Entertainment> Celebrities

Bill for Jackson's LA funeral: $1 million

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-12 11:47

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson's private family funeral was fit for a king and had a price tag to match: roughly $1 million, according to court documents released on Tuesday.

Although Jackson died in June and had a large public tribute at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in July, the private family funeral held on Sept 3 appeared to have been arranged with urgency.

Legal requests for payments filed with estate administrators by attorneys for Michael Jackson's mother only three days before the scheduled burial noted that if payment was not received by the funeral home and the Glendale Police Department by Sept 1, "the funeral will not proceed".

The lawyers warned that such a development would cause Katherine Jackson and the family "public embarrassment and added grief, along with the daunting task of having to make new arrangements".

There was no indication of resistance by the administrators, who approved payment of all expenses and reimbursement of Michael Jackson's sister Janet for an advance payment to Forest Lawn-Glendale of $49,000.

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.