The 'Thriller' star – who died of acute Propofol intoxication aged 50 in June – underwent several three dimensional scans in 1996 so a virtual reality 'robotic' twin could be produced.

It is thought the scans could now be used to bring the singer back in pop videos, computer games or even films.

The anonymous US businessman who owned the images and has reportedly been trying to sell them for $1 million told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: 'The data has been in our archives since he had the scans. The thing about this data is it immortalised him at the age of 37, before his nose was disfigured and when he was in the prime of his life.'

Meanwhile, it has been revealed Michael's funeral was nearly cancelled at the last minute in a row over its cost.

Around $1 million was estimated to have been spent on the funeral, which took place on September 3.

Court papers have revealed just three days before the funeral was scheduled to take place, lawyers acting for the 'Billie Jean' star's mother Katherine had filed a request to the administrators of his estate to pay for the funeral bills.

The lawyers stated that if the funeral home and local police department's bills were not paid by the next day, the burial would not go ahead as planned. Administrators were luckily able to pay the bills in time, preventing any delays to the ceremony.

Katherine's lawyers admitted the cost of the funeral was high, but added it was: 'Entirely commensurate with the decedent's worldwide status as an entertainer and the world's grief over his death.'