When you are a successful celebrity, it is already a given that you have a lot of money tucked away in your bank account. While they sometimes splurge on the finer things in life, such as a stylish car or house, some prefer to build their savings before their retirement becomes a priority.
Nevertheless, we find ourselves wondering, what will happen to their wealth once they are no longer alive? Of course, many of them are well prepared and often make sure the right people benefit from their fortune. Let's take a look at the people who have inherited or will be inheriting the riches of some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Richard Branson – He'll Be Leaving His Fortune To His Three Kids
Richard Branson can afford to own anything he lays his eyes on because he is already a billionaire. As of today, his net worth is estimated at a whopping $5 billion. His wealth comes from the success of his multinational venture capital conglomerate, the Virgin Group.
He has a total of three kids and it is expected that they will be inheriting their father's multi-billion-dollar fortune in the future. Branson is also a fan of helping those in need and a huge chunk of his wealth was already donated to philanthropic and charitable causes in the past.
Marilyn Monroe – Her Acting Coach Inherited Everything
Marilyn Monroe was one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood back in the 1950s. Some of her most memorable performances were in movies like How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She also had her own movie production company.
Unfortunately, she passed away in 1962 after she overdosed on barbiturates. Lee Strasberg, who was her acting coach, was the one who inherited her $10 million fortune when she passed away. Strasberg had also kept a lot of Monroe's possessions until he passed away in 1982 from a heart attack.
Robert Kardashian Sr. – His Kids Inherited A Huge Trust
Former businessman and attorney, Robert Kardashian, is best remembered for representing O. J. Simpson during his infamous murder trial back in the mid-'90s. He is also the father of the Kardashian siblings who are presently some of the most famous celebrities.
He passed away back in 2003 because of esophageal cancer. Reports say that Kim, Khloé, Kourtney, and Rob were able to inherit a trust worth $100 million. Today, they are all worth millions themselves thanks to the success of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and their various successful business ventures.
Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis – They Plan To Donate Their Fortune To Charity
Actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis became popular for starring in That '70s Show and despite being an on-screen couple at that time, their love story didn't begin until many years later, in 2010. They've been married since 2015 and have two children.
Each of their acting careers has made them very wealthy and today, their joint fortune is estimated at $265 million. Ashton and Mila apparently don't plan to leave their fortune to their kids and they will be donating it all to charity in the future. We guess their children will be working twice as hard to secure their futures.
Paul Walker – His Fortune Went To His Daughter
Many of you know actor Paul Walker for starring in The Fast and the Furious movies as Brian O'Connor. His fans were left in shock back in 2013 when news broke that he was involved in a car accident that caused his unexpected death at 40 years old.
Meadow Rain Walker is his daughter and she was the sole heir to her father's $25 million fortune. That huge amount definitely allowed her to live comfortably over the years but she also used it to help other people by starting the Paul Walker Foundation.
George Michael – Left His Fortune To His Godchildren
Singer George Michael first became famous for being part of the duo called Wham! He later went on to have a fruitful solo career as well. He passed away back in 2016 at the age of 53 due to a fatty liver and dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis.
He spent more than a decade as an openly gay man but sadly, he was never able to have kids of his own. The hard-earned money he had accumulated over the years reportedly went to his Godchildren, one of which is the daughter of former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell.
Simon Cowell – He's Donating His Earnings To Charity
Simon Cowell is best known for being the former mean judge on the biggest talent show on TV, American Idol. As of today, he is worth $550 million. One would think that anyone who is inheriting that big of a fortune definitely has a bright future ahead of them.
Shockingly, Simon doesn't plan to make his one and only son, Eric, inherit a single cent from him. He will instead donate his fortune to charitable causes that focus on helping dogs and kids. No worries, though, Eric is still young and will have a lot of chances to become as successful as his father.
Barron Hilton – He'll Donate Most Of His Estate To The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Wealthy business magnate Barron Hilton is known for once being the chairman of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. He is the grandfather of famous socialite Paris Hilton and despite his huge fortune, he has no plans of giving his granddaughter an inheritance.
When the day comes that he passes away, most of his wealth will be given to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Around $69 million will be left to his heirs, consisting of 8 kids and 23 grandkids. Well, that's totally fine for Paris since she grew a $300 million fortune on her own.
Sting – Plans On Spending All His Money
Musician Sting is yet another celebrity who doesn't plan on leaving his earnings to his children. He is best known for his career as a solo artist and as part of the band, The Police. He wants his kids to work hard, and so he won't be setting up a trust fund for them.
What does he plan to do with his wealth? He plans to make the most out of it by spending it all while he's still alive. Sting is currently 67 years old, so he has a good amount of years to buy whatever he wants for himself. In May 2019, Sting released a new album called My Songs.
Gene Simmons – Will Only Leave A Small Amount To His Two Kids
Gene Simmons a.k.a. The Demon is best known for co-founding the rock band called Kiss. His total fortune is estimated to be around $350 million, but his two kids won't really be able to benefit from it that much in the future.
They will really have to pursue their own careers to become successful because their father only plans to leave a small amount to them which won't really make them "rich". Simmons is set to star in an upcoming documentary called You Wanted the Best... You Got the Best: The Official Kiss Movie.
Jimi Hendrix – His Adopted Sister Inherited Everything
Jimi Hendrix was a big name in the music industry back in the late '60s. Despite having a very brief time in the spotlight, he is actually seen as one of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century. He sadly passed away in 1970 due to barbiturate-related asphyxia.
His fortune was estimated to be at $80 million when he passed away and his adoptive sister, Janie Hendrix, was the one who ended up inheriting everything. It didn't fall into her hands right away because their other sibling, Leon Hendrix, took her to court. A settlement was eventually reached but specific details about it remain undisclosed.
Gordon Ramsay – His Five Kids Won't Inherit His Wealth
Gordon Ramsay is popularly known for his reality TV show called Hell's Kitchen. He also has a number of restaurants that received Michelin stars over the years. He has a total of five children with his wife and they will not be inheriting the millions he has in his account.
The reason for his decision is so that they don't grow up to be spoilt. This will definitely push them to exert more effort to have a successful career of their own. In July 2019, Ramsay began starring in a new show called Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted.
Bill Gates – His Billions Of Dollars Fortune Will Be Donated To Charity
Bill Gates, who is known for being the man behind the Microsoft Corporation, is said to be worth a jaw-dropping $103 billion. He has stated that after his life comes to an end, most of his fortune will be donated to charity.
He and his wife want to help a ton of people through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His three kids won't be getting anything either and it seems like they are okay with their father's decision. Gates actually wants other his wealthy counterparts to do the same thing.
Elton John – He's Donating His Estate to Charitable Causes
Elton John is considered to be a legend in the music industry and after decades of hard work, he is set to enter retirement after his Farewell Tour comes to an end in 2020. He and husband David Furnish have two sons born through a surrogate mother.
He is estimated to be worth $500 million and most of this will be given to charitable causes in the future. His two sons won't be given that much so that they will pave their own path in life and make a living through hard work.
Oprah Winfrey - Her Money Will Go To Her Dogs & Foundations
Oprah Winfrey is one of the wealthiest personalities in Hollywood with a fortune estimated to be at $3.5 billion. She had only one child in her life but he sadly passed away as a baby. She never had kids after that but she does have a number of dogs.
These dogs will be well-taken care off even after she passes away as they will be inheriting around $30 million. The rest of her fortune will be given to her charitable foundations. Winfrey is still active these days and is set to star in the upcoming Terms of Endearment movie.
Aaron Spelling – Left Most Of His Money To His Wife
Aaron Spelling was a talented Hollywood producer who was responsible for shows like Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210, and Charlie's Angels. He was already 83 years old when he passed away due to stroke-related complications back in 2006. At that time, he was worth around $500 million.
His children only inherited around $800K each while most of his fortune went to his wife of more than three decades, Candy Marer. He also allotted a portion of his wealth to his manicurist and interior decorator. Many were shocked when his daughter, Tori Spelling only received $800K, but Candy revealed it was because of Tori's expensive habits.
Anna Nicole Smith – Her Money Didn't Go To Her Daughter
Anna Nicole Smith was able to make a name for herself in the modeling and acting scene. Despite being formerly married to billionaire J. Howard Marshall, she wasn't able to get an inheritance from him. It is said that she was worth $5 million when she died in 2007.
The cause of her death was said to be a drug overdose. She named her son as the sole beneficiary of her fortune but he actually passed away a year before her. She had another child, a daughter, but she apparently didn't include her as a beneficiary. Exactly where her wealth went remains a mystery.
Sean Connery – Will Not Leave A Penny To His One & Only Son
Retired actor Sean Connery is best remembered for being the first actor to give life to the James Bond character on the big screen. He only has one son, Jason Connery, but he won't be inheriting anything from his father in the future.
Jason has nothing to worry about though, as he is currently a successful Hollywood actor and director. His most recent role was in a movie called The Untold Story and we're pretty sure he will continue to flourish in the film industry. After all, he is Sean Connery's son.
Amy Winehouse – Her Parents Inherited Her Fortune
Amy Winehouse was a talented singer who was very popular during the 2000s. She only released two studio albums in her career but they were both successful. She sadly passed away in 2011 due to alcohol poisoning. She was only 27 years old when it happened.
Despite being worth millions at the time of her death, Amy wasn't able to create a valid document detailing who should inherit her wealth. Fortunately, it was left in good hands because it was given to her parents Janis and Mitch. A documentary about Winehouse called Amy Winehouse – Back to Black was released in 2018.
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Left His Money To His Wife & Left Nothing To His Kids
Philip Seymour Hoffman was a talented actor who most of you probably know for the roles he had in movies like Capote, Charlie Wilson's War, and The Master. He struggled with drug addiction for years and a combined drug intoxication sadly ended his life in 2014.
He and his partner Mimi O'Donnell had three kids but he didn't leave any kind of trust for his children. His $35 million estate was inherited by Mimi so we're sure she is using the funds in the best interest of herself and the entire family.
Nigella Lawson – She's Not Leaving A Single Cent To Her Two Kids
Nigella Lawson is a popular cooking show host who a lot of you have probably seen in shows like Nigella Bites and Nigella Feasts. She was also successful in pursuing a writing career and many of her recipe books became best-sellers.
Nigella is worth $20 million but her two kids won't be getting a dime from her. She says, she doesn't want to hand down a gold spoon to them so that they can really learn how to become prosperous on their own. In 2019, Lawson appeared on MasterChef Australia.
Farrah Fawcett – Her Estate Was Given To Her Son, Father, & Foundation
Farrah Fawcett was a beautiful actress who rose to fame thanks to her role in the original Charlie's Angels TV series. In 2006, she received news that she had cancer and this led to her death in 2009 at 62 years old.
Her partner at that time was Ryan O'Neal and they had one son together. Her son and late father were the ones who were able to benefit from the lifetime trust she set up. Producer Richard Francis is a trustee for both their trusts. The rest of her fortune was given to the Farrah Fawcett Foundation.
Bob Marley – His Wife & 11 Legally-Recognized Kids Inherited His Fortune
Jamaican singer Bob Marley attained stardom back in the mid-'60s with his band called Bob Marley and the Wailers. Their success as a band lasted until the '70s but unfortunately, Marley's life came to an end in 1981 after he lost his battle with acral lentiginous melanoma.
There was a legal dispute about who should inherit his wealth when he died. In the end, his $30 million estate was left to his widow, singer Rita Marley, and the eleven children he had. Not all his children were his biological offsprings but they were still legally recognized as his.
Larry Ellison – He Plans To Donate His Fortune To Non-Profit Organizations
Wealthy businessman Larry Ellison is best known for being one of the founders of the Oracle Corporation. When he's gone, most of his multi-billion dollar fortune will be donated to numerous charitable institutions like the medical foundation he has. He is among the billionaires who are apart of The Giving Pledge.
His two children, David and Megan, are both working as producers and they certainly won't be needing any monetary endowment from their father because they are already affluent people. Megan founded Annapurna Pictures and David is Skydance Media's CEO.
Pierre Omidyar – He's Donating Most Of His Wealth To Non-Profit Institutions
Another entrepreneur who plans on donating his billions is Pierre Omidyar. He is best known for creating eBay and he reached billionaire status when he was only 31 years old. He believes it's important to share the wealth he has acquired with those who are less fortunate.
This is why he has been constantly donating funds to non-profit institutions over the years. He also helps a lot of people through his philanthropic investment firm, the Omidyar Network. As of today, his total fortune is $13.8 billion. We know, extremely impressive, right?
Elizabeth Taylor – Most Of Her Fortune Went To HIV/AIDS-related Charity Organizations
Elizabeth Taylor was a staple name in the Hollywood scene back in the 1950s. Some of her most memorable performances were in A Place in the Sun, Father of the Bride, and Suddenly, Last Summer. She was 79 years old when she passed away in 2011 due to congestive heart failure.
Her family reportedly only inherited a small portion of her wealth and sources say most of her estate went to foundations supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS. Taylor is said to have been worth around $600 million when she passed away.
Ted Turner – He's Donating Everything To Charity
Ted Turner's legacy is estimated to be worth $2.2 billion. He is well recognized for creating CNN. He is also the man behind the WTBS TV station which was later renamed, TBS. He is a generous philanthropist and he has even donated a billion dollars to the United Nations in the past.
His generosity will continue even after he is long gone because his wealth will be given to various charitable organizations. He reportedly also encouraged his five kids to help his foundations even if he isn't letting them inherit anything.
Prince – His Money Was Given To His Siblings & Half-Siblings
The musician Prince became a prominent figure in the music industry back in the late '70s thanks to the success of his self-titled album. In 2016, he passed away due to an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was 57 years old at the time of his death.
He didn't have any kids and he wasn't able to fix his last will. Sources say that aside from his siblings, his half-siblings were also given a share from the $300 million he had left behind. Let's hope all of them put the funds they were given to good use.
Joan Crawford – Only 2 Out of Her 4 Kids Received An Inheritance
Joan Crawford's acting career began in the mid-'20s. She is well remembered for her outstanding performances in films like Mildred Pierce, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, and Sudden Fear. Unfortunately, Myocardial infarction ended her life in 1977.
She had four adopted kids named Christopher, Christina, Cindy, and Cathy. In her will, she left something for Cathy and Cindy but she specifically left out Christopher and Christina. The reason behind this has remained a mystery to this day. A part of her fortune was reportedly also given to friends and charitable causes.
George Lucas – Decided To Donate Everything to Charity
It's not really a surprise that filmmaker George Lucas has a huge fortune saved up because he is basically the guy who created the world-renown Star Wars franchise. His total worth as of today is estimated to be a whopping $5.4 billion.
Most of his wealth will be donated to charitable causes, but he specifically hopes that his donation will improve education. He received $4 billion when Disney bought Lucasfilm Ltd from him and sources say he will be donating the entire amount. We are truly in awe at the kindness of this Hollywood pioneer.
Jackie Chan – Will Be Giving His Fortune To Charity
Actor and martial artist Jackie Chan is originally from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong but he eventually made it big in Hollywood, especially after starring in the Rush Hour films. To date, Chan has built a $400 million empire through his various ventures.
He doesn't believe in passing down your fortune to your offsprings so this is why his will be given to charitable causes once he is gone. His son, Jaycee, doesn't really need it since he has been able to become a successful singer and actor in Asia.
Warren Buffet – Will Donate The Majority Of His Wealth To The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Berkshire Hathaway's CEO, Warren Buffett is said to be worth $89 billion. Despite being an opulent man in the business world, he has always lived a modest lifestyle and this is probably why he has maintained his billionaire status all these years.
He has three children and the sum they are inheriting from him is reported to be "just enough". Most of his wealth will be donated to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His wealth is enormous so you can just imagine how many people will be helped thanks to this gesture.
Mark Zuckerberg – He's Donating 99% Of His Facebook Shares To The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Mark Zuckerberg is popularly known as the mastermind behind Facebook. His level of affluence is simply astounding and his empire is currently valued at $50 billion. He has two kids with his wife Priscilla but it is already confirmed that they won't be getting a large portion of their father's wealth.
Instead, 99% of Zuckerberg's Facebook shares will be donated to his limited liability company named Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Having a father who created something revolutionary, we're sure his kids will be very inspired to follow in his footsteps when they get older.
Steve McNair – His Fortune Went To A Trust For His Two Sons
Steve McNair is a former NFL player who is best remembered for playing for the Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans and Baltimore Ravens. He never won a Super Bowl but he did take part in the Pro Bowl three times. He sadly passed away back in 2009 when his mistress, Sahel Kazemi, shot him.
He didn't get to prepare a will since he passed away unexpectedly. He had two sons and after a legal battle over his fortune, a trust was eventually set up for his sons since they were still not of legal age when their father passed away.
Andrew Lloyd Webber – He's Giving Most Of His Money To Art Programs
Andrew Lloyd Webber is a very successful composer who has worked on songs for popular Broadway shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar. As of today, he is 71 years old and is estimated to be worth around $1.2 billion.
Webber plans to give most of his fortune to different art programs. He has been very vocal about giving his wealth away so his kids really have no choice but to grow multi-million dollar empires on their own. Back in 2018, Webber released a memoir titled Unmasked.
James Brown – His Wealth Went To His Widow, Kids, & A Charitable Trust
James Brown a.k.a. The Godfather of Soul became popular in the music industry during the late 1950s. He was 73 years old when his life came to an end back in 2006. After his death, there was a long legal dispute about his last will and testament.
The judge eventually decided that half of his fortune would be given to charitable causes and a quarter went to Brown's last wife, Tomi Rae Hynie Brown. The remaining quarter of his wealth was divided between the six adult children he had.
Barry White – His Wife Became The Sole Trustee
Barry White's big break in the music scene happened back in the 1970s and he is best known for his hits like Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe and You're The First, The Last, My Everything. He dealt with high blood pressure for years and this led to him experiencing kidney failure.
He eventually passed away in 2003 at the age of 58. His wife, Glodean White, became the trustee of his estate since he wasn't able to make adjustments to the necessary legal documents. Two of Barry's kids, Daryl and Denise, sued Glodean after she stopped paying them their shares from their father's fortune.
David Gest – Left Everything To His Attorney
Many of you probably remember producer David Gest for the five-year marriage he shared with Liza Minelli. He also made appearances in shows like I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother. He passed away back in 2016 due to a stroke.
He was single and had no kids at the time of his passing and so the millions he had under his name was inherited by Edward Bearmann who was his lawyer. Bearmann was later sued by the sister and mother of Gest because they believed they were to receive a portion of the £10 million fortune.
Paul Allen – His Wealth Was Donated To Philanthropic Causes
Paul Allen is best known for being the co-founder of Microsoft alongside Bill Gates. He had numerous business enterprises over the years and he even owned sports teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks. He died back in 2018 due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Most of his wealth was donated to philanthropic causes and his sister Jody Allen was officially named as the trustee. Details about how much she received remain undisclosed. It is estimated that Allen was worth around $20.3 billion at the time of his death.
Sara Blakely – She's Donating Most Of Her Billion-Dollar Fortune to Charity
Sara Blakely helped a lot of women look and feel good about themselves thanks to her creation, Spanx. She is worth at least one billion dollars because of her smart business move and her money will be given to charitable causes in the future as she is a member of The Giving Pledge.
Sarah has four children with her husband Jesse Itzler, who is a very successful business owner as well because he co-founded NetJets. We're sure that their four kids will follow the path of success that their parents have laid out for them.