Update!

Inside the Jackson Family Feud: A Who's Who Guide

From matriarch Katherine to Michael's three children: a look at the key players in the ballooning family drama

By Ken Baker, Alexis L. Loinaz Jul 25, 2012 6:00 PMTags
Blanket Jackson, Paris Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Janet JacksonMark Davis/WireImage; Lester Cohen/WireImage; John Shearer/WireImage.com

More details are starting to trickle in about the growing rancor within the Jackson family that began with reports of matriarch Katherine Jackson's alleged disappearance Saturday and exploded into a police investigation into an alleged physical altercation at her home Monday.

Caught in the middle? Michael Jackson's three children—Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket—who've become the center of reports that all the in-fighting stems from concern over their well-being, and who should look out for them.

In order to help you keep all your Jacksons straight—hey, they are a big, sprawling clan—here's a handy primer on who's who:

AP Photo/Reed Saxon

Michael Jackson: The King of Pop, who died of a propofol-induced cardiac arrest in 2009, stated in his will that the sole beneficiaries of his estate are the Michael Jackson Trust and his three children.

No other family members beside Jackson's children and Katherine were authorized to receive an allowance from the estate, which was reportedly valued at $500 million at the time of his death and has supposedly generated over $1 billion since.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson: The singer's three children figure prominently into the ongoing family drama. A Jackson family insider tells E! News that 15-year-old Prince has been in summer school and is set to finish on July 27. This mess, the insider notes, has been "a total distraction" for him.

Michael's 14-year-old daughter Paris has been the most vocal of the siblings, tweeting about her dismay over her family and expressing her frustration that she hasn't seen her grandmother in over a week. 

Ten-year-old Blanket is the singer's third and youngest child. Per Michael's will, the three children were authorized to receive a monthly amount, to be paid directly to their grandmother, Katherine.

Katherine Jackson: The 82-year-old family matriarch was reported missing on Saturday by her nephew Trent, but her son Jermaine Jackson refuted such claims, insisting that she was actually safe and sound in Arizona, where she was resting per doctor's orders and under the care of her daughter Rebbie Jackson.

A source tells E! News that as of two weeks ago, Katherine was in good health, noting, "She was completely fine and healthy and chipper." The source alleges that several siblings are trying to build a case to place Katherine under a legal conservatorship so that they can gain closer control over her affairs and the welfare of Michael's children. Katherine and the children were the sole designated beneficiary of the King of Pop's life insurance policy.

Getty Images

Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie Jackson: Katherine's four children, a source claims to E! News, are attempting to assume control over the monthly $86,000 allowance that Katherine receives from the estate. That allowance reportedly covers Katherine and the children's needs, including rent, nannies, security, a chef, school tuition, activities and groceries.

Although Katherine's Arizona trip has sparked speculation that the move was a ploy to bar the matriarch from seeing her grandchildren, Jermaine quickly shot down such reports. "No-one is being 'blocked' from speaking with Mother," he tweeted. "She is merely an 82-year-old woman following doctor's orders to rest-up and de-stress, away from phones and computers. Everyone has been well aware of this within the family, but I would like to reiterate my reassurance to the outside world that Mother is fine. In the meantime, thank you for all your thoughts and concerns."

A source close to the situation clarifies what went down at Katherine's home, telling E! News, "There was never any intention to seize the children and take them to Arizona. Randy, Janet and Jermaine simply went to the house to discuss plans for the children to speak with and visit Mrs. Jackson, which is what everyone had been requesting. They were met with resistance and denied access by security. As video footage has confirmed there was no 'ambush,' there was no 'storming of the gates,' and the attempts to speak to Paris, Prince and Blanket were blocked."

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

Tito Jackson: Michael's 58-year-old brother issued a statement retracting his participation in a letter that he—along with Jermaine, Randy, Janet and Rebbie—sent to Michael's estate executors calling for their resignation. The siblings are claiming that their late brother's will was a fake.

"I completely retract my signature from the July 17th letter sent to the Executors of my brother's Michael's estate and repudiate all the claims made against them." he said. "I don't want any part of that letter whatsoever."

JSN Photography/Getty Images

T.J. Jackson: Tito's 34-year-old son, has been granted temporary guardianship of Paris, Prince and Blanket in the absence of their grandmother.

Paris and Prince consented to being in T.J.'s custody, and a source tells E! News that the children were actually in favor of the arrangement.

Additionally, Diana Ross, whom Michael listed in his will as a backup guardian should Katherine be unable to fulfill her duties, has reportedly been given notice of the situation in case she opts to be appointed guardian.

Donald Kravitz/Getty Images

Marlon Jackson: Michael's 55-year-old brother claims that he, too, hasn't spoken with their mother since she hightailed it to Arizona.

During an emotional interview with The Insider, Marlon broke down as he sat alongside brothers Tito and Jackie. "We've been told our mother is safe," he said. "She's doing well. But we have not spoken with her. We have not talked with her, and I don't know where my mother is."

He also added, before walking off the set, "All I know is there's somebody who made the decision that my mother cannot talk to me, and whoever that person is, they've got to answer to me. Because I'm going to see my mother and I'm going to bring her home. I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

Press Association via AP Images

Trent Jackson: A family insider tells E! News that Trent, who had initially reported Katherine as missing, has been trying to create a buffer between the siblings while she's away, and has supposedly been essential in helping her manage the day-to-day operations of the household.

—Additional reporting by Marc Malkin and Holly Passalaqua

(Originally published on July 24, 2012 at 3:55 p.m. PT)