Happy birthday, Michael Jackson. Remembering the 'King of Pop' with a look back at his biggest life moments

Happy birthday, Michael Jackson. Today, we remember the legendary music icon most notably referred to as the "King of Pop."

Michael Jackson is one of the most widely-recognized names around the world. His contributions to music and dance, in addition to his wildly publicized personal life, transformed Jackson into a global pop icon over the last four decades.

In 1965, Jackson debuted on the music scene along with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. The boy band's success catapulted Michael into a solo career in 1971. In the 80's, he became a dominant figure in popular culture through his eccentric and boundary-defying music videos. Through stage and video performances, Jackson popularized a plethora of dance moves, such as the robot and moonwalk.

In 1982, Jackson debuted "Thriller" which became the best-selling album of all time -- selling more than 65 million copies around the world. His other albums, "Off the Wall," "Bad," "Dangerous," and "HIStory" also rank among the best-selling albums of all time. Jackson also became the only artist to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He also went on to win 13 Grammy Awards, during his music career.

Much of the later half of Jackson's career was stricken with controversy. After altering his appearance, some uprooted personal relationships, and off-putting public behavior, his life became more publicly scrutinized. In the mid-90s, he was accused of child sexual abuse, but in the end, no formal charges were made. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of said allegations.

On June 25th, 2009, Michael Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.

Forbes currently ranks Jackson as the top-earning deceased celebrity, a title held for the 5th consecutive year, with $140 million in annual earnings.

Click through for photos of Michael Jackson through the years:

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