Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson -- all born in the Midwest in the summer of '58 -- became three of the biggest music superstars of the 1980s and remain revered pop-culture icons despite roller-coaster careers. As Prince turns 50 today, we compare the lives of the Purple One, the Material Girl and the King of Pop.
BORN
Prince: Minneapolis, June 7
Madonna: Bay City, Mich., Aug. 16
Michael Jackson: Gary, Ind., Aug. 29
MARRIAGES/ DIVORCES/ CHILDREN
Prince: 2/2/1 (deceased)
Madonna: 2/1/3
Michael Jackson: 2/2/3
CAREER HIGH POINT
Prince: 1984's "Purple Rain" movie, soundtrack and tour
Madonna: 1990's Blonde Ambition Tour and its documentary, "Truth or Dare"
Michael Jackson: 1983's "Thriller," the second best-selling album ever
CAREER LOW POINT
Prince: His 1986 movie "Under the Cherry Moon" with Kristin Scott Thomas
Madonna: Her 1986 movie "Shanghai Surprise" with first husband Sean Penn
Michael Jackson: His 2005 trial on child-molesting charges (he was acquitted)
BEST MARKETING MOVE
Prince: Giving away free CD to every concertgoer on "Musicology Tour"
Madonna: "Sex," a book of soft-core photos of herself (and Vanilla Ice!)
Michael Jackson: National TV interview with then-wife Lisa Marie Presley
WORST MOVE
Prince: Changed his name to a glyph as protest against Warner Bros.
Madonna: Sacrilegious video for "Papa Don't Preach"
Michael Jackson: Paying off family of a young boy whom he allegedly molested
BEST LOOK
Prince: Purple suit and gold tie with the perfect accessory, Beyoncé, on the 2004 Grammys
Madonna: Jean Harlow-style glamour on her video for "Vogue"
Michael Jackson: Big Afro and his original nose on his video for "Ben"
U.S. ALBUM SALES
Prince: 39.5 million (top seller: "Purple Rain," 13 million)
Madonna: 63 million ("Immaculate Collection," 10 million)
Michael Jackson: 60.5 million ("Thriller," 27 million)
NO. 1 POP HITS
Prince: 5
Madonna: 12
Michael Jackson: 13
LAST TOP 10 POP HIT
Prince: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (No. 3, 1994)
Madonna: "4 Minutes" (No. 3, 2008)
Michael Jackson: "You Are Not Alone" (No. 1, 1995)
LAST GREAT MOMENT
Prince: Super Bowl halftime show, 2007
Madonna: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, 2008
Michael Jackson: Can't remember (OK, 1988's Bad Tour)