Net Worth Ranker
What Is Debbie Rowe’s Net Worth?
Debbie Rowe, an American nurse and dermatology assistant, has accumulated a net worth of $20 million. This financial standing is primarily attributed to her divorce settlement from the late pop icon Michael Jackson and subsequent legal settlements.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on December 6, 1958, in Spokane, Washington, Debbie Rowe’s early life was marked by her parents’ divorce when she was an infant. She was raised by her mother, aunts, and grandmother. As a teenager, she attended Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California, laying the foundation for her future career in the medical field. In the mid-1980s, Rowe began working as an assistant to dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein. This position played a crucial role in her meeting Michael Jackson, who was a patient of Dr. Klein’s, seeking treatment for vitiligo. There is no detailed information about her compensation during this time.
Relationship with Michael Jackson and Divorce Settlement
Rowe’s relationship with Michael Jackson evolved from a professional connection to a close friendship, with both sharing personal stories of their respective unhappy marriages. In 1996, after Jackson’s divorce from Lisa Marie Presley, Rowe offered to bear his children, leading to their marriage on November 14, 1996, in Sydney, Australia. This union resulted in two children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (Prince), born on February 13, 1997, and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, born on April 3, 1998. The marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce on October 8, 1999. As part of the divorce settlement, Rowe received $8 million and a house in Beverly Hills, California. Receiving $8 million in 1999 equates to approximately $16 million today, accounting for inflation.
The court documents pertaining to the divorce indicated that Rowe had signed a prenuptial agreement. This agreement stipulated that she would not be entitled to an equal division of community property under California law. This significantly impacted the distribution of assets during the divorce proceedings. While the specifics of the prenuptial agreement remain confidential, its presence was a key factor in determining the financial outcome of the divorce.
In 2001, Rowe sought to terminate her parental rights to the two children through a private judge. However, in 2004, following child abuse charges against Jackson, she pursued legal action to reverse this decision. These legal battles highlight the complex and evolving nature of her relationship with her children and Michael Jackson.
Following Michael Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009, Rowe reached a settlement with Katherine Jackson, the children’s guardian, granting her supervised visitation rights. Further details of this settlement remain confidential, but it allowed Rowe to maintain a presence in her children’s lives. It is important to note that there is no publicly available information to suggest that Rowe received any additional financial compensation as part of this post-Jackson’s death settlement.
Subsequent Legal Actions and Real Estate Holdings
In 2005, Debbie Rowe sold the Beverly Hills home she received in the divorce settlement for $1.5 million. The sale marked a significant transaction in her real estate portfolio. That same month, she purchased a 2+ acre property in Palmdale, California, for $439,000. This property is an equestrian property, reflecting her interest in horses. The location is not publicly available.
In 2006, Rowe sued Michael Jackson for $145,000 to reinstate her access to her children. This lawsuit demonstrates her continued efforts to be involved in her children’s lives. The details of this particular action are sealed, but these proceedings offer a picture of the legal back-and-forth.
After Jackson’s passing, Rowe filed a defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit against a source that provided her private emails to the television entertainment newsmagazine show “Extra.” She was ultimately awarded $27,000 in damages. This legal victory demonstrates her willingness to protect her privacy and defend her reputation. The specific details of the emails and the source involved remain confidential.
First Marriage
Rowe’s first marriage was to Richard Edelman, a teacher at her alma mater of Hollywood High School, in 1982. Following their marriage, Rowe converted to Judaism, her husband’s faith. The couple eventually divorced in 1988. The details of any financial arrangements or property division stemming from this divorce are not publicly available.
Personal Life and Engagements
In 2014, Debbie Rowe announced her engagement to music producer Marc Schaffel, a former employee of Michael Jackson’s, on “Entertainment Tonight.” Schaffel had reportedly supported Rowe through her health struggles following her miscarriage. The current status of their engagement and relationship is not known to the public.
Summary of Net Worth Factors
Debbie Rowe’s $20 million net worth is largely composed of the $8 million divorce settlement from Michael Jackson in 1999 (approximately $16 million today), the sale of the Beverly Hills home for $1.5 million in 2005, and the $27,000 in damages awarded in the defamation lawsuit against a source who gave her private emails to the television entertainment newsmagazine show “Extra.”. Her real estate holdings, including the Palmdale property purchased for $439,000, also contribute to her net worth. There is no public data available that show her income from her nursing or dermatology assistant work significantly contributing to the $20 million net worth figure. While the precise allocation of her assets and investments is not public information, it is understood that her net worth has been shaped by these financial events.
