The Quiet Life of Michael Jackson’s Chimp Bubbles
Bubbles, Michael Jackson’s famous chimpanzee, is now living a quiet life at a sanctuary along with other screen-famous primates like Ripley and BamBam. Ripley, aged 37, is known for his roles in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Junior, while BamBam, aged 34, gained fame for his appearance in the soap opera Nurse Precious.
Following Jackson’s passing in 2009, rumors surfaced suggesting that Bubbles had been left $2 million in the singer’s will. However, these claims were dismissed by Ragan in 2019, who clarified that the chimp was not mentioned in the estate documents and that his care has been taken care of by the Jackson estate since his arrival at the sanctuary.
Interest in Bubbles has been reignited by the upcoming Jackson biopic, Michael, set to be released in April. While the real chimp will not make an appearance, actress Lilly Colucci is listed on IMDB as portraying him in the film, ensuring that Bubbles’ legacy lives on in the realms of both celebrity and sanctuary.
Michael Jackson’s Neverland estate featured a private zoo filled with exotic animals, including tigers, giraffes, elephants, and monkeys like Bubbles. The singer’s menagerie also included various reptiles, all contributing to his personal Peter Pan-themed fantasy world.
Among the animals in Neverland were tigers Thriller and Sabu, who were eventually relocated as Jackson faced financial and legal challenges before his tragic death in 2009 at the age of 50.
