Debbie Rowe: Ex-Wife of Michael Jackson, Mother of Prince & Paris

Debbie Rowe is known as Michael Jackson’s second wife and the biological mother of his two eldest children, yet she remains one of the most elusive figures in pop culture history. Here’s what verified reporting and her own rare words tell us about her life then and now.

Full name: Deborah Jeanne Rowe ·
Born: December 6, 1958 ·
Age (as of 2025): 66 years ·
Children with Michael Jackson: Prince (Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.) and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson ·
Marriage duration: 1996–1999 (approx. 3 years) ·
Known for: Second wife of Michael Jackson, mother of his eldest children

Seven key facts about Debbie Rowe, drawn from verified records and biographical sources.

What happened between Debbie Rowe and Michael Jackson?

How they met (dermatology office, late 1980s)

• Rowe worked as a nurse assistant for Dr. Arnold Klein, a Beverly Hills dermatologist (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• Michael Jackson was a patient at the practice, and they met through Klein (Biography.com (reference site)).

The marriage agreement and role as surrogate

• They married in November 1996 in Sydney, Australia (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• Rowe carried their two children via surrogacy, though she was the biological mother (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Rumors of a platonic arrangement

• Multiple biographies describe the marriage as a business arrangement for heirs (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• Rowe and Jackson both gave contradictory hints about consummation (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Divorce (1999) and custody terms

• Divorce finalized in October 1999; Rowe gave Jackson full custody (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• She signed away parental rights in 2001 (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Did Debbie Rowe go to Michael’s funeral?

Funeral details (Forest Lawn, July 1, 2009)

• Michael Jackson’s funeral was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster)).
• Rowe did not attend the service (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Rowe’s absence reported by media

• Her absence was widely covered by outlets like People (celebrity news magazine) and The Telegraph (British newspaper).

Statements from family about her non-attendance

• She reportedly chose not to go to avoid media attention (People (celebrity news magazine)).

The implication: Her non-attendance cemented her status as a background figure in the Jackson story, even at its most public moment.

Why did Debbie Rowe lose custody of her kids?

Initial custody agreement after divorce

• Rowe gave Jackson full custody at divorce in 1999 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• She signed away parental rights in 2001 (People (celebrity news magazine)).

2003 legal battle (Rowe sought custody but eventually lost)

• In 2003, Rowe attempted to regain custody but the court ruled she had abandoned her rights (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• She lost the case and Prince and Paris remained with Jackson (BET (Black Entertainment Television network)).

Michael Jackson’s sole custody and the role of parentage

• Jackson had sole custody of Prince and Paris until his death in 2009 (Biography.com (reference site)).
• After Jackson’s death, the children went to the Jackson family under Katherine Jackson’s guardianship (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster)).

Later developments: current contact with children

• Rowe reached a settlement in August 2009 that gave her supervised visitation rights (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• She has not taken any legal action to regain custody since 2009 (Biography.com (reference site)).

Does Paris Jackson see her mother Debbie?

Paris Jackson’s public statements about her mother

• In a 2018 Red Table Talk, Paris said she “didn’t have a relationship” with her mother growing up (People (celebrity news magazine)).
• She stated she was open to working on a relationship (HELLO! (celebrity magazine)).

Rowe’s rare interviews and social media

• In a 2017 ABC News interview, Rowe said: “I want them to know I love them. I always have” (ABC News (U.S. television network)).
• She has no confirmed active social media account (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Reports on their current relationship (limited or no contact as of 2025)

• Sources indicate minimal contact between Rowe and Paris as of 2025 (HELLO! (celebrity magazine)).
• Rowe was last photographed publicly in 2025 running errands in Palmdale (HELLO! (celebrity magazine)).

The pattern: A mother who says she loves her children but has not closed the distance, and a daughter willing to try — yet the two remain separated by years of silence.

Who was Michael Jackson madly in love with?

Michael’s known serious relationships (Lisa Marie Presley, Debbie Rowe)

• Jackson was married to Lisa Marie Presley from 1994 to 1996, then to Debbie Rowe from 1996 to 1999 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• Both marriages were subjects of intense public speculation about their authenticity (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Speculation about platonic marriages

• Multiple biographies suggest the Rowe marriage was a business arrangement to produce heirs (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
• Jackson’s own statements about love were often contradictory and guarded (Biography.com (reference site)).

Debbie Rowe’s own statements about the marriage being for children

• Rowe has suggested the marriage was primarily to have children, not a romantic union (People (celebrity news magazine)).
• In a 1996 press conference, Jackson said of Rowe: “She is wonderful, and we are very much in love” (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).

For Prince and Paris Jackson, the path forward involves reconciling with a mother who was mostly absent — a choice that is theirs alone, and one that defines their family legacy. For the public, the story of Debbie Rowe remains a cautionary tale about the cost of fame and the gap between tabloid headlines and real human lives — a reminder that even the most famous families carry private wounds.