14 DAY TRIAL // Just days before his untimely and sudden death, Michael Jackson was in negotiations for the purchase of an impressive Bel Air estate that he wanted to transform in a new and improved Neverland to the extent legislation would have allowed him to. Talks for the acquisition had taken place over no less than seven years, TMZ informs, and Michael was this close to sealing the deal when he unfortunately passed away.
According to the celebrity gossip website / paparazzi agency, the late King of Pop had set his eyes and heart on the estate about seven years ago. He constantly kept up negotiations, but was never fully able to afford it because of the problems and lawsuits plaguing him regularly. However, once he started the London O2 series of concerts, he hoped to come into better fortune and not only be able to buy the mansion, but also to reconstruct it to resemble Neverland at least in part.
“TMZ has learned Michael Jackson was involved in negotiations to buy a $38 million 15 bedroom, 16.5-bath Bel Air mansion just before he died, and the deal was 7 years in the making. Sources connected to the situation tell us MJ fell in love with the 18,020 square foot estate back in 2001 and actually entered into escrow – but the deal fell through because Jackson ultimately couldn’t afford the place. But recently, Michael was trying to work out a new deal with the owners in the hopes of coming into enough cash to score the place after his ‘This Is It’ concert series in England,” TMZ writes.
And Michael was not alone in having fallen in love with the estate, sources close to the late singer reveal for the same publication. His three children had also seen it and were more than ecstatic about the possibility of living in such a magical like place, which even had something that resembled a cave. Consequently, they were pushing for the acquisition as well, hoping they would get to play on the grounds shortly after the “This Is It” concerts kicked off. As we all know, that never happened.
“A source tells TMZ: ‘Jackson brought his kids to see the house and they fell in love with it... They begged him to buy it.’ The kids’ favorite part? We’re told they were all fired up about a secluded area under the house which was nicknamed the ‘Bat Cave.’ Sources say Jackson had hoped to use the land to recreate as much of Neverland as he legally could,” TMZ further says.
