James Safechuck has accumulated a sizable net worth over the years. He’s best known for being one of Michael Jackson’s sexual abuse accusers.
On March 2019, a documentary titled “Leaving Neverland” caused a massive stir in the entertainment industry.
The two-part film, made by British filmmaker Dan Reed, contains interviews with two former childhood fans of Thriller singer Michael Jackson who claim they were abused by him when they were children in his enormous California mansion dubbed Neverland.
The two ex-friends and fans of the Thriller singer are Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
On August 2023, a developing report confirmed that the two Michael Jackson’s accusers will go to trial over abuse allegations. Their case tried against the late King of Pop’s companies in front of a jury in the lower courts.
Three appellate court judges (Justices Elizabeth Grimes, John Wiley and Victor Viramontes) of the California Court of Appeal have ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and against Jackson’s MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures companies, two corporations for which Jackson was the sole owner and lone shareholder.
Following this, many might want to know more about one of the accusers, James “Jimmy” Safechuck’s net worth. How rich is the actor? Read on for more.
What is James Safechuck’s net worth?
James “Jimmy” Safechuck was born on February 28, 1978, in Simi Valley, California, United States, to parents Stephanie Safechuck and James Safechuck Sr.
James Safechuck, one of Michael Jackson’s sex abuse accusers, reportedly has an estimated net worth of at least $1 million.
Safechuck accrued his fortune from his works as an actor and the Director of Innovation and Technology at AvatarLabs R&D projects.
He is also a writer known for Smooth Criminal, Interruptions (1997) and Channel 4 News (1982), per his IMDb profile.
He also hosts the podcast “From Trauma to Triumph”.
What has Safechuck accused Jackson of?
Safechuck reportedly first met his idol in the the late 1980s, when he was a child. He was cast in a 1987 Pepsi commercial featuring Jackson, and the two stayed in touch afterward.
By 1988, Safechuck was a frequent travel companion for the singer, even tagging along for portions of his Bad Tour for six months.
In Jackson’s hotel room, he allegedly told Safechuck that he “was going to change his life by showing him how to masturbate,” before demonstrating on himself, and then coaching him to try. The suit alleges that the sexual acts were told to him as a way of “showing love,” and that Jackson “kissed his genitals,” and had the child “rub and suck Jackson’s nipples as he masurbated,” among many other sexual acts, the suit claims.
Jackson allegedly performed a faux marriage ceremony and repeatedly instructed Safechuck to deny any abuse allegations and to keep their relationship confidential. Safechuck claims that when he was around 12 years old, Jackson began to lose interest in him for another younger boy and began to prepare him for separation.
In the documentary Safechuck said: “So we were like this married couple. We did this in his bedroom and we filled out some vows like we would be bonded forever. It felt good. And the ring is nice. It has a row of diamonds. The wedding ring.”
Safechuck had originally defended Jackson and claimed he was never assaulted, but in 2014 he filed a lawsuit against his estate claiming therapy helped him realise he was sexually abused by the pop star.
What did the Jackson family say about the case?
After the release of the film, the Jackson family issued a statement defending the King of Pop, who died in 2009.
They said: “We are extremely sympathetic to any legitimate victim of child abuse. This film, however, does those victims a disservice.
“Because despite all the disingenuous denials made that this is not about money, it has always been about money – millions of dollars — dating back to 2013 when both Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who share the same law firm, launched their unsuccessful claims against Michael’s Estate.
“Now that Michael is no longer here to defend himself, Robson, Safechuck, and their lawyers continue their efforts to achieve notoriety and a payday by smearing him with the same allegations a jury found him innocent of when he was alive.”
What has Jackson and his estate said?
Jackson always maintained he was innocent of sexually abusing young boys up until his death in 2009.
Representatives for Jackson’s estate issued a statement condemning the documentary.
Speaking to the website TMZ, representatives from the estate said the film was “another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson … just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations. It’s baffling why any credible film-maker would involve himself with this project.”
“We are disappointed with the Court’s decision. Two distinguished trial judges repeatedly dismissed these cases on numerous occasions over the last decade because the law required it. We remain fully confident that Michael is innocent of these allegations, which are contrary to all credible evidence and independent corroboration, and which were only first made years after Michael’s death. We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail with Michael’s vindication yet again. Michael Jackson himself said, ‘lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons,’” says Jonathan Steinsapir, attorney for the Estate of Michael Jackson.
“The Estate will likely ask the California Supreme Court to review the decision, and a settlement is not on the table,” a source close to the Jackson Estate tells PEOPLE exclusively.
The ruling obtained by PEOPLE details Robson and Safechuck’s claims that Jackson molested them after the megastar befriended the two on separate occasions in the late ’80s and early ’90s. They are suing the Jackson corporations together and will eventually have a set court date, so long as the defense doesn’t take the case to the Supreme Court (odds are against them as the Supreme Court only take a limited number of cases a year).
They also sued HBO for airing the documentary claiming it violates a non-disparagement clause in a deal the network made in 1992 to broadcast a Jackson concert.