15 Public Figures That Had Unconventional Wills

When most people think about wills, they imagine a straightforward document dividing assets among loved ones. But for some public figures, their final wishes were anything but ordinary. While the reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves, these decisions offer interesting insights into the mix of philanthropy, personal values, and family dynamics. Read on as we look into 15 public figures who had unusual wills.

Andrew Carnegie

During his lifetime, Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist, gave away the majority of his wealth, estimated to be around $350 million. He donated this vast sum to various causes and charitable organizations, driven by his belief that wealthy individuals have a moral obligation to give back to society rather than leaving it all to their heirs.

John D. Rockefeller

Moved by the principle that God had entrusted him with his vast fortune, John D. Rockefeller donated a large portion of his wealth to charity. His philanthropic efforts supported various causes and institutions, including the University of Chicago, Spelman College, and Rockefeller University. Additionally, he advocated for public sanitation and education to benefit individuals of all genders, races, and creeds.

Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel, a fashion icon, has legendary business acumen. When Chanel died, she left the bulk of her estate to her longtime business partner, Pierre Wertheimer, and his family. This decision brought on a lengthy legal battle with Chanel’s relatives, including her nephew and niece, who contested the validity of her will. After years of costly litigation, the courts ultimately upheld Chanel’s will.

Henry Ford

In 1936, Henry Ford established the Ford Foundation to promote social welfare, education, and scientific research. When he passed away in 1947, he had donated over $188 million to the foundation, equivalent to more than $2.5 billion today. Ford left only a modest inheritance for his family.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe died intestate in 1962. Her estate did not pass to her institutionalized mother; instead, her half-siblings inherited it. Lee Strasberg, her acting coach, was a trust beneficiary. After his death, his wife Anna claimed ownership, which sparked legal battles. In 2012, Authentic Brands Group gained the rights to license Monroe’s image and generated significant revenue.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso married Olga Khokhlova, a ballerina, in 1918, and they had a son, Paulo Picasso. Later, in 1927, he met Marie-Thérèse Walter, with whom he had an affair and a daughter, Maya. Picasso left behind a vast and valuable estate, including over 50,000 artworks, real estate, and other assets. However, he did not leave a will, which sparked a prolonged and complex inheritance battle among his heirs.

Robert W. Wilson

Before passing away, hedge fund manager Robert Wilson left a huge portion of his $800 million estate to charity. His legacy gift supports environmental and preservation bodies, including the Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society. It also extends to arts and cultural institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, which received his art collection of over 200 works.

Howard Hughes

Billionaire recluse Howard Hughes died in 1976 without a valid will. This led to a legal fight that lasted for 34 years until 2010 when the courts finally distributed his assets. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute did receive a significant portion of his wealth, which aligned with his goal of advancing medical research.

Janis Joplin

This legendary rock singer died without a will in place. In the absence of a legal document outlining her wishes, her estate was inherited by her family under the laws of intestacy. This legal process determined the distribution of Joplin’s assets among her surviving relatives.

Amy Winehouse

Born to a taxi driver father and a pharmacist mother, the talented and soulful singer would face challenges in her personal life from a young age. Her parents went through a divorce when she was just nine years old, but their close bond would endure. Despite family turmoil, she would go on to leave her entire estate to her parents in her will.

James Brown

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, made a surprising estate plan. Instead of providing for his family, he established a trust primarily benefiting underprivileged children. This unconventional decision led to significant legal battles between Brown’s family and the trust.

Jimi Hendrix

Famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix died unexpectedly at the age of 27 and left no will. This led to the father, Al Hendrix, inheriting the entire estate. Al Hendrix later wrote a will to divide the estate between his children and grandchildren, but he later removed Jimi’s brother Leon from the will and left him only a golden record.

Stieg Larsson

Author of the bestselling Millennium series, he died in 2004 without a will. His longtime partner, Eva Gabrielsson, was left without any legal claim to his estate, which included the rights to his books and other assets. This was because they were not married, and Swedish law at the time did not recognize common-law partners as heirs.

Aretha Franklin

An $80 million estate was the subject of a legal battle among Aretha Franklin’s four sons. A handwritten will found in 2019, deemed legitimate in 2022, divided music royalties and bank funds among three sons, while her youngest son inherited her home. The dispute ended a nearly five-year legal struggle among the siblings.

Kurt Cobain

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain tragically died by suicide. Thereafter, his will designated his wife, Courtney Love, as the primary beneficiary of his estate, bypassing their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. This decision led to years of legal battles and public scrutiny over the management of Cobain’s legacy.