It’s only February, and already 2026 promises to be a blockbuster year for The Estate of Michael Jackson and co-executor John Branca.
Once hailed by Michael Jackson as the “greatest attorney of all time,” the mastermind behind Jackson’s career and later his estate, Branca is no longer just behind the deals; he’s part of the story.
Portrayed by actor Miles Teller in the upcoming biopic ‘Michael,’ fans have already thrown their backing behind the A-list actor, with the casting choice being hailed as “the perfect role for Teller.”
Branca was instrumental in the late singer’s acquisition of the Beatles’ publishing catalog, a deal that turned $20 million into over $1 billion.
After Jackson’s death in 2009, Branca returned to co-executor duties and helped steer the estate from more than $500 million in debt to over $3 billion in revenue, according to The Telegraph.
Branca’s client list reads like a hall of fame seating chart: Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, Fleetwood Mac, the Bee Gees, Aerosmith, Enrique Iglesias, and Dr. Dre, just to name a few.
“He’s the rock star of music business attorneys,” one veteran manager told The New York Post last year.
Branca, a keyboardist who once signed a record deal at 16 and opened for the Doors, has never shied from the spotlight.
In 2023, he posted a photo of his Ferrari F8 Tributo on Instagram, crediting Jackson for his first taste of luxury vehicles.
“Ever since Michael Jackson gave me my first Rolls-Royce, I’ve developed a taste for nice cars,” he wrote.
Now, Branca is behind ‘Michael,’ the long-delayed biopic, which hits theaters in April.
He serves as a producer and was closely involved in the development and casting of Jackson’s nephew Jaafar in the lead role.
In 2023, the estate sold half of its rights to Sony Music in a deal orchestrated by Branca that valued Jackson’s catalogue at $1.2 billion.
‘Michael,’ the biopic, is expected to top the $900 million earned by Bohemian Rhapsody, slating it for one of the biggest film releases of the decade.
