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Few names are more recognizable in professional wrestling than Hulk Hogan. From his days headlining WrestleMania to his reality TV appearances, Hogan has lived much of his life in the spotlight. Off stage, he has also been through a highly publicized divorce, financial ups and downs, and ongoing questions about his wealth and property. When…
When music legend Jimmy Buffett passed away in 2023, he left behind a legacy of island escapism—and a substantial estate reportedly worth over $275 million. But even the most carefully laid estate plans can run into turbulence. A year after his death, Buffett’s widow, Jane Slagsvol, is embroiled in litigation with one of the trustees…
Sonny Bono was known for his success as a singer, actor, and politician—but when he tragically died in a 1998 skiing accident, he left behind something that shocked the legal world: no will. While Bono’s life was colorful and high-profile, his lack of basic estate planning led to complications that could have easily been avoided….
What Happened? When Aretha Franklin died in 2018, her family believed she had no will. Later, multiple handwritten wills were discovered, each with different instructions for her $80 million estate. The conflicting wills sparked confusion and disputes among her four sons, leading to prolonged probate litigation. The estate also faced challenges in managing her music…
What Happened? Whitney Houston died in 2012, leaving an estate worth around $20 million. Her will directed her assets to a trust for her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, but disputes arose over the trust’s terms and management. When Bobbi Kristina tragically passed away in 2015, the estate became entangled in further legal battles over her…
What Happened? The “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown, passed away on Christmas Day in 2006. Despite leaving behind a will, his estate became entangled in over 15 years of legal disputes. Brown had intended for the majority of his estimated $100 million estate to fund scholarships for underprivileged children in South Carolina and Georgia. However,…
What Happened? Anna Nicole Smith, a former model, married billionaire J. Howard Marshall in 1994, when she was 26 and he was 89. When Marshall passed away just over a year later, he left his estate to his son, omitting Smith from his will. Smith argued that Marshall intended to leave her part of his…
What Happened? When Michael Jackson died in 2009, his estate was valued at around $500 million. He had established a will and a trust, but that didn’t stop legal challenges and complications. The estate faced issues ranging from IRS tax disputes to conflicts with family members over the management of his assets, music rights, and…
What Happened? After actor Heath Ledger passed away in 2008, his will, created years prior, left his estate to his parents and sisters. However, he hadn’t updated his will after the birth of his daughter, Matilda. This oversight led to disputes over whether his daughter should inherit his assets, with his family ultimately deciding to…
What Happened? When Swedish author Stieg Larsson, creator of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, passed away unexpectedly in 2004, he left no will. Larsson’s estate, valued at millions due to the success of his books, became the center of a legal dispute between his longtime partner, Eva Gabrielsson, and his father and brother, who…
What Happened? When Pablo Picasso passed away in 1973, he left behind an estate estimated at $250 million, including artworks, real estate, and other assets. However, Picasso did not leave a will, and his complex estate became the subject of a lengthy legal battle among his six heirs. The lack of a clear plan for…
What Happened? When music icon Prince passed away unexpectedly in 2016, he left behind a legacy of hits, cultural impact, and an estate worth an estimated $156 million. However, he did not leave behind a will. The absence of clear instructions for the distribution of his estate led to a prolonged legal struggle involving family…
What Happened? Howard Hughes, the eccentric billionaire and aviation mogul, passed away in 1976, leaving behind an estate estimated at over $2 billion. Despite his immense wealth, Hughes failed to leave a valid, clear will. What followed was one of the longest, most complicated probate cases in American history, lasting over 30 years. Without a…
By Susan Teel Are you storing your will under the sofa cushions? Have you considered the best storage location for your will – your most important financial document? Would you store all of your cash or valuables there? Aretha Franklin, who died in August of 2018 with a large and complex estate, and a complicated…