In a brief news conference, the performer’s brother, Jermaine Jackson, said he was pronounced dead in hospital at 2:26 p.m. PT. It's believed Jackson suffered cardiac arrest at his home, but Jermaine Jackson said an autopsy will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.
The autopsy is expected to be performed Friday.
Paramedics had responded to a call at Jackson's rented mansion in Holmby Hills about 12:30 p.m. PT, but Jackson was not breathing when they arrived.
Jermaine Jackson said his brother's personal doctor, who was in the house at the time, and paramedics had tried to resuscitate him.
Paramedics continued to perform CPR as Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, Jermaine Jackson said.
"Upon arriving at the hospital at approximately 1:14 p.m., a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, but they were unsuccessful," he said.
"My family request that the media please respect our privacy during this time, and may all love be with you, Michael, always. We love you."
Family lawyer and spokesman Brian Oxman said Jackson's death was not unexpected. He told CNN that Jackson had been taking medications for past injuries so he could rehearse for his upcoming concerts, set to begin in London in July.
Oxman said his family was receiving reports that his use of those medications was "extensive."
"The people who have been surrounding him have been enabling him," Oxman said. "You think that the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse; it is nothing in comparison to what we have seen taking place in Michael Jackson's life.
"This is something that I feared; th...