Michael Jackson's Sin City Comeback?

Reclusive pop star arrives in Las Vegas, reportedly with an eye on developing a live show for the Strip; meanwhile, Jackson sues his former accountants for allegedly mishandling his funds

By Sarah Hall Dec 26, 2006 11:04 PMTags

Apparently, what Michael Jackson wants most for Christmas is to make a comeback.

After spending the past 18 months living overseas in Bahrain and Ireland, the reclusive pop star has ended his self-imposed exile from the United States.

Jackson and his three children arrived in Las Vegas over the weekend, where the musician has reportedly decided to relocate while attempting to revive his musical career.

Jackson's Sin City move was reportedly motivated by businessman Jack Wishna, who confirmed that the Gloved One was indeed in Vegas but declined to elaborate exactly what he was doing there.

"Yes, he's here, and yes, we're working on projects. But we're not willing to disclose anything," Wishna told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

However, rumor has it the entertainer plans to take a page out of Céline Dion's book and develop a live show on the Strip.

Wishna, a business associate of Donald Trump, first floated the idea of a live Jackson stage show in Las Vegas in March 2005, while the singer was still in the midst of his child-molestation trial.

After Jackson was acquitted on all charges in June 2005, he moved his family first to Bahrain, then to Ireland. His father, Joe Jackson, speculated that his son would never live in the U.S. again because of the way he had been treated.

While the singer may not be returning to his Neverland Ranch, it appears that he has once again taken up residence stateside.

According to Us Weekly, Jackson and his brood—nine-year-old Prince Michael I, eight-year-old daughter Paris, and four-year-old son Prince Michael II—have already moved into a gated Spanish-style mansion on the west side of Las Vegas.

Calling Jackson "one of the greatest entertainers in the world," Wishna said the self-proclaimed King of Pop "is poised to return to the top of the entertainment world soon."

Meanwhile, Jackson has also been working to get his financial affairs in order.

On Friday, he sued his former accountants, Bernstein, Fox, Whitman, Goldman & Sloan, claiming the firm withdrew $2.5 million from his accounts each year, but did not pay his bills as he ordered.

In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jackson also accused the firm of hiring people without his authorization and paying their salaries with his funds, as well as entering into various business deals on his behalf without his permission.

Jackson did not state in the suit where he believed his money had gone, but he said the firm had violated its duty of trust and had neglected to provide him with his accounting file when he requested it.

He asked for unspecified compensatory damages, punitive damages and a full accounting of how the firm put his funds to use.