Rowe 'paid to give up Jackson kids'

Debbie Rowe has been paid to sacrifice her parental rights to her children with Michael Jackson, according to reports.

The King Of Pop's ex-wife is said to have been compensated $4 million (£2.4 million) by his mother Katherine to drop her custody fight for Prince Michael, 12, and 11-year-old Paris Katherine, says the New York Post.

"It's one final pay day," a source told the newspaper. "They felt it was like a ransom-type thing. [Rowe] jumped back into the picture because she wanted money."

The insider also claimed that after Rowe gave up her rights in 2006, she was granted visitation permission only and paid a lump sum of $8 million (£4.8 million), plus $900,000 annually for five years.

However, when the singer was accused of child molestation in 2001, his former spouse reportedly sought full custody and was given an additional $4 million (£2.4 million) plus a $900,000 (£551,105) home.

It was claimed earlier that Rowe is expected to attend court proceedings for a temporary guardianship hearing on July 20.

The children - including 7-year-old Blanket, who was birthed by an unknown surrogate - presently reside with their grandmother after she petitioned for guardianship last month.

Jackson's will named 79-year-old Katherine as the primary guardian for all three kids, while Diana Ross will serve as a backup caretaker.