"Under General Mills, you'd go in to eat and never see a bar, " says Lee.

FORBES: Clawing back

Despite this two-year marriage, and the reported relationships he'd had earlier with Tatum O'Neal, Stephanie Mills and Brooke Shields, Jackson remained sexually ambiguous and, in many people's eyes, sexless altogether.

CNN: Michael Jackson in the headlines

Their owners had been losing money, and sugar prices had been depressed for years, but Albaugh wanted the mills for an alcohol they produce that is used to make 2, 4-D.

FORBES: Pesticide Prince

"I'd like to think I can play as well as anyone in Gary's spot, " Mills said.

BBC: Gascoigne tips Cole for starring role