Michael Jackson’s Manager: I ‘Had To Tell The Children’

Michael Jackson may have led a very private life. But for those who were close to him, he was anything but guarded.

One of those people who got to know the King of Pop over the years was Frank Dileo, Michael’s longtime manager and a member of Jackson’s inner circle, who was at the hospital when the singer died on Thursday, along with family, friends and Jackson’s children.

“His three children were there. They were in a separate room while the doctors worked on Michael,” Dileo told the “Today” show’s Meredith Vieira on Friday. “I’m very sad for his children, his mother, his father, his brothers and sisters. It was a very rough day yesterday for everybody.”

In fact, it was Dileo who had to tell Jackson’s three children — Prince Michael Jackson, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael Jackson II, 7 – that their father had died after doctors worked for over an hour to resuscitate the star.

“We had to tell the children. I didn’t go in alone. I went in with a doctor and a social worker. The nanny was in there and Dr. Murray – Michael’s personal physician. It was, as you would think,” a visibly emotional Dileo continued. “I can’t even begin to tell you the emotion that flowed out of those children.”

As someone very close to Jackson over the years, Dileo got to see a side of the pop star that few others did – as a father.

“Michael was a very dedicated parent, a single parent, who took that responsibility very seriously. His whole life surrounded around those children and they around him,” Dileo added.

So where are the children now following their father’s death?

“They are with their grandmother. They are with Mrs. Jackson,” Dileo said, referring to Michael’s mother, Katherine. “Right now, I would think that’s where they would stay.”

And while custody of the children has yet to be determined, Dileo said he also must focus on Jackson’s financial matters, which was something that the pop star worried about for his kids.

“There’s so much speculation as to a will – there is a will. A team of lawyers are gathering today and we’ll sort through all the stuff for the children,” Dileo explained. “[Michael] talked about making sure that his finances were taken care of – to clean up this mess so his children would be protected, so that’s what I’m going to do… That’s what was important to Michael.”

And while Jackson’s death at the age of 50 on Thursday came as a shock to fans worldwide, it was equally surprising to those who were closest to the King of Pop.

In fact, Dileo said Jackson had been in good spirits in the days leading up to his death.

“I was with Michael everyday going to rehearsals – Wednesday and Thursday he was the happiest,” the manager recalled. “On Wednesday, he put his arm around me at the end [of the day] and he said, ‘Frank, I’ve never been happier. We’re going to make this work… It’s our time again Frank. We’re going to do this!’”

Besides being happy, Dileo also said Jackson seemed to be in top physical shape.

“He seemed in great health. He was working out everyday,” he added.