A shocking move made by Michael Jackson abruptly ended his friendship with Paul McCartney. In 1978, the pair first worked together when McCartney, 83, wrote the song ‘Girlfriend’ for Jackson, which was included in his 1979 breakthrough album Off the Wall. Their first official collaboration took place in 1982 when they dueted on the hit single ‘The Girl is Mine’ from Jackson’s iconic album, Thriller. They joined forces once again in 1983, performing Say Say Say on McCartney’s album Pipes of Peace. But it was reportedly during the recording sessions for this song that the wheels set in motion for Jackson’s betrayal.

McCartney offered Jackson some monetary advice, suggesting he should invest his wealth into music publishing – something he would later come to regret. After The Beatles icon mentioned the financial benefits of owning publishing rights, the Jackson star reportedly quipped: “One day, I’ll own your songs.” McCartney dismissed it as a joke, not realising the unspeakable would eventually happen. In 1985, Jackson obtained the publishing rights to the majority of the Beatles back catalogue for $47 million from ATV. It was a huge blow to McCartney, who had not been receiving his share of the earnings from Beatles songs since 1969.

This was reportedly due to the mismanagement of Northern Songs, the publishing company owned by McCartney and his bandmate John Lennon. The Hey Jude crooner was stunned by Jackon’s maneuvering, declaring: “I think it’s dodgy to do something like that. To be someone’s friend, and then buy the rug they’re standing on.”

The Beatles’ singer George Harrison was equally in shock, voicing his bewilderment over Jackson’s acquisition of The Beatles’ catalogue.

He told CNN in 1988: “I thought it was very strange because he was supposed to be Paul’s friend. Personally, I only have about 10 or 12 songs that was in that catalog. I’d still like them back, Michael. They don’t make him that much money. I want them to give to my boy in my will.”

Jackson reportedly stayed quiet on the matter, however, Far Out Magazine claimed the Billie Jean hitmaker said: “You can’t put a price on a Picasso… you can’t put a price on these songs, there’s no value on them.”

However, Jackson showed no signs of returning the tracks to their original creators, souring relations with McCartney for good.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, McCartney disclosed repeated attempts to repurchase the catalogue. “The trouble is I wrote those songs for nothing and buying them back at these phenomenal sums, I just can’t do it,” he confessed.

But in a surprising twist of fate, Jackson encountered financial difficulties and reportedly parted with half of the ATV share to Sony for $95 million.

Following his death in 2009, Sony assumed complete ownership over the entirety of The Beatles’ music collection. The same year, McCartney told David Letterman: “Somebody had to get it, I suppose. What happened actually was then I started to ring him up. I thought, here’s the guy historically placed to give Lennon–McCartney a good deal at last, ‘cos we got signed when we were 21 or something in a back alley in Liverpool.

“And the deal, it’s remained the same, even though we made this company the most famous – hugely successful. So I kept thinking, it was time for a raise … I did talk to him about it, but he kind of blanked me on it.

“He kept saying, ‘That’s just business, Paul.’ You know. So, I thought, ‘Yeah, it is,’ and waited for a reply, but we never kind of got to it … It was no big bust-up. We kind of drifted apart after that.”

After a 2017 legal battle, McCartney reached an agreement with Sony/ATV over the rights to The Beatles’ catalogue under the US Copyright Act of 1976. This legislation permits songwriters to reclaim their copyrights from music publishers 35 years after they initially surrendered them.

A letter from McCartney’s attorney said: “The parties have resolved this matter by entering into a confidential settlement agreement.” Consequently, McCartney got back what was his, regaining control of The Beatles’ catalogue.