Michael Jackson (file photo)
Dozens of Michael Jackson fans laid heaps of flowers on Wednesday at the mausoleum where the pop icon is interred, to mark the 5th anniversary of his death.
Around 100 fans, some dressed as the self-proclaimed King of Pop, gathered at the Forest Lawn cemetery outside Los Angeles, where the 50-year-old died while rehearsing for a comeback tour.
"We love you Michael," read a banner on a giant red heart placed outside the small mausoleum in Glendale, north of downtown LA.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of an overdose of the clinical anesthetic propofol, administered by his doctor to help treat insomnia as the singer prepared for "This is It" shows in London.
His personal medic Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 over the star's death and jailed for four years. He was released in October after serving two years.
Jackson was planning a global comeback tour to help him stave off bankruptcy, five years after being acquitted of child molestation charges which left his career in tatters.
He had debts of up to $500 million before his death, but in the five years since, his executors have earned more than $700 million, according to a recent book, "Michael Jackson Inc."
Money-making ventures have included the "This is It" movie of rehearsals for the doomed tour, a touring Cirque du Soleil stage show and two posthumous albums so far, with more to come.