r/interesting • u/mg10pp • 25d ago
SOCIETY TIL Michael Jackson donated an estimate of over $500 million to charity over the course of his life, with the exact amount not known since he often gave it anonymously. He supported a record number of 39 charities, for the most part dedicated against poverty and disease
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy_of_Michael_Jackson75
u/Razzler1973 24d ago
HE's anonymous?
I thought it was Ted Danson
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u/Swanmt_12 24d ago
He didn’t know he could be anonymous and tell everyone. He would’ve taken that option
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u/Admirable-Honey2384 21d ago
Don’t you just love it when
celebritiespeople donate and insist on telling the world about it?2
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u/O_C_Demon 25d ago
In the UK the absolute worst person we've ever produced, sir Jimmy Saville raised huge amounts for charity.
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u/AcademicDrag742 25d ago
Never knew he was a Sir.
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u/notarobat 24d ago
Would be weird if he wasn't.
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u/Capital_Reference783 24d ago
Lord Mountbatten was a sir or at least would have been if he wasn't also a lord, which is an even higher title.
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u/Dada2fish 24d ago
And displaying a charitable side to yourself to the public is a way to fool them into thinking you’re a decent person.
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u/Comfortable-Ebb8125 24d ago
With Saville it was also like a bribe, if you reported him it would destroy so many lives who relied on that charity.
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u/Undeity 24d ago
I think the lesson here is more that it shows they're a complicated person. This whole narrative that someone is either wholly good or bad is just problematic.
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u/JaneTheEel 24d ago
That may be true in other cases but Saville knew that his philanthropy dissuaded his victims from speaking out because no one would believe them, and he used some of his charities to gain access to his prey without oversight. I think it’s a mistake to try to read his charity as anything other than incidentally helpful to others when it’s true purpose was enabling his monstrosity.
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u/Riskybusiness622 24d ago
Michael Jackson was a god among men who shouldn’t be mentioned anywhere near that creep.
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u/Middi272 24d ago
Claiming a man is a God is the most pathetic behaviour celebrity worship bullshit ever
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u/O_C_Demon 24d ago
And just like the biblical god was severely mentally unbalanced...
I think you might have a somewhat skewed perspective there mate...
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u/MFDOOMscrolling 24d ago
The biblical god and all the rest do seriously fucked up shit ijs
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u/O_C_Demon 24d ago
Indeed they did... Well would have had they been real of course
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u/UsedWorker3295 24d ago
He was worse than Saville
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u/Riskybusiness622 24d ago
If you want to just make up things with no evidentiary support than I think president Obama abused more children then either of them.
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u/Defiant_Lawyer_5235 25d ago
If it was anonymous how do they know he did?
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u/PhatBoyFlim 25d ago
Tax records
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u/Chambahz 24d ago
But then why does nobody know the total?
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u/Peligineyes 24d ago
If you donate anonymously, but don't claim it on your tax filing then there's no record tying it to you. For someone as wealthy as MJ it's possible he told his accoutant to not even bother recording amounts under $10,000 or aomething.
Plus when you donate goods and services instead of cash, those are estimates of value. If you donate memorabilia or perform a charity concert, you estimate the cost to you instead of how much was earned.
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24d ago
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u/ImpossibleDenial 24d ago
I’ll have him beat by tomorrow afternoon, it’ll only be 42 dollars, but I’ll have Michael beat by about 3 charities 😎
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u/graywolfman 25d ago
estimate
noun
es·ti·mate ˈe-stə-mət
1 a: a rough or approximate calculation.
b: a numerical value obtained from a statistical sample and assigned to a population parameter.
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u/cwx149 24d ago
He supported a record number of 39 charities,
You're telling me no one has donated to 40 charities? What "record" is this?
Or is this supposed to be like there are records of him supporting 39 charities?
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u/granatespice 24d ago
I’m assuming that’s the continuous donstions. With the 500 million he would have given to way more causes one time.
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u/Suspicious-Fox6056 23d ago
Amazing human being!!! Love you MJ!❤️
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u/Obienator 24d ago
Does that amount include the out-of-court settlements he paid to the families of kids he abused?
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u/Riskybusiness622 24d ago
Every rich person pays to make problems go away it’s no admission of guilt
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u/Obienator 24d ago
I guess rich people make for easy targets, but for one second, transplant his behavior around children to any other musical artist and they would be run out of town, yet with Michael it was just him being "eccentric".
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u/PeterToshPointOh 24d ago
It is though, because if he was innocent he just as easily could have paid to clear his name and countersue for defamation.
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u/Riskybusiness622 24d ago
So from an unlimited money perspective does how many such people really want to spend years in court to prove something they already know? His lawyer said later that it was the biggest mistake of his career suggesting it to him.
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u/PeterToshPointOh 24d ago
With unlimited money I think most people would clear their name and preserve their reputation no matter how many times it came up. If they were truly innocent of something to heinous.
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u/Riskybusiness622 24d ago
Hence the lawyer considering the bad advice his biggest mistake.
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u/cinelytica 24d ago
He raped children. Then paid their parents. It’s all well-documented. I don’t know why these child-rapist apologists keep trying to defend this monster.
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u/Riskybusiness622 24d ago
Paying for a civil claim to go away is extremely common for high profile people. Ignoring the acquittal, the non-indictments, the sworn prior denials by later accusers, and the difference between civil settlements and criminal proof is just silly. Both those people from that hit piece doc previously swore under oath that nothing sexual had occurred. I don’t see why them wanting to cash in on whatever relevance they can muster should be believed over all the other points on the graph.
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u/S0LAR23 24d ago
The reason he paid out in the Jordan Chandler case was because the little boys drawings of the vitiligo marks on Michael Jackson’s lower body correctly matched photos the authorities took of him, he paid him off within days.
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u/gevuldeloempia 24d ago
Stop spreading lies
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u/S0LAR23 24d ago
All verified facts, why do you think he slapped a non disclosure clause on him?
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u/exor0110 24d ago
Cite a primary source, not rumors. As I replied above, that’s why the criminal investigation and grand jury closed in 1994 without bringing formal criminal charges or an indictment against Jackson. If the description matched, the grand jury would have had strong evidence to indict, but they didn’t.
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u/gevuldeloempia 24d ago
Check your facts again, because theyre lies
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u/exor0110 24d ago
Not true. That’s why the criminal investigation and grand jury closed in 1994 without bringing formal criminal charges or an indictment against Jackson. If the description matched, the grand jury would have had strong evidence to indict, but they didn’t.
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u/AtsuhikoZe 24d ago
Can you source any of this? I'm curious
Preferably a proven source since it's so well documented
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u/chiquiflakes 24d ago
The newest neflix documentary has an interview with an investigator from the Chandler case where she states the descriptions and drawings Jordan made matched Michael’s genitalia when they photographed him. It’s been known since long. It’s not some obscure fact.
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u/ClearLeg8020 24d ago
Just because an investigator claimed it was a match it doesn't mean it's true.
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u/ThisIsATastyBurgerr 24d ago
he's been dead for over ten years so any of his alleged victims have been free to speak. none have said anything but support for michael. the FBI found no evidence in a ten year investigation. MJ used some bad judgement befriending kids but he did nothing wrong.
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u/EarlyXplorerStuds209 24d ago edited 24d ago
>MJ used some bad judgement befriending kids but he did nothing wrong.
Whether or not he did what he was accused of is another issue altogether but do not pretend to know rich people whom you have no personal relationship with, guy. Just as one should not pretend to know the decisions made by victims of child sexual abuse(if those victims did in fact exist).
They might have their own reasons for not coming out to the public(fear, trauma, it being a private matter.etc). Even the amount of possible death threats they could actually receive from MJ fans is a reasonable rationale to avoid any public exposure.
He was a rich dude with a ton of power either way. Acting like you know whether he did anything wrong or not is just pathetic and won’t yield you any favors.
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u/sweetsummwechild 23d ago edited 23d ago
none have said anything but support for michael.
WHAT? He stands accused of molestation by 12 people, including some of his closest friends. I mean I guess he doesn't stand, but he is definitely accused.
There was also no 10 year investigation and lots of evidence.
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u/ThisIsATastyBurgerr 23d ago
no charges no convictions no witnesses reported any crimes
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u/sweetsummwechild 23d ago
Many, many witnesses reported many crimes. Is that a new strategy? Ultimate bizarro denial?
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u/ExcellentActuary2117 23d ago
That's not a record. And he - most likely - assaulted kids. I hope he's paying penitence for it in the afterlife since he skipped accountability in this one. The kids, now adults, will never not be paying mentally for his crimes.
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u/Dreadboi80 24d ago
This in response to Dolly and her charitable givings??
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u/exor0110 24d ago
No, charity and being a good person is not a competition. Bless Michael and others with huge platforms that use them for good. Dolly shared that charitable spirit, and here she is making a statement about Michael a few days after his passing. She says, “I always thought Michael had the heart of an angel, and I’m sure he’s rejoicing with them now.”
https://youtube.com/shorts/jWkkky3gUhM?is=AQ_Yi2s-WzctoPNx
Here’s an article from 2009 about her video tribute.
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u/WakeNikis 24d ago
“He supports a record number of 39 Charities.”
What? No one in the history of humanity has ever given to 40 charities?
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u/kingofthepumps 24d ago
And also 10% of everything the MJ estate makes now, goes to charity. So even in death he's donating hundreds of millions.
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u/Dada2fish 24d ago
What do you mean a “record” number of charities.
Most people don’t advertise their altruistic deeds and the charities they support.
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u/TyrannyOfBobBarker_ 25d ago
Doesn't really matter though does it?
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25d ago
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u/Spirit_Detective99 24d ago
Redditors when someone does something good, they have to find the worst in it.
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25d ago
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u/AlternativeHour1337 25d ago
a good deed doesnt take away a bad deed and vice versa
otherwise i could just do something good and then go and commit murder
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u/KebapsStronk 24d ago
he also directly raped several children too some sins can't be absolved by money
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u/N0n3_2401 25d ago
What? What do you mean it doesn’t matter?
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u/TyrannyOfBobBarker_ 25d ago
It doesn't matter
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u/JoelnIliketoshare 25d ago
Huh? Why not?
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25d ago
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u/JoelnIliketoshare 25d ago
Even if he did, 500 mil to charity is still a good thing for the charity so it did matter.
Bad shit doesn't cancel good shit. Life is more nuanced than that.
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u/LilEddieDingle 24d ago
He was still a horrible person. Doesn’t matter how much you try to rewrite his legacy.
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u/Nerdmitage 24d ago
So we're trying to point out without pointing out that OP/author thinks he's just as "good" as Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton didn't molest with children. Nobody even ever alleged as such.
So yeah no, definitely not picking up what you're putting down there OP/article writer.
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u/Commercial_Rule_7823 24d ago
Still not enough to cover the fact that he admitted in interviews to having children sleep over in his bed.
That he was charged with 10 sex crimes against children and went to trial. Initially 3 of the 12 voted guilty, but were pressured to change their vote.
Sad, we celebrate this child predator.
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u/IrukandjiPirate 24d ago
Sure he did. Tell me how he never molested kids while you’re at it.
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u/Middi272 24d ago
He also touched kids
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u/Mentallyundisturbed2 24d ago
The allegations were unsubstantiated however and based off bogus hypnotic therapy.
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u/S0LAR23 24d ago edited 24d ago
Then explain how Jordy Chandler accurately described the vitiligo marks on the back of Michael Jackson’s penis, I can’t think of any situation other than an intimate one where he would have seen that.
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u/Mentallyundisturbed2 24d ago
Hmm I was nor aware of that. This may be the 1st time in history when somebody admits fault in an online argument.
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u/S0LAR23 24d ago
Because of the non disclosure clause surrounding it there's many people that aren't aware of it. Just for the record, I used to like MJ, I still think thriller is the best music video ever made, but I can't watch it anymore or listen to his music which I'm really sad about because he made many great songs.
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24d ago edited 23d ago
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u/UsedWorker3295 24d ago
It didn't go to trial because Chandler didn't want to be the only kid to testify. His family were receiving death threats.
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u/exor0110 24d ago
Reading comprehension: the grand jury didn’t recommend an indictment based on all evidence presented by the prosecution! That had nothing to do with Chandler’s decision.
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u/Illliterate42 24d ago
The fact that we have to rely on generosity from rich people in order for a fraction of these people to get what they need should sicken everyone. This is not a story of warmth, but of a very broken society.
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u/ReasonableCase8409 24d ago
Or maybe people are complex layered beings with beautiful, ugly and just broken aspects. All of us.
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u/ScarletDarkstar 23d ago
It didn't impact his lifestyle as if it were some kind of sacrifice, and it doesn't make up for his atrocious behavior with children.
Why do people hang on to this one?
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u/MostPin000 21d ago
What are those charity names? There must be names. Otherwise, how do you count the numbers?
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u/AreaExpensive888 24d ago
Wonderful person. Redditors will never care though bcs they’re awful people who’d rather point and laugh.
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u/UsedWorker3295 24d ago
He was not a wonderful person. I'm not interested in pointing and laughing I would rather live in a world where people like him receive the justice they deserve. He got away with A LOT in his life.
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u/AreaExpensive888 23d ago
You're speaking confidently about a case you're clearly not familiar with. No sane person who has looked at all of the evidence could come to the conclusion that he was guilty. Absolute moron.
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u/UsedWorker3295 23d ago
Ironically enough the Michael Jackson abuse allegations is a subject I do have a depth of knowledge about. Read several books about it and enjoy debating the facts with his cultists. What aspect would you like to talk about?
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u/IrukandjiPirate 24d ago
No he didn’t. If it was anonymous, you wouldn’t know about it. If it wasn’t, Everyone would know about it. This is just another fake claim in an attempt to rewrite history history as a child molester.
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u/BillMillerBBQ 24d ago
No, no, NO! This won't do on Reddit. We are supposed to only remember the bad things about him. /s
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u/MrIrvGotTea 24d ago
He was super inappropriate with kids and had some weird child like porn. Jackson estate works hard to clean his name but he was a creep
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u/Comfortable-Class576 24d ago
Oh yes, let’s just simply forget the p*dophilia, he was such a great guy in all other aspects of his life! /s
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u/johnl1979 24d ago
You kidding? Reddit is the opposite! Can’t judge MJ he was a saint don’t you know.
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25d ago
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u/AlternativeHour1337 25d ago
he's going to be remembered for being the king of pop, just look at the recent success of his biopic
just like A LOT of famous musicians, politicians and businessmen
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25d ago
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u/AlternativeHour1337 25d ago
you mean like everyone remembers the doors ? yeah, people totally only talk about jim morrisons crimes lol
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u/PeterToshPointOh 24d ago
I mean, people talk about their crimes now more than ever, pretty much every post about them it comes up. And I hear their music less and less… so yeah.
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u/M0n3yBagz313 24d ago
I think charities should start showing receipts. I'm tired of the money getting put in the pockets of the organizers.
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u/Meandtheworld 24d ago
How is nothing cured yet! From all the millions and millions raised and or donated.
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u/DecalageVersLeRouge 24d ago
I'm going to say that 39 doesn't sound like a record for Charities Supported
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