epa00670357 (FILES) An aerial view of the Neverland Ranch of US pop singer Michael Jackson in Santa Ynez, Thursday 20 November 2003. Jackson has closed his mansion on his fantasy Neverland Ranch after running into financial difficulties in paying his staff, it emerged 17 March 2006. A spokesman for the singer told Entertainment Tonight that Jackson had laid off some of the employees. The statement came just hours after Jackson evaded a court-imposed shut down of Neverland Thursday by coming with some 300,000 dollars in unpaid wages for his workers. EPA/ARMANDO ARORIYO