MJ fact set

The moonwalk & Motown 25

The night Billie Jean turned into a global phenomenon.

• The Motown 25 moonwalk

  On March 25, 1983, Michael performed 'Billie Jean' on the NBC special 'Motown 25,' debuting the moonwalk in front of 47 million U.S. viewers. He later credited street dancers Jeffrey Daniel and Cooley Jaxson for teaching him the move.

• He owned The Beatles' catalog

  In 1985, Michael bought ATV Music Publishing — which owned most of The Beatles' songs — for $47.5 million, outbidding Paul McCartney. The catalog was valued at over $1 billion by the late 2000s.

• He moonwalked for the first time on TV

  Although the move existed in street dance for years, Michael's televised moonwalk on Motown 25 is the moment that turned it into a global phenomenon — Fred Astaire personally called him the next day to praise it.

Facts compiled from publicly available sources including Billboard, the RIAA, Guinness World Records, the US Patent Office and reputable music publications. This is an independent fan publication and is not affiliated with the Estate of Michael Jackson. All trademarks and song titles belong to their respective owners.