Money

THE STORY BEHIND ' Money '

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If "D.S." was the attack on the prosecution, "Money" is the attack on the accusers. This track serves as Michael’s defense statement against the civil lawsuit of 1993, explicitly accusing his enemies of extortion, greed, and moral bankruptcy.

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To understand the anger in "Money," you must understand the financial resolution of the 1993 allegations. Michael Jackson settled the civil case out of court for a reported $23 million. To the public, this looked like "hush money" or an admission of guilt. To Michael, it was a "payoff" to stop a legal lynching that would have dragged on for years and destroyed his career.

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He maintained his innocence until his death, viewing the settlement as the only way to make the problem go away. "Money" is his artistic response to that transaction. In the song, he portrays his accusers not as victims, but as predators hunting for a payday. He sings about people who would "lie for it, spy for it, kill for it, and die for it." It is a scathing critique of the American legal system where justice can be bought and sold.

The song’s subtext is heavily influenced by a real piece of evidence: the Evan Chandler Tape. Evan Chandler was the father of the boy who accused Michael in 1993. Before the allegations were made public, Evan Chandler was secretly recorded on a phone call discussing his plan. In the tape, Chandler is heard saying: "If I go through with this, I win big time. There's no way I lose. I will get everything I want... and I will destroy him."

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Michael and his legal team saw this tape as proof that the entire scandal was a setup designed to extract money. When Michael sings, "You want your nine to five, it's devil's food / You don't want to work for it," he is likely referencing this specific mindset, the desire to get rich quick by destroying a celebrity.

Hypnotic Greed Produced by Michael Jackson himself (with assistance from Teddy Riley), "Money" is musically unique on the album. It doesn't have a traditional melodic structure. Instead, it relies on a repetitive, hypnotic loop.

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• The Beat: The drum pattern is dry, sharp, and relentless. It sounds like a ticking clock or a counting machine.

• The Bass: The bassline acts as a drone, circling the same notes over and over, mimicking the obsessive nature of greed.

• The Vocals: Michael delivers the verses in a low, cynical spoken-word style, almost muttering the lyrics. In the chorus, he creates a wall of harmonies, stacking his voice to sound like a crowd chanting "Anything for money."

In the bridge of the song, Michael drops the melody completely and recites a list of famous American industrial and financial dynasties: "Vanderbilt, Morgan, Trump, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Getty, Guggenheim, Hearst..."

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By listing these titans of industry (Old Money), Michael is drawing a contrast. He is comparing the "respectable" wealth of history with the "dirty" money being sought by his accusers. It suggests that while money brings power, the pursuit of it is the root of all American history and his current nightmare. (Notably, he mentions Donald Trump, whom he knew personally at the time, placing him alongside historical figures like Rockefeller).

Michael, a devout student of the Bible, frames his betrayal in religious terms. The lyrics make a direct reference to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. "You are the devil... you'd sell your brother for a dollar." "I don't do it / I don't Judas."

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By using the verb "to Judas," Michael positions himself as the martyr figure who is being sold out by those he trusted. This aligns with the wider theme of the HIStory album, where Michael frequently uses Messianic imagery (like in "Earth Song" or "Will You Be There") to describe his persecution.

Ironically, the song "Money" became the subject of a plagiarism lawsuit itself. In 1996, a songwriter named Kimberly Moore sued Michael, claiming "Money" copied her song "I Love You." She demanded massive financial compensation. The case went to court, and once again, Michael won. The jury found that there was no infringement. The lawsuit served as a real-life example of exactly what the song was talking about people attempting to sue Michael Jackson in hopes of a quick settlement.

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"Money" was never released as a commercial single, although a "Fire Island Radio Edit" was released on promotional vinyl, which turned the brooding track into an upbeat house song. Critics often view "Money" as one of the "filler" tracks on HIStory musically, but lyrically, it is essential. It provides the motive for the "crime" Michael felt was committed against him. It is a cynical, bitter, and realistic look at the dark side of the American Dream.