The man who helped rebuild the Michael Jackson estate into a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse has died. Veteran music executive and Michael Jackson estate co-executor John McClain died on Tuesday, May 26, in Malibu after battling health issues for several years. He was 71. As of this writing, no official cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
According to TMZ, McClain was one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures tied to Jackson’s legacy following the singer’s death in 2009. Alongside attorney John Branca, McClain was appointed co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate after being named in Jackson’s will. A Los Angeles judge later upheld that decision despite challenges from members of the Jackson family seeking control of the estate.
At the time of Jackson’s death, the estate was reportedly carrying massive debt and facing uncertainty over the future of the singer’s business empire.
Under McClain and Branca’s leadership, that changed dramatically. The pair oversaw major revenue-driving projects, including the documentary film This Is It, MJ: The Musical, a Cirque du Soleil production built around Jackson’s catalog, and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic.
The estate eventually became one of the highest-earning celebrity estates in the entertainment industry.
Before becoming one of the gatekeepers of Jackson’s posthumous legacy, McClain had already built a decades-long career as a producer and executive.
At A&M Records, he helped guide Janet Jackson through her breakthrough Control era and worked with artists including Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. He also pushed labels to invest in emerging acts at a time when the music industry was rapidly evolving.
Inside the Jackson estate, McClain largely handled the creative side of operations while Branca oversaw legal and business affairs.
McClain also helped produce and curate posthumous Michael Jackson releases, including tracks like “Love Never Felt So Good” and “Much Too Soon,” while overseeing unreleased material tied to Jackson’s catalog.
