NEW YORK: Michael Jackson is celebrating his 50th birthday today, on Friday, August 29, 2008.

The entertainer, who has a career that spans four decades and considered as one of the world's most successful pop icons, is having a birthday and will turn 50 on Friday.

Michael Jackson made his musical debut at age 11. The entertainer has been married twice. In 1993 he married Lisa Marie Presley. He then married dermatology nurse Debbie Rowe in 1996.

Jackson has three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II.

Since his career started in 1971, the singer has sold over 750 million records worldwide.

His many achievements include 13 Grammy Awards, 13 billboard number one singles, 2 Guinness World Records and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame twice.

The "Thriller" album was Jackson's most successful work. The music video for the song Thriller was the most expensive film production of its time. It was also the longest, running at 14 minutes in length. Jackson recorded several versions of the video.

Earlier this week, Jackson's Neverland Ranch was in foreclosure. He saved the estate after making new financial deals with the banks. The entertainer abandoned Neverland in 2005 after he was cleared of the second case of child sex charges.