When Michael Jackson couldn’t win an Oscar on his own merit, he simply bought one—at least that’s the story behind the legendary ‘Best Picture’ statuette he purchased for a staggering $1.5 million.

Yet, the whereabouts of that iconic award remain a mystery to this day, adding an enigmatic chapter to the King of Pop’s already fascinating legacy.

In 1999, Jackson made headlines by acquiring the Oscar statuette awarded to Gone with the Wind in 1940. The Oscar was auctioned at Sotheby’s from the estate of legendary producer David O. Selznick.

Valued at about $300,000 at the time, the Oscar’s final price was blown out of the water by Jackson’s record-breaking bid—a move that guaranteed no one else could outbid him.

The purchase was notable not just for its price but also because it bypassed the usual Academy regulations.

Since 1950, Oscar winners and their estates have been restricted from selling or transferring statuettes without first offering to sell them back to the Academy for $1.00—a rule meant to protect the award’s prestige.

However, Gone with the Wind’s Oscar predated these rules, making it legally available for purchase.

Despite Michael Jackson’s vast entertainment empire and connection to Hollywood, acting success eluded him compared to his unmatched music career.

Still, owning such a prestigious award must have symbolized a dream fulfilled in a unique way.

But here’s where the tale takes a twist. After Jackson’s death in 2009, efforts to locate the Oscar hit a dead end.

The award was reportedly kept either at Neverland Ranch or his Los Angeles home but has since disappeared without a trace.

Jackson’s estate attorney, Howard Weitzman, publicly appealed for its return, hoping it might someday find its way back to Jackson’s children.

The mystery of Michael Jackson’s lost Oscar only deepens the allure surrounding his life—one filled with staggering triumphs and perplexing mysteries.

Should the statuette resurface, it would undoubtedly become one of the most valuable and talked-about Oscars in history, a tangible symbol of the King of Pop’s complex and extraordinary journey.