How Much Is Michael Jackson's Death Worth? Possibly Nothing

AEG may not be able to collect on $17.5 million life insurance policy if King of Pop's death proves the result of illegal or illicit drugs

By Gina Serpe, Whitney English, Lindsay Miller Aug 07, 2009 6:57 PMTags
Michael JacksonKevin Mazur/AEG via Getty Images

If Michael Jackson's death was caused by drugs—and at this point, that's a virtually non-existent if—AEG may not be able to recoup one penny of the $17.5 million life insurance policy it took out on the star in the run-up to his London comeback.

According to the documents, released to the Los Angeles Times in an attempt to silence some of the misinformation swirling about the terms, the policy would only be paid out if Jackson's death was proven to be accidental and occurred after the completion of a second physical.

You can probably guess where this is going…

While he passed his first physical in February, Jackson never got the chance to complete a second. And the accidental death thing? Only applicable in the event that drugs were not involved.

"This insurance does not cover any loss indirectly arising out of, contributed to, by or resulting from…the illegal possession or illicit taking of drugs and their effects," the policy reads.

Although Jackson's toxicology tests have not yet been released, at this point it would seem shocking if the anesthesia propofol did not play a factor.

While the drug is legal, administering it at home could arguably fall within the realm of "illicit."

Jackson's family members have spoken up since his passing to confirm that the King of Pop had abused prescription drugs in the past, which could potentially pose more legal challenges, as could the new report that Jackson's embattled physician Dr. Conrad Murray administered multiple sedatives, known as benzodiazepines, prior to giving the star that final dose of propofol.

While he would not specifically address the Jackson case, Dr. Louis Pena of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office explained to E! News that the only safe way to administer benzodiazepines and propofol is in a carefully monitored hospital setting…not, say, in a bedroom.

"To take it at home…that person would be dead," Pena said, adding that possible symptoms of an overdose of the sedatives could be drowsiness, respiratory depression and cardiac arrest.

AEG has not yet tried to collect on the policy, stating the company they will wait until the official autopsy and toxicology report is released. Those results have been indefinitely delayed.

Meanwhile, a rep for As for Lloyd's of London told E! News that "there is no standard insurance policy at Lloyd's," but did not offer up specifics on Jackson's docket.

"I can't comment on this at all," Louise Shield, the insurer's head of communications, said. "I haven't seen a copy of this policy, and even if I had, I couldn't comment because it is confidential."

Not anymore.

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Take a look back at the King of Pop in our Michael Jackson: A Life gallery.

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