammy Awards ceremony, Michael Jackson won 8 awards in a single evening for the Thriller era, out of a total of 13 Grammy Awards earned over the course of his career.
Michael Jackson's 1984 Grammy sweep for Thriller (8 awards from 12 nominations in a single night) has never been matched by another solo artist.
Bad, Dangerous and then HIStory continued that run of commercial success. The moonwalk became his signature and his tours filled stadiums.
His legacy does not rest on the songs alone. Michael Jackson helped make the music video a centrepiece of pop culture, brought choreography to the forefront and turned the concert into a large-scale visual show. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2001 (after a first induction with the Jackson 5 in 1997) and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
Did you know?
The moonwalk was not invented by Michael Jackson, but it was his performance of Billie Jean in 1983, during the show celebrating Motown's 25th anniversary, that made it famous around the world.
The figure of one billion is often associated with Michael Jackson, but it should be handled with caution. Estimates vary depending on the sources, the periods and the counting methods: physical sales, downloads, streaming, compilations or certifications. The figure of 350 million copies worldwide, often put forward by those close to him and repeated by the press, remains the most widely cited reference; a billion belongs more to a marketing claim than to a tally verified by an independent body.
What there is consensus on, however, is his place among the best-selling artists in history. Thriller is generally cited as the best-selling album of all time, with roughly 70 million copies sold worldwide according to estimates reported by Guinness World Records, and a certification of 34× platinum in the United States by the RIAA (that is, 34 million units in the American market alone), even if the exact figures differ from one organisation to another.
Verified vs. disputed figures:
- Verified (RIAA certification): Thriller is certified 34× Platinum in the US, which represents 34 million units.
- Widely cited estimate (Guinness World Records): roughly 70 million copies of Thriller sold worldwide.
- Frequently repeated but unverified: the claim that Michael Jackson sold "over a billion records" globally. No independent body has confirmed this total.
Michael Jackson married twice. His first marriage, in 1994, united him with Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley; the union would not last two years. In 1996, he married Debbie Rowe, with whom he had two children, Prince and Paris. He later had a third child, Prince Michael II, nicknamed "Blanket."
Away from the spotlight, Michael Jackson fiercely protected his children's privacy, and they often appeared in public with their faces covered.
Over the years, the lightening of his skin became more and more visible — and more and more talked about.
Michael Jackson publicly explained that he suffered from vitiligo, a condition that causes a loss of pigmentation in patches. He also mentioned lupus. Vitiligo accounts for these changes, a diagnosis confirmed by his dermatologist and mentioned in the 2009 Los Angeles County coroner's autopsy report.
Vitiligo affects an estimated 0.5%-2% of the world's population, according to dermatological research bodies. Michael Jackson's case became one of the most publicly documented.
Good to know
Vitiligo is a real and relatively common condition that affects millions of people around the world. It is neither contagious nor painful, but it can be hard to live with, in particular because of the way others look at it.
Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles, at the age of 50, while he was preparing a series of comeback concerts titled This Is It.
The Los Angeles County medical examiners concluded that the cause was acute intoxication from propofol, a powerful anaesthetic, combined with other sedatives. His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who administered the drug to help him sleep, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 and served time before being released in 2013.
There are no officially established last words. The known accounts come mainly from the testimony heard at his physician's trial and relate more to his final hours than to any clearly authenticated words.
In the days before his death, he was still preparing his return to the stage with This Is It.
In Colmar, Wax of Legends presents a life-size wax figure of Michael Jackson, recognisable by his stage posture, his hat and his unmistakable look. Visitors can come up close and pose next to him: here, there is no red rope.
The museum brings together 60 wax figures, 30 listening points and 15 interactive experiences. In the music area, you can step behind the microphone for a karaoke session alongside big names such as Katy Perry, John Lennon or Édith Piaf. Further along, the tour offers other set-ups: a red-carpet moment with Meryl Streep or Harrison Ford, a classroom where Einstein teaches at the blackboard, a roulette table between Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Visit information
- 60 wax figures, 30 listening points, 15 interactive experiences
- Average duration: 1h to 1h30
- Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week, public holidays included
- Last admission at 5 p.m.
- Audio guide included in 6 languages: FR, EN, DE, IT, ES, NL
- Address: 12 place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar
The music section is not limited to Michael Jackson: Mick Jagger, Rihanna, Louis Armstrong and Mozart also appear along the tour. The museum also makes room for personalities connected with Alsace, from Saint Odile to Bartholdi, with several sets designed for a souvenir photo.
A visit to Wax of Legends can also be combined with two other experiences located at the same address, at 12 place de la Cathédrale.
At Choco-Story, the Chocolate Museum, the tour follows the history of cocoa all the way to the chocolate bar, with tastings. Vino-Storia invites you to discover the wines of Alsace, from the vine to a tasting of three wines. An alcohol-free version is also available, with juices selected to bring out similar aromatic notes.
Since the three museums are gathered in the same place, it is possible to move from one visit to the next in a single day. Combined deals are available: a duo pass with 20% off or a trio pass with 33% off, valid for 7 days from the first visit.
Insider tip
To extend your visit in Colmar, the Bartholdi Museum can echo the Wax of Legends tour: one of its rooms evokes Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, sculptor of the Statue of Liberty and a native of the city. Wax of Legends also offers a scene built around his work, designed for a souvenir photo.
What was the cause of Michael Jackson's death?
Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles, at the age of 50. The recorded cause is acute intoxication from propofol, combined with other sedatives, which led to cardiac arrest. His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
What illness did Michael Jackson have?
He suffered from vitiligo, a condition that causes depigmentation of the skin in patches. He had also mentioned lupus. Both were confirmed in the 2009 autopsy report.
Who was Michael Jackson married to?
He was married to Lisa Marie Presley from 1994 to 1996, then to Debbie Rowe from 1996 to 1999, mother of his first two children, Prince and Paris. He later had a third child, Prince Michael II.
Why did Michael Jackson's skin become lighter?
Because of vitiligo, which depigmented increasingly wide areas of his skin over the years. The condition was confirmed by his dermatologist and by the autopsy report.
How many Grammy Awards did Michael Jackson win?
13 in total over his entire career, including 8 at the single 1984 ceremony for the album Thriller, from the 12 nominations he received that year.
How many records has Michael Jackson sold worldwide?
The most widely cited figure is 350 million records worldwide. Thriller alone is certified 34× Platinum in the US by the RIAA (34 million units) and Guinness World Records reports roughly 70 million copies sold globally. The often-repeated claim of "over a billion" records has never been confirmed by an independent body.
When was Michael Jackson inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
As a solo artist in 2001, after a first induction with the Jackson 5 in 1997, making him one of the few artists inducted twice.
Can you see Michael Jackson at Wax of Legends in Colmar?
Yes. A life-size wax figure of Michael Jackson is on display at Wax of Legends in Colmar, on a tour that brings together 60 figures. You can come up close and pose beside him for a photo.
How long does a visit to Wax of Legends last?
Allow 1h to 1h30 to enjoy the 60 wax figures, the 30 listening points and the 15 interactive experiences. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week, public holidays included.
Sources: RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certifications; Guinness World Records; Billboard Hot 100 chart archives; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame induction records; Los Angeles County coroner's report (2009); Dr. Conrad Murray trial records (2011).
Information verified by the Wax of Legends team (June 2026).
Cover photo : © Serge NIED — Wax of Legends
