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

Rhonda Prast — ALL, Star Tribune
Madonna in 1987

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)