As he turns 30, Michael eludes time

He is still the Peter Pan of the pop world, still hits the highnotes and still counts his take in millions.

But Michael Jackson turns 30 on Monday, working - he will singat a concert in Leeds, England, on his birthday - and refusing to lettime catch up with him.

He thrives in a pop world once dominated by teenagers, likes icecream, seldom travels without his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, and has apersonal "hot dog" stand in his home for guests.

He may be the richest entertainer of the pop world - Forbesmagazine estimated he would earn $31 million last year - but he hasdescribed himself as one of the world's loneliest people. He hasbeen working for 25 of his 30 years.

He has said he wants to marry and have nine children, the samenumber as his parents had. But he has also said his relationshipswith women have not had happy endings, and he seems to mix moreeasily with mature types. His friends have included ElizabethTaylor, Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross and, now 78, Katharine Hepburn.

Jackson and his mother, Katherine Jackson, have deniedsuggestions he takes hormones to keep his voice artificially high."It is hereditary," she said. "Both his grandfathers had highvoices."

Jackson did leave his family home in Los Angeles recently andmoved to a $17 million ranch he bought in the mountains of southernCalifornia. It will give him more room for his llama, his giraffeand Thriller, his Arabian stallion.

It is also home to Bubbles, who can roller skate, ride a horse,play hide and seek and blow bubbles, and is the pet closest toJackson.

Outdoor stereo speakers often play themes from Disney films.

His mother has said Jackson had his nose bobbed, but she hasdenied reports he has also had a face-lift and added a cleft chin.He does not smoke or drink and avoids taking drugs even for pain.

Asked if Jackson had plans to celebrate his 30th birthday, hispress agent said simply: "I haven't heard of any plans."

It could be just another working day for the 30-year-oldmultimillionaire.