Croesus Seal of Approval

By RICHARD ZOGLIN/

MICHAEL JACKSON

While Milli Vanilli slinks off into lip-syncers' obscurity, the gloved one is said to be close to signing the richest deal in pop-music history, topping his current record-setting pact with CBS which will pay him $18 million for his next album. Sure, he really sings, but what about that chin cleft?

With reporting by David E. Thigpen