Neverland for Sale? Or Not?

                                                                                  by RobertaMurphy

There was lots of year-end buzz about pop singer Michael Jackson selling his 2800–acre Santa Barbara County Neverland Ranch. Rolling Stone first reported that Jackson was trying to market the Santa Ynez ranch to soccer luminary David Beckham and his wife Victoria (Posh Spice).

Those rumors had hardly been quieted, when another started making the rounds about Jackson selling Neverland on the Bravo television reality show, Million Dollar Listing: Hollywood—with a possible price tag of $50 million. The once picturesque estate has reportedly gone from Fantasyland to Ghost Town since the singer abandoned the property in July, 2005.

Jackson’s public relations reps deny any financial hardship or that the home will be sold via television. At first glance, a price tag of around $17,857 per acre seems like a relative bargain. Neverland Ranch, in addition to its large residence, includes a deserted zoo, an amusement park, a colorful history and a mysterious owner who left the United States after being exonerated from child molestation charges.

All gossip aside, I can’t help but wonder about the enormous value of this spectacular parcel of land—and who a potential buyer might be?  Perhaps a few calls on Monday morning can yield some answers….