Michael Jackson’s Height: How Tall Was the King of Pop?

As a superstar and a mysterious pop icon, it’s only natural that Michael Jackson’s height would be a topic of interest. Then, how tall was Michael Jackson? Michael Jackson was exactly 5 feet 9 inches tall (1.75 meters). But how do we know that MJ was really 5’9″ tall? The actual answer lies in his autopsy report.

Michael Jackson’s Height as Per His Autopsy Report

Michael Jackson was 69 inches tall, or 5 feet and 9 inches, according to the official autopsy report which was performed by the chief medical examiner Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran.

The autopsy and the subsequent height measurements were taken on June 26, 2009, at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Lincoln Heights headquarters.

As Jackson was known to wear shoes with a small heel on occasion, this autopsy report is generally seen as the most reliable indicator of his true height.

How Tall Was Michael Jackson When He Was Younger?

Since Michael Jackson’s height was 5’9″ (175 cm) at the time of his death, you might be asking how tall Michael Jackson was when he was younger. Jackson died at the age of 50, and according to the Cleveland Clinic, the average adult height decreases by around half an inch (1.3 cm) every decade. The typical human begins to lose height after the age of 40.

According to Healthline, most males reach their peak height around the age of 16. At the age of 26, when Michael Jackson reached global fame, his height was most likely measured at around 5 feet, 10 inches, or 70 inches (178 cm).

Losing His Afro Hair Made Michael Look Shorter

Michael Jackson first appeared in public in 1964, at the age of 8, as a member of the Jackson 5. In 1971, he started his solo career with Motown Records. His afro hairstyle from his youth gave him the appearance of being much taller. In 1984, he achieved worldwide fame.

However, in this same year, while shooting a Pepsi commercial, his hair and scalp caught fire, resulting in lifelong hair loss. Losing his iconic afro hair made Michael Jackson’s height look shorter than usual.

Jackson sported a black wig when he was in public after this incident. To further cover up his lack of hair, he had tattoos around the perimeter of his head. According to some sources, he was mostly bald when he passed away.

Is Michael Jackson Regarded as Tall?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), males aged 20 and above have an average height of 69.1 inches (175.4 cm) in the United States, making them a little over 5 feet 9 inches tall.

However, Jackson did sometimes put on an illusion of height by wearing shoes with a small heel. Some fans have noted over the years that, at 5 feet and 9 inches tall, he was on the small side of a male performer, and this was frequently brought up in comparison to other male performers.

Michael Jackson’s Height Compared to Other Pop Singers

The characteristics that affect a person’s perceived height include their attire, posture, and haircut. But Michael Jackson’s height was a bit on the short side for a celebrity male pop singer and stage performer.

In fact, he is one of the shortest pop legends other than Prince, who was 5’2″ (157 cm) tall (and frequently lied about his height, saying he was 5’6″).

Below is how tall Michael Jackson was compared to the most famous pop singers of all time:

The Type of Shoes Michael Wore to Appear Taller

Since Michael Jackson often performed on stages that were raised beyond the audience’s heads, many of his fans also undoubtedly believed he was taller than five feet, nine inches.

However, there might be some sense to this since the ‘Beatle boots’ he donned on occasion really added around an inch or two to his height. Also known as Baba Foot, they were first introduced in the late 1950s and were popularized by the Beatles in the 1960s. This shoe paved the way for the reintroduction of high-heeled men’s shoes.

But he still utilized some special types of shoes for his stage performance:

The “Smooth Criminal” lean, in which Michael Jackson leaned forward at a 45-degree angle while maintaining his torso straight, was one of his most iconic dance techniques. Specially made shoes with a v-shaped cut in the bottom of each heel allowed him to rotate and lean farther forward by attaching to a sturdy nail or “hitch member” put into the ground.

How Tall Was Michael Jackson Compared to His Family Members?

Michael Jackson’s height was one of the shortest of his siblings, other than his sisters Rebbie Jackson (5’2″), Janet Jackson (5’4″), and La Toya Jackson (5’5″). Here are the heights of the members of the Jackson family:

1. Michael Jackson: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
2. Janet Jackson: 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm)
3. La Toya Jackson: 5 feet 4_^1/2 inches (164 cm)
4. Jermaine Jackson: 6 feet 1 inches (185 cm)
5. Tito Jackson: 5 feet 8^_1/2 inches (174 cm)
6. Randy Jackson: 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm)
7. Marlon Jackson: 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm)
8. Jackie Jackson: 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm)
9. Rebbie Jackson: 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm)

Why How Tall Michael Jackson Was Matters

Throughout his life, media outlets and the public often talked about how Michael Jackson looked. People would discuss his appearance, including his height, in newspapers, magazines, and on TV. Some would wonder if he did things to make himself appear different or taller.

This led to many conversations and debates about how he looked and how his physical features might have changed over time. So, that’s why how tall Michael Jackson was matters in the eyes of many people.