Neverland took a dark turn when police raided the estate following child abuse allegations, leading to charges in 2003. Michael Jackson denied them and was acquitted, but he never returned to live there.

Struggling with debt, he shut down Neverland in 2006. After defaulting on the mortgage, he sold a majority stake to Colony Capital in 2008 for $22.5 million (£16.7m). The amusement rides were removed and sent to the California State Fair, and the property was listed for sale in 2015.

After years on and off the market, it finally sold in 2021 to Jackson’s former advisor, billionaire Ronald W. Burkle, for $22 million (£16.3m), far below its $100 million (approximately £73.5m) asking price.

The Jackson family’s amazing rags-to-riches property portfolio