Ever the businessman, Joe Jackson comments in a new interview that his late son Michael is “worth more dead than when he was alive.”

The record company entrepreneur makes the remark while discussing 'This Is It', the documentary following rehearsals for his ill-fated tour at London's O2 Arena.

"He's worth more dead than when he was alive," the 80-year-old will be shown telling Extra, before adding: "I'd rather have him alive."

Though not the most tactful of statements under the circumstances, it's actually quite accurate.

It recently emerged that Michael's estate is thought to have earned $90million since his death in June, putting him at number three in Forbes magazine's annual list of top-earning dead celebrities.

Joe - who attended the Las Vegas premiere of 'This Is It' - also reveals he was unsure about the documentary at first but is now fully behind it.

Watching the movie has allowed him to his son "as I knew him best: performing and dancing on stage, entertaining people," he says.

He also insists that gets "emotional" about the Thriller star in private moments.

He says that he has shed tears "when I'm off to myself and I start thinking about things that we went through. No one will ever see me, though."

Joe was slammed for pimping out his new record label on the red carpet at the BET Awards, just days after Michael's death.

Remembering Michael Jackson