Debbie Rowe facts for kids

Deborah Jeanne Rowe, born on December 6, 1958, is an American nurse. She is known for being the former wife of the famous pop musician Michael Jackson. They had two children together.

Early Life and First Marriage

Debbie Rowe was born in Spokane, Washington, on December 6, 1958. Her parents were Barbara Chilcutt and Gordon Rowe. Her father divorced her mother when Debbie was almost two years old. She was raised by her mother, some aunts, and her grandmother.

In 1982, Rowe married Richard Edelman. She also converted to Judaism around this time. The couple divorced six years later in 1988.

Relationship with Michael Jackson

Rowe met Michael Jackson when she worked at a skin doctor's office. Jackson was a patient there, getting treatment for vitiligo. After Jackson's divorce from Lisa Marie Presley in 1996, he felt sad that he might never have children. Rowe, who was a big fan of Jackson, offered to have his children. Lisa Marie Presley later said that Jackson knew Rowe wanted to have his children. She also said Rowe had a "crush on him."

Children and Marriage

Michael Jackson with his three children Paris, Prince, and Blanket. The two oldest, Prince and Paris, were born to Debbie Rowe. This photo was taken in Disneyland Resort Paris in 2006.

In 1996, Rowe had a miscarriage, which made her very sad. Jackson comforted her during this difficult time. Later in 1996, it was announced that Rowe was pregnant again. She and Jackson got married on November 15, 1996, in Sydney, Australia.

Their son, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., was born on February 13, 1997. He was nicknamed Prince. The next year, their daughter Paris Jackson was born on April 3, 1998. Jackson took on the main responsibility for raising both children.

Divorce and Custody

Debbie Rowe said she was a private person. She was overwhelmed by the public attention that came with being married to Michael Jackson. The couple divorced in April 2000. Rowe gave Jackson full custody rights of their children. She received a settlement of US$8 million and a house in Beverly Hills, California.

In 2001, Rowe went to a private judge to end her parental rights for the children. However, in 2004, she went to court to change that decision. She wanted to reverse it partly because she was concerned about how the children were being raised. Court documents from 2005 noted her concerns. She was later granted limited visits with her children. She could visit them for eight hours every 45 days.

In 2005, Rowe sold her Beverly Hills house. She then bought a ranch in Palmdale. In 2006, she asked Jackson for money to help with a child custody case. Jackson was ordered to pay her $60,000 for legal fees.

After Michael Jackson's Death

After Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, Rowe's attorney made statements. These statements denied many rumors. Some rumors said she was not the children's biological mother. Others said she was trying to sell her parental rights for money.

In July 2009, she filed a lawsuit. She sued someone for spreading false information and invading her privacy. This person had given private emails to a TV show called Extra. On March 3, 2010, she won the lawsuit. She was awarded $27,000 in damages.

In August 2009, Rowe reached an agreement with Katherine Jackson. Katherine Jackson was the children's guardian. The agreement gave Rowe rights to supervised visits with her children.

In April 2014, Rowe announced her engagement on Entertainment Tonight. She was engaged to Marc Schaffel, a music producer. He had also worked as a videographer at Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Schaffel was the only Jackson employee allowed to visit Rowe after her divorce in 2000. He also helped her with her health issues.

Health

In 2016, Debbie Rowe was diagnosed with breast cancer.