Michael Jackson is the New Fresh Prince of Bel Air

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson has leased a Bel-Air mansion for $100,000 a month, his manager-spokesman said in remarks reported today.

The pop icon wanted to be closer to ``where all the action is" in the entertainment industry, the spokesman, Tohme Tohme, told the Los Angeles Times.

The gated estate that Jackson is leasing was one of the most expensive houses listed for sale last year in Los Angeles but was withdrawn from the market after he signed a year's lease, the newspaper reported.

``He might want to build his own dream house" during that time, Tohme told The Times, adding, ``although the real estate market isn't very good right now."

Jackson's temporary shelter is a French chateau estate built in 2002. It has seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a theater, according to The Times.

There is a multistory grand entry, hardwood floors, a formal dining room, wood-paneled den and adjoining library with coffered ceilings. The state- of-the-art kitchen has an adjacent butler's pantry. There is also a wine cellar and tasting room.

There's been speculation for several weeks that Jackson was living in the Los Angeles area. He was recently spotted in a Santa Monica bookstore browsing among the racks shielded by a black umbrella and sporting dark glasses and a face mask, according to multiple media reports cited by The Times.