Smash hit

6. Mega-stardom with Thriller

1982: With the release of his phenomenal hit album Thriller, Jackson was propelled into the pop stratosphere. The best-selling album of all time, it sold 104 million copies worldwide and included the songs Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' – a tirade against the media. It also made him hugely wealthy - he now had the highest royalty rate in the music industry: approximately $2 for every album sold.

7. The Thriller legacy

1982: Thriller was followed by a documentary on the making of the album and a Michael Jackson doll, and gave the music industry a renewed confidence in its ability to make money. With its dance routines, story line and special effects, Jackson reinvented the music video, earning Thriller an enduring place in popular culture.

8. Signature moves: watch the Moonwalk

1983: Jackson captivated audiences the world over when he premiered his signature dance move – the Moonwalk - on a Motown TV special.

9. Pyrotechnics accident

1984: After suffering second degree burns to his scalp after a pyrotechnics accident during the filming of a Pepsi Cola commercial, Jackson donated his $1.5 million compensation towards a new burn treatment and became increasingly preoccupied with his appearance.

10. Victory Tour

1984: Jackson took to the road with the rest of the Jackson family for the Victory Tour. The show played across the US to more than two million Americans and featured both the group’s songs and Jackson’s solo work.

11. We Are the World

1985: In a collaboration with Lionel Richie, he co-wrote the charity single We Are the World which became one of the best-selling singles of all time, raised millions and earned Jackson charity credentials.

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