Prince Rogers Nelson

The musical icon known as Prince passed away on April 21st 2016 at the age of 57. Prince Rogers Nelson died intestate (without a Will) at his home at Paisley Park in Minnesota. The estimated $150 million dollar fortune left behind by the mogul is now currently up in the air, as Minnesota inheritance laws will determine who the fortunate recipient will be.

Initially valued at $300 million, Prince’s fortunes have dwindled away over the years, possibly due as some would suggest, to a lack of high-powered attorneys and a constant rotation of financial advisers to look after his affairs.

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Celebrity wills

Funnyman Robin William’s death by suicide was a huge shock to many who grew up watching Williams in several movies, shows, etc., over the years. 

Robin Williams’ estate battle was a legal dispute that arose after his death in 2014. Williams, a beloved actor and comedian, left behind a sizable estate worth an estimated $100 million, including real estate, investments, and intellectual property rights.

The main issue in the estate battle was how Williams’ assets would be distributed among his heirs. Williams had been married three times and had three adult children from his first two marriages. His third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, was not the mother of any of his children.

Schneider Williams claimed that she was entitled to a significant portion of Williams’ estate, including his Tiburon, California home, which she had shared with him during their marriage. However, Williams’ children argued that they were entitled to the majority of their father’s assets, as outlined in his estate plan.

The dispute was resolved through a private settlement in 2015, which was not publicly disclosed. However, court documents revealed that the settlement allowed Schneider Williams to keep certain assets, including property in California and some of Williams’ personal effects, while the majority of his estate was left to his children.

According to this article, The battle between his wife and three children, Zachary, Zelda and Cody finally came to a resolution in the courts: 

A) William’s wife, Susan Schneider Williams, retains ownership of their home in Tiburon, California
B) William’s children have acquired ownership of William’s memorabilia and awards, along with other (unnamed) items

You can read more HERE.

The Robin Williams estate battle serves as a reminder of the importance of proper estate planning and the potential complications that can arise in the absence of a clear and comprehensive estate plan. 

 

 


We’ve previously written about a few famous singers who have succumbed to illness or have died in the past few years or so. This next singer is no exception.  Although not as famous as her peers in the music industry, Amy Winehouse proved herself to be an exceptional songstress with a beautiful voice. She passed away at the age of 27 in 2011 from an overdose. 

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Robert Read, a former (deceased) janitor from Brattleboro, Vermont, had a keen eye for picking out stocks. Known outwardly as a frugal and unassuming penny pincher, the local residents of Battleboro were shocked when news of his $8 million dollar fortune came to light. Indeed, his most expensive purchase was $5,000 for a Toyota, and he often wore the same worn-out clothing. You normally wouldn’t think of a janitor as having a fortune in the bank. 

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