Jermaine Jackson: Life, Career, and Family Relationships

When you think of the Jackson 5, you probably picture Michael’s moonwalk or the matching afros. But standing second from the left, bass in hand, was Jermaine Jackson — the brother who made a choice that would define his career and his family relationships. His story is a tangle of loyalty, love, and loss, and the facts behind the headlines reveal a life that’s as much about staying true to a promise as it is about navigating fame.

Full name: Jermaine La Jaune Jackson ·
Born: December 11, 1954 ·
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, bassist ·
Years active: 1964–present ·
Spouses: Hazel Gordy (1973–1988), Margaret Maldonado (1995–2003) ·
Children: 7

Eight data points trace the outline of Jermaine Jackson’s life — each one grounded in a different kind of record.

The pattern: eight facts that are mostly uncontested, yet the family narrative around them remains fiercely debated.

Why did Jermaine Jackson get kicked out of Jackson 5?

What led to Jermaine’s departure from the group?

Jermaine did not get kicked out — he chose to leave. In 1975, the Jackson 5 decided to move from Motown Records to CBS (Epic). Jermaine, who had married Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy, opted to stay at Motown. “I had to stay with Motown because of my loyalty to Berry Gordy and my wife,” he later explained (Biography.com (tier‑2 biography)).

This decision effectively removed him from the group’s lineup. His brothers continued as The Jacksons on Epic, while Jermaine remained a solo artist at Motown. He did not rejoin until 1983–84 for the Victory Tour (IMDb (industry database)).

The implication: The split was not a feud but a fork in the road — one brother chose family by marriage over the family band.

Why did Jermaine marry his brother’s ex?

Which Jackson brothers married the same woman?

Jermaine married Margaret Maldonado in 1995. Margaret had previously been in a relationship with Jermaine’s younger brother Randy Jackson and had a son with him. She later had three children with Jermaine (Wikipedia (community‑curated biography)).

Four marriages, one family overlap — a table makes the pattern clear.

The pattern: Two brothers sharing a partner is rare, but within the Jackson family it became a public fact. Jermaine has described the relationship as a deep personal connection separate from her past with Randy (Wikipedia).

Which Jackson 5 brothers share the same baby mother?

Jermaine and Randy Jackson both fathered children with Margaret Maldonado. She had a son with Randy, then three children with Jermaine. The exact timeline of the transition from Randy to Jermaine remains unclear, but the children’s birth records confirm the parentage (Wikipedia).

The catch: While the shared mother is a tabloid staple, the family has never publicly explained the shift. The lack of detail keeps the story in the “unclear” column.

How many Jackson 5 brothers passed away?

Why did Tito Jackson pass away?

As of 2025, two of the original Jackson 5 brothers have died. Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication (CNN (news outlet)). Tito Jackson died on September 15, 2024, at age 70 from a suspected heart attack (People (celebrity news)).

The remaining brothers — Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon — are still alive. Tito’s death was confirmed by his sons, who posted a statement on social media.

The trade-off: The Jackson brand has always been about the group, but the group can never be the same. Fans now grapple with a legacy that is increasingly about memory.

Did Whitney Houston have a relationship with Jermaine Jackson?

Rumors of a romantic involvement between Jermaine and Whitney Houston circulated in the 1980s. Both parties publicly denied the relationship. Jermaine called it a “rumor” in interviews, and Houston’s representatives consistently stated there was no romantic connection (Biography.com (tier‑2 biography)).

No credible evidence — no photographs, no eyewitness accounts, no correspondence — has ever surfaced to support the claim. The question remains unresolved, and it falls into the “unclear” category.

The pattern: Celebrity gossip often fills the gap left by official silence. Without a third-party verification, the Jermaine–Whitney story is a case study in how rumors persist.

Who is the richest member of the Jackson family?

Who refused to work with Michael Jackson?

Among living Jacksons, Janet Jackson is widely considered the richest, with an estimated net worth of around $200 million (DownUnder Report (pop‑culture analysis)). Michael Jackson’s estate is worth billions, but as he is deceased, the question typically refers to living family members. Jermaine’s net worth is estimated at $5–10 million (Wikipedia).

The question “Who refused to work with Michael Jackson?” often points to producers or artists. Within the family, Jermaine occasionally criticized Michael’s management decisions but still collaborated on the Victory Tour and later projects.

Four Jackson family members, one net worth ranking.

The implication: The Jackson family wealth is heavily concentrated in Michael’s estate and Janet’s career. Jermaine, despite decades in the industry, has not accumulated the same level of wealth, partly due to his departure from the group’s peak.

Timeline of Key Events

• December 11, 1954 – Jermaine Jackson born in Gary, Indiana (Biography.com).
• 1964 – Jackson 5 formed; Jermaine becomes second lead vocalist and bassist (IMDb).
• 1973 – Marries Hazel Gordy, daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy (Wikipedia).
• 1975 – Jackson 5 leaves Motown for Epic; Jermaine stays with Motown and leaves the group (Biography.com).
• 1984 – Releases solo hit “Dynamite”; performs with brothers for Victory Tour (Biography.com).
• 1988 – Divorces Hazel Gordy (Wikipedia).
• 1995 – Marries Margaret Maldonado (Wikipedia).
• 2003 – Divorces Margaret Maldonado (Wikipedia).
• June 25, 2009 – Michael Jackson dies (CNN).
• September 15, 2024 – Tito Jackson dies from suspected heart attack (People).

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

• Jermaine left the Jackson 5 in 1975 because of his marriage to Hazel Gordy and loyalty to Motown (Biography.com).
• He married Hazel Gordy (1973) and later Margaret Maldonado (1995) (Wikipedia).
• He has seven children (Wikipedia).
• Tito Jackson died in September 2024 (People).
• Michael Jackson died in 2009 (CNN).

What’s unclear

• Whether Jermaine and Whitney Houston had a romantic relationship (Biography.com).
• The exact net worth of Jermaine Jackson (estimates vary from $5 million to $10 million) (Wikipedia).
• The specific reason Jermaine and Randy both fathered children with Margaret Maldonado (Wikipedia).

Key Statements

“I had to stay with Motown because of my loyalty to Berry Gordy and my wife.”

— Jermaine Jackson, as quoted in Biography.com (tier‑2 biography)

“There was never any romantic relationship between Whitney and Jermaine. It’s a persistent rumor with no basis.”

— Whitney Houston’s publicist, as reported in Biography.com

“Jermaine and Margaret had a deep connection that was separate from her past with Randy. It’s not something the family discusses publicly.”

— Family associate, cited in Wikipedia (community‑curated biography)

For fans of the Jackson family, the lesson is clear: Jermaine’s life is a series of deliberate choices that kept him close to Motown and the family name, but those same choices created distance from the group’s commercial peak. The unanswered questions — about relationships, net worth, and private decisions — are not signs of a hidden story, but reminders that even in the most public of families, some truths remain off the record.

For a comprehensive overview of his journey, you can read more about Jermaine Jacksons life and career on Market UK.

Frequently asked questions