Michael Jackson had secret cash for home

Jul 27, 2009, 9:18 GMT

(FILE) A file photograph showing Dr. Tohme Tohme (L) an advisor to Michael Jackson listening to Jermaine Jackson (R) announcing that his brother Michael Jackson died from a heart attack at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, USA 25 June 2009. Media reports on 25 July 2009 that a former financial advisor to Michael Jackson stated that he was the person who handed over to executors 5.5 million US dollars. Dr Tohme Tohme made the disclosure after documents showed administrators of the estate had recovered the money and substantial amounts of personal property from an unnamed former financial adviser. EPA/PAUL BUCK

Michael Jackson had secretly stored away cash so he could buy his "dream home".

The 'Thriller' singer - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest, believed to have been caused by prescription drugs, last month - was desperate to purchase the 10-acre estate in Las Vegas, which he named Wonderland, and had put away £3.3 million for the property.

Jackson planned to raise the rest of the cash needed from his 50-night 'This Is It' residency at London's O2 arena.

The property, which was valued at £15 million, boasted 10 bedrooms and Jackson wanted to turn it into the new Neverland, the ranch he left in 2005.

Estate agent Zar Zanganeh, who showed the father-of-three around the house in 2007, said: "He loved it. He said he could do anything he wanted there, like in Neverland. It was top of his list. He had every intention of purchasing the property.

"His children were his number one priority, his biggest fear was they would be kidnapped and held for ransom, and he loved that it had panic rooms and a secret tunnel with exits. It was privately gated so Michael could use his own security."

One of Jackson's advisers had been looking after the pop legend's secret cash so he would have some money available to purchase the property, which has both an indoor and outdoor pool and a 1,000 sq ft play area.

Aide Dr. Tohme Tohme said: "It was a secret between Michael and me. He said, 'Don't tell anyone about this money.' "

After Jackson's death, Tohme handed the money over to the executors of the 50-year-old star's will, who had no idea the cash existed.