Why Michael Jackson's kids never received any of £85m inheritance as Paris suffers major setback in fight for estate

Michael Jackson's children have still not received their actual inheritance, despite the musician dying some 16 years ago.

When he died the King of Pop left a vast estate, unsurprising for a figure of his international recognition and staggering level of commercial success.

Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50, leaving not just the estate but also a public image marred by a string of allegations of sexual misconduct.

Looking after the legacy of such an enormous figure is no mean feat, and co-executors John Branca and John McClain were appointed to manage the estate following his death in 2009.

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson has brought a lawsuit against the co-executors, accusing them of mismanaging it.

But a new update has seen Paris have a setback in her legal claim.

Michael Jackson died in 2009 (Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images)

The case is being adjudicated by retired Los Angeles judge Referee Mitchell L. Beckloff, who granted a petition from the executors to strike several parts of the suit because it was built on the substance of filings by the estate.

Reacting to the ruling, a representative for Paris told Entertainment Weekly, "This order is limited to minor procedural issues, and does not change the facts: the pattern of behaviour displayed by the executors and their attorneys raises significant red flags, and Paris will continue working to ensure her family is treated fairly. We will be submitting an updated filing shortly."

Jackson may have died some 16 years ago, but his children haven't actually received their inheritance from that yet due to a technicality about how much tax Jackson's estate owes.

This is not to say that they have been going without though, as a his children receive grants which are generated from the estate, but they haven't technically got their inheritance yet.

Unsurprisingly for someone like Michael Jackson, his estate generates no small amount of revenue.

Paris Jackson is locked in a legal dispute with the estate's executors (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Forbes has previously estimated that the estate generated a gobsmacking half a billion dollars over the course of just three years.

This includes the film This Is It, which drew in an additional $60 million advance payment, a new recording contract for some $250 million, as well as the Immortal World Tour which grossed some $75 million in 2012.

Despite not receiving their inheritance yet, his family are not short for a few bob.

A statement shared with PEOPLE read: "In annual reports provided to the probate court, which are publicly available, anyone can see that the Estate provides Michael’s mother and children with very substantial amounts of money to support them.

"The Estate has a very cooperative relationship with Michael’s children and whenever they need anything, the Estate works with them to ensure that they are very well taken care of, just as Michael would have wanted."