Small clusters of fans of Mr. Jackson, one of the biggest-selling entertainers of all time, gathered at blockaded streets around the cemetery, with one group unfurling a large white banner that read, in part, “Gone too soon.”

Image Family and guests arrived for Michael Jackson's entombment in a private mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif., on Thursday. Credit... Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Members of the news media  460 people from the around the world received credentials  far outnumbered the fans, and they greeted every car turning into the gated grounds with a bouquet of camera flashes and quizzical looks. Was that Ms. Taylor? Joe Jackson, the family patriarch? Corey Feldman?

It was. They and other guests were shown for a short time on a video feed from the invitation-only service before it ended abruptly as Mr. Jackson’s brothers, wearing single white gloves in homage to their brother, opened the back door of a hearse.

After the service, the family released a statement, saying, “Michael Jackson reached his final resting place tonight at 9:43 pm PST in The GreatMausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park.”

“The pallbearers were Michael’s five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy Jackson,” the statement continued. “At the beginning of the ceremony, Michael’s children placed a crown on their father’s coffin to signify the final resting place of the King of Pop.”