When Michael Jackson Tried to Buy Marvel Comics

In the mid-1990s, Michael Jackson didn't just want to play Spider-Man—he wanted to own him. The King of Pop made a serious attempt to purchase Marvel Comics outright, with his ultimate goal being to star in his own Spider-Man movie.

Stan Lee himself confirmed the story. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2009, Lee revealed that Jackson had approached him about producing and starring in the first Spider-Man film. When Lee explained that Jackson would need Marvel's permission, the pop star's response was simple: "I will buy Marvel."

When Financial Troubles Met Pop Royalty

The timing wasn't coincidental. Marvel was drowning in debt during the mid-1990s, eventually filing for bankruptcy in 1996. For someone with Jackson's resources, it seemed like a golden opportunity.

According to Jackson's nephew Taj, who spoke about it in 2020, Michael "wanted to do that with Stan Lee, and they had been talking and discussing that." The conversations were real, the interest was genuine, and the deal was on the table.

Why It Never Happened

The negotiations ultimately fell apart, though the exact reasons remain murky. Taj Jackson admitted he "didn't know the reasons why" the deal was "shut down." Some reports suggest that Ike Perlmutter, who would later become Marvel's CEO, demanded a minimum of $1 billion for the company—a price that apparently ended discussions.

Stan Lee later offered his own take on what might have been. When asked if Marvel would have thrived under Jackson's ownership, Lee diplomatically suggested it "might not have been as successful" because "Michael was not a great businessman."

The Spider-Man That Never Was

Imagine the alternate timeline: Michael Jackson swinging through New York City, moonwalking across rooftops, fighting crime with the same precision he brought to his dance moves. It's absurd, fascinating, and somehow perfectly in character for someone who never thought small.

Instead, Sam Raimi directed 2002's Spider-Man with Tobey Maguire in the role, launching a franchise that would eventually help make Marvel the entertainment juggernaut it is today. And Marvel? Disney bought it in 2009 for $4 billion—proving just how valuable Jackson's instincts were, even if the deal never materialized.

The King of Pop may never have gotten his web-shooters, but the story remains one of the wildest "what if" moments in entertainment history.