Prince Jackson had a once-in-a-lifetime childhood in a place unlike any other. Michael’s eldest son grew up alongside his siblings at Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, California. The sprawling estate was designed to be not only the King of Pop’s residence but also a theme park for children. Due to red tape regarding zoning regulations and the location, Michael’s dream never came to fruition. It did become a giant playground for his three children, however, who got to enjoy private attractions such as rides, a zoo full of exotic animals, and a train station.
During an episode of “Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson,” Prince spoke about what it was like to live in a theme park as a child. “[It was] very, very interesting. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to appreciate how unique and interesting it was,” he shared. The philanthropist also spoke about the number of animals his father acquired, which included orangutans, elephants, tigers, and lions. “[My dad] loved animals when he was a kid,” he said. “I think his first pets were two rats. As he was making more money and more music, he was able to buy more animals,” he explained.
Neverland Ranch has a dark history, however, and the Jackson clan was forced to leave the estate in 2005. At the time, Michael was acquitted of child molestation charges that individuals alleged occurred at the property. After the singer’s death in 2009, Prince and his siblings were raised in Los Angeles by their paternal grandmother, Katherine.
