In a powerful and emotional conversation, Judge Greg Mathis recently shared staggering and largely unknown facts about Michael Jackson’s philanthropic legacy, shedding new light on the late entertainer’s deep commitment to uplifting the Black community. According to Mathis, Jackson gave away an estimated $500 million to Black causes throughout his lifetime—making him, at the time, the largest donor to Black initiatives of any individual on Earth.

“He gave away half,” Mathis said. “From Africa to the United Negro College Fund—he gave it all without ever wanting his name attached.” The legal television star emphasized that Jackson insisted on keeping most of his donations anonymous, choosing not to seek publicity or praise for his efforts.

These contributions included generous support for educational scholarships, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), health initiatives, and global aid in African nations. And yet, despite this immense impact, Mathis expressed his frustration that the public was often quicker to focus on Michael’s appearance and the controversies surrounding him than on his unmatched generosity.

The discussion, held with host DJ Vlad, also touched on Jackson’s widely misunderstood appearance changes, particularly his skin tone. Mathis reminded viewers that Jackson suffered from vitiligo, a condition that causes skin depigmentation. “They said he tried to be white, but he had a disease,” Mathis said, addressing the misconceptions. While others noted he could have used makeup to appear darker, Mathis maintained that Jackson’s choices were deeply tied to his struggles with identity and physical appearance, amplified by years of public scrutiny.

Vlad added further context by recounting a revealing conversation with Tom Mesereau, Jackson’s former attorney. According to Mesereau, Jackson privately regretted settling the first child abuse allegation case in 1993. “He told his lawyer it was the biggest mistake of his career,” Vlad said. Jackson was advised to pay a settlement to make the issue disappear—but instead, it opened the floodgates to further accusations and lawsuits.

Mathis agreed, noting that Jackson was likely trying to avoid a prolonged legal battle and was convinced it was the professional route to protect his career. Unfortunately, the decision had the opposite effect, tarnishing his public image and painting a target on his back for further legal attacks. “It became a free-for-all. Every single person that ever met Michael Jackson started to sue him,” Vlad remarked.

Still, both men agreed that the evidence never conclusively proved wrongdoing. “He beat the criminal charges,” Vlad reminded. “There was no legal proof that he did anything.”

Mathis also shared insights into Jackson’s childlike behavior, which has often been criticized. “I think he was trying to live the childhood he never had,” he said, referencing Jackson’s lost youth due to fame and constant touring. From owning exotic pets like the famous chimpanzee Bubbles to surrounding himself with children, Jackson exhibited behaviors that some saw as strange but were more reflective of emotional immaturity than malicious intent.

In one particularly vivid story, a close family friend of Jackson’s recalled a moment when Bubbles bit a child. Jackson reportedly scolded the monkey harshly, even hitting him in front of guests—an event that showed his fierce protectiveness over children, even when it involved his beloved pet. That same individual also claimed that he was once offered $50,000 to lie and accuse Jackson of abuse, using a photo of his son in underwear as “evidence.” He refused, saying, “If Michael Jackson had molested my son, I would have killed Michael Jackson.”

The story exemplifies how Jackson became a target of false accusations and financial extortion attempts after the initial settlement. The entertainer was forced to constantly defend himself, often choosing to settle out of court simply to avoid draining legal battles—decisions that would ultimately cost him dearly, both financially and reputationally.