Wills of the rich and famous

Wills of the Rich and Famous

The details of a person’s will often provide insight into their true feelings about who they trusted and, in some instances, offer a way to settle a score. Find out who left millions to their pet, bequeathed money to an ex-lover and more in this list of fascinating and quirky wills of the rich and famous.


Elizabeth Edwards
July 3, 1949 – Dec. 7, 2010

The will of attorney and health care activist Elizabeth Edwards omitted her famous estranged husband. Find out who she named executor of her estate just six days before her passing.


Leona Helmsley
July 4, 1920 – August 20, 2007

Billionaire New York hotelier Leona Helmsley famously left a staggering amount to a non-family member. Living up to her nickname, some family members were left nothing. Helmsley also took care to ensure she and her beneficiary would be near each other even after death.

Janis Joplin
Jan. 19, 1943 – Oct. 4, 1970

Singing legend Janis Joplin wanted people to keep partying after she passed. Find out what she did. An Academy Award nominated actress has been tapped to play the raspy-voiced crooner in an upcoming film

Michael Jackson
August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson, one of the most commercially successful entertainers of all time, cut someone out of his will. He left his three children in the care of a family member. One very important detail was left out of Jackson’s will. His estate was placed into a family trust.

Anna Nicole Smith
Nov. 28, 1967 – Feb. 8, 2007

Former Playboy model and reality TV star Anna Nicole Smith left her entire estate to her late son and named her then-boyfriend executor. The will didn’t mention Smith's daughter, Dannielynn.

The now nearly 4-year-old Dannielynn is not entitled to a single penny from Smith's husband, oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall, a court ruled last year.

Murky language in the will lead to a battle over Smith’s final resting place, the true father of her child and who stood to inherit from her death.

Princess Diana
July 1, 1961 – August 31, 1997

The last will and testament of England’s beloved Princess Diana, perplexed many by leaving a substantial sum to her butler.

She bequeathed nearly her entire estate to her two sons, one of whom is recently engaged.

Marilyn Monroe

Hollywood bombshell Marilyn Monroe left a fellow actor her personal effects to be distributed among her friends. What did he do with the items instead?

A decision was handed down in 2008 that could cost her estate millions after a battle over her residency determined Norma Jeane lived in New York at the time of her death.

Her Brentwood, California home was sold last year.

John F. Kennedy
May 29, 1917 – Nov. 22, 1963

One of the United States’ most popular presidents, John F. Kennedy, left his wife Jackie Kennedy a surprisingly small amount of cash


Babe Ruth
February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948

Baseball legend Babe Ruth left a long list of his possessions to his wife, Clara May Ruth. “The Great Bambino” left his wife and two daughters a modest sum compared to the amount he bequeathed his sister.


Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994

Former FLOTUS and style icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis did not name any of her children as executors of her will. Who got the job?

Kennedy Onassis’ children, Caroline and John, were left with the bulk of her estate, which included a New York City apartment and special instructions.

Frank Sinatra

Though a surprising clause in Frank Sinatra’s will suggests tension among family members, Ol’ Blue Eyes to his ex-wife and their three children.

Sinatra’s gifts extended beyond his family including to a long-time friend and owner of his favorite restaurant.


Farrah Fawcett
Feb. 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009

Former “Charlie’s Angels” star Farrah Fawcett  shocked the public when it was revealed she left ex-boyfriend Gregory Lott a sum of money  and completely cut out her long-time partner and the father of her child.

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1980s musician comebacks

Fame is fickle, but these musical stars of the 1980s have reinvented themselves and their careers to step back into the limelight with some of the biggest comeback stories. See who's still touring, looking for love and starring in movies.

Paul Abdul

Before Paula Abdul moved "Straight Up" the pop music charts in the 1980s, she was a famous cheerleader.

After a few dormant years, she burst onto the scene again in the 2000s as a judge on the hit show "American Idol". Abdul left the show after eight years but is back on TV and is giving music another shot.

Kylie Minogue

Former Australian child actress and pop star Kylie Minogue topped the charts in 1987, but soon declining record sales led to declining popularity.

The pop diva rose to prominence again in 2000 with a hit single. Despite a serious health setback in 2005, Minogue is touring again and released her 11th album last year.

Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels sang his way into 1980s glam rock superstardom.
After the group broke up, he wrangled his way back into the spotlight as the star of a reality TV show in 2007. In the midst of major health woes, Michaels was "hired" in another reality competition and just released a new album.

LL Cool J

Hunky hip-hop star-turned-actor LL Cool J once made a coveted list for artists. LL released his final Def Jam album in 2008. Since then, he has taken to acting in a popular TV drama and on the big screen.

Duran Duran

With their combination of new wave, funk and rock, Duran Duran became a sensation in the 1980s with a ditty about a woman with a strange appetite for love. The band has never disbanded and recently released its 13th studio album. How did it do on the charts?

Guns N' Roses

The lead singer of Guns N' Roses has been the only consistent member of the 1980s hard rock group, which boasts the highest-selling debut album of all time. After a nine-year hiatus in the 1990s and several tumultuous lineup changes, the band shocked the public with a surprise appearance.

Guns N' Roses' comeback -- minus one famous former member -- has been marred by several incidents at live concerts.

Devo

This quirky band from Akron, Ohio, gained a cult following in the early 1980s. Devo's kitschy mix of science-fiction themes and synchronized instrumentation has influenced other new wave bands. They debuted a new album and music video in 2009. Devo is still touring to large audiences.

Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler made music history in the 1970s and 1980s with the rise of some self-proclaimed bad boys. The band hit a low in the early 1980s after drug abuse caused friction among members. But in the late 1980s the bluesy, hard-rock group scored a number of hits with a comeback that has been called one of the most spectacular in music history.

Tyler says his new high-profile job won't break up the band, which continues to perform and record music after 41 years.


Cyndi Lauper

New York City native Cyndi Lauper became one of the biggest pop stars in the 1980s with a string of party hits. Lauper has clung to her star power and last year released her 11th album. But she failed to pass the ultimate test on a high-powered reality show.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was queen of the 1980s and 1990s but crashed and burned after public battles with drugs and her ex-husband.

The diva bounded back in 2009 sporting a new look and a new album with a highly publicized comeback. But the star hasn't been able to escape harsh critiques, and some fans were a bit disappointed.

Jon Bon Jovi

Despite professional setbacks, 1980s rocker and heartthrob Jon Bon Jovi has transformed his glam rock fame into political activism, a successful solo career and even acting. Still performing, Bon Jovi just collected a record payday in concert sales.

Michael Jackson

After becoming the King of Pop thanks to the mega-success of 1982's "Thriller", Michael Jackson increasingly became synonymous with headlines alleging drug abuse and child molestation rather than his music.

The pop star recently had a posthumous comeback. After his death in 2009, Jackson sold more than 8.2 million albums, making him the best-selling artist of 2009.


Ice-T

After spending four years in the Army, rapper-turned-actor Ice-T made a name for himself writing raps and later releasing an album in 1987. His music career has since faded, but he stepped back into the limelight starring in his own VH1 reality show in 2006.

Today, Ice-T is best known for his role on the NBC police drama "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"

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