LimeWire Music Blog

If you remember the shopping scene in Martin Bashir’s Living with Michael Jackson, then you’ll recall how the late King of Pop pissed away money like nobody’s business. While Jackson, who was in debt at the time of his death, made a few wise investments (he bought the Beatles’ publishing in 1984 to the chagrin of his “Ebony & Ivory” compatriot Paul McCartney, who had ironically schooled Jackson on the merits of investing in music publishing), his overspending was enough to send Suze Orman straight to the psych ward. So it was no surprise that court papers revealed yesterday that the singer’s funeral cost nearly $1 million. Here’s the breakdown:

The final tally of costs included $855,730 to Forest Lawn for cemetery and funeral charges including the purchase of other plots within the same mausoleum that houses Jackson’s body.

Also listed were: $35,000 for burial garments; $1,975 for wardrobe for the family; $2,000 for usher costumes; $3,682 for framing of a photograph of Jackson next to the casket; $959 for embroidery; $11,716 for invitations and programs; $16,000 for flowers; $30,000 for cars and security; and $15,000 for a funeral designer. There was also a charge of $21,455 for the “funeral repast” at a restaurant after the ceremony.

Lawyer Howard Weitzman, who represents the administrators, admitted to the AP that the ceremony could’ve been done less expensively. “But it was Michael Jackson, who was larger than life. There’s no reason he should not have a funeral that’s larger than life.”