Debbie Rowe’s name is forever linked to one of the most famous families in pop culture, but her own story is surprisingly quiet. She was the woman who gave birth to Michael Jackson’s two eldest children and then quietly stepped away from the spotlight. Here’s what we know about her life, the custody decisions, and where she stands today.
Born: December 6, 1958 · Married Michael Jackson: 1996 · Divorced: 1999 · Children: 2 (Prince and Paris) · Custody: Waived parental rights in 2001 · Reported settlement: $8 million
Quick snapshot
- Born December 6, 1958 (Wikipedia)
- Married Michael Jackson in 1996, divorced in 1999 (Biography.com)
- Mother of Prince and Paris Jackson (Wikipedia (French))
- Waived parental rights in 2001 (Wikipedia)
- 1996: Marriage in Sydney
- 1997–1998: Birth of Prince and Paris
- 1999: Divorce
- 2001: Waiver of parental rights
- 2009: Jackson’s death; Rowe does not attend funeral
- Rowe continues to live quietly on a horse ranch in California (E! Online)
- Limited contact with adult children (Rolling Stone)
The table below summarizes the essential biographical details of Debbie Rowe.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Deborah Jeanne Rowe |
| Born | December 6, 1958 |
| Occupation | Former dermatology nurse, horse breeder |
| Spouse | Michael Jackson (1996–1999) |
| Children | Prince Michael Jackson, Paris Jackson |
| Net worth | Estimated $8 million |
| Known for | Being Michael Jackson’s ex‑wife and the birth mother of his two eldest children |
How much money did Debbie Rowe get from Michael Jackson?
Financial settlement details
- The divorce settlement included a reported $8 million payment to Rowe, according to CBC News.
- Biography.com states she received more than $6 million and ownership of the couple’s Beverly Hills mansion in exchange for giving up custodial rights.
- A 2006 settlement between Jackson and Rowe, reported by CBC News (Canadian broadcaster), involved payments to Rowe and visitation rights for Prince and Paris.
Net worth estimate
- Rowe’s net worth is widely estimated at around $8 million, though the exact figure is not publicly confirmed.
Inheritance from Michael Jackson
- Rowe did not inherit anything from Jackson’s estate after his death in 2009.
Did Debbie Rowe have biological children with Michael Jackson?
Prince Michael Jackson
- Prince Michael Jackson (born Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.) was born in February 1997 to Debbie Rowe and Michael Jackson, according to Wikipedia (French).
- DNA tests after Jackson’s death confirmed paternity.
Paris Jackson
- Paris Michael Katherine Jackson was born in April 1998, also to Rowe and Jackson, per Wikipedia (French).
- Both children are biologically Jackson’s children; Rowe is their biological mother.
Biological relationship
- Rowe and Jackson share biological parenthood of Prince and Paris. No other children were born from their marriage.
Rowe gave birth to two of the most famous children in pop culture, yet she has barely any public relationship with them today.
Did Debbie Rowe go to Michael’s funeral?
Funeral attendance
- Debbie Rowe did not attend the public memorial service at the Staples Center in 2009.
- She also did not attend the private family funeral, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Memorial service
- Rowe sent a flower arrangement to the memorial.
- Her absence was widely noted by media and Jackson family members.
Statements from family
- Rowe’s attorneys at the time said she stayed away to avoid media attention and to respect the family’s privacy.
Rowe’s absence from the funeral underscored the distance between her and the Jackson family—a distance that has persisted for over a decade.
Why did Debbie Rowe lose custody of her kids?
Custody agreement
- Rowe voluntarily waived her parental rights in 2001, granting full custody to Michael Jackson, per NBC Los Angeles.
- Time reported that the 2006 settlement gave Jackson sole custody with visitation rights for Rowe.
Waiver of parental rights
- Rowe’s waiver of rights was later found by an appeals court to have been done in error, according to NBC Los Angeles.
- After Jackson’s death, Rowe briefly considered seeking custody but did not pursue it.
Later relationship
- In 2009, Rowe and Katherine Jackson reached a settlement under which Rowe had the right to supervised visits, reported by 6abc (Philadelphia news).
- NDTV (Indian news outlet) reported that Rowe eventually decided not to fight for custody, instead seeking increased access.
Is Debbie Rowe close to her children with Michael Jackson?
Current relationship
- Debbie Rowe has a limited relationship with Prince and Paris, according to E! Online.
- Paris Jackson said in an interview with Rolling Stone that she “barely knows” her mother.
Contact with Prince and Paris
- Prince has also described minimal contact, considering Katherine Jackson as his mother figure.
Public statements
“I barely know her. She’s not my mom.” — Paris Jackson, Rolling Stone
Rowe’s attorneys said in 2009 that she was not attending the memorial because of media attention and her desire to stay private.
Prince Jackson has said he has limited contact with his biological mother and considers Katherine Jackson his grandmother/mother figure.
Rowe traded a public role in her children’s lives for privacy and financial security. The result: a distant relationship that may never fully close.
Timeline: Debbie Rowe’s life with Michael Jackson
- December 6, 1958 — Deborah Jeanne Rowe is born in Spokane, Washington. (Wikipedia)
- Early 1990s — Rowe meets Michael Jackson while working as a nurse at a dermatology clinic. (Biography.com)
- November 1996 — Marries Jackson in Sydney, Australia. (Biography.com)
- February 1997 — Prince Michael Jackson is born. (Wikipedia (French))
- April 1998 — Paris Jackson is born. (Wikipedia (French))
- October 1999 — Divorce finalized. (Wikipedia (French))
- 2001 — Rowe waives parental rights; Jackson gets full custody. (NBC Los Angeles)
- June 2009 — Michael Jackson dies. Rowe does not attend the public memorial. (NBC Los Angeles)
- 2010s — Rowe runs a horse‑breeding business in Palmdale, California. (E! Online)
- Present — Rowe is alive, active on Instagram (@debbierowe_official), and has limited contact with Prince and Paris. (Rolling Stone)
The pattern: Rowe’s life after Jackson is defined by a consistent choice for privacy, leaving many details of her current relationship with her children uncertain.
Confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Debbie Rowe was born on December 6, 1958 (Wikipedia).
- She married Michael Jackson in 1996 and divorced in 1999 (Biography.com).
- She gave birth to Prince and Paris Jackson (E! Online).
- She waived parental rights in 2001 (NBC Los Angeles).
- She did not attend Michael Jackson’s funeral (NDTV).
What remains unclear
- Exact divorce settlement amount is not publicly documented; $8 million is a commonly cited estimate.
- The current degree of contact with Prince and Paris is not fully known; both children have described estrangement.
- Whether she will ever speak publicly about her relationship with Jackson remains uncertain.
The pattern: While many key facts are established, the most personal aspects—her relationship with her children and the exact financial terms—remain guarded.
Frequently asked questions
Did Debbie Rowe remarry after Michael Jackson?
No, she has not remarried and lives privately.
Where does Debbie Rowe live now?
She lives on a horse ranch in Palmdale, California.
What does Debbie Rowe do for a living?
She is a horse breeder, running D&D Halter Horses.
How did Debbie Rowe meet Michael Jackson?
She met him while working as a dermatology nurse in the early 1990s.
What happened to Debbie Rowe after 2000?
She waived custody, received a settlement, and lives out of the spotlight.
Is Debbie Rowe still in contact with the Jackson family?
She has limited contact; she is not close to the family.
For Debbie Rowe, the choice to step back from the Jackson family was a deliberate one. She traded the spotlight for privacy and a quiet life on a California ranch. But the consequence for her relationship with Prince and Paris is clear: estrangement that may never fully heal. For more on the lives of those connected to famous families, read about Tiger Lily Hutchence and Lara Worthington.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.