After launching his career on the soap opera “Peyton Place,” Ryan O’Neal was ready for the big time. He was in a long-term relationship with Farrah Fawcett and was married twice before that. However, he was estranged from his two kids, Tatum and Griffin, and describes himself as a “hopeless father.”
He’s disinherited both of his kids and made things worse by going on to the Oprah Show to try and talk about their differences. It clearly didn’t work, and now the kids became even more at odds with their famous dad. Things changed after his death, though, with Tatum stating that he meant the world to her and that she felt great sorrow with his passing.
Pablo Picasso
Born in 1881 in Spain, Pablo Picasso might have been the most famous artist of the twentieth century. His cubism, expressionism, and surrealism styles changed the art world forever. When he passed away in 1973, he had also dabbled in sculpting, ceramics, printing, and writing. After the sale of his paintings, Picasso had a net worth of over five hundred million dollars, but he must not have made things clear enough for his family.
His estate was the subject of an intense battle between his daughters, Claude and Paloma, and his widow. His widow ended up with the majority, while a third daughter, Maya, inherited his unpublished works.
Marvin Gaye
Before he became big as a solo artist that helped shape Motown into the place to be, Marvin Gaye got his start as a session guitarist. During the sixties, he was dubbed “Prince of Motown” for his smooth songs and undeniable charms. He was married twice and had three children, Nona, Marvin III, and Frankie, but his surprising passing in 1984 left him without a will.
His son Marvin III was the executor of his estate and was tasked with dividing things up equally. However, Gaye left behind no money, as he had plenty of debtors who were increasing pressure.
Nate Dogg
Born Nathaniel Hale, Nate Dogg got his start in music as part of 213, a rap trio that included Snoop Dogg and Warren G. Nate and Snoop are cousins, hence the similar last name in the group. In 2011, Nate passed away at the age of forty-one. Since Nate Dogg passed away intestate – which means he didn't have a will written – his money won't be going to his kids.
Instead, it all went to his estranged wife, to whom he was still legally married. His family fought tooth and nail for the estate, stating they didn't want his wife or his mother to be the executor of the estate.
Bill Hudson
Along with his brothers Mark and Brett, Bill Hudson was part of The Hudson Brothers, a band that had plenty of time in the limelight. The band toured from 1965 until 1981 when Bill Hudson decided to call it quits. He's also a published author, having written “2 Versions.”
Hudson was married to Goldie Hawn for six years, and the union produced a number of children, including actress Kate Hudson. Bill and Kate are currently estranged, but they are trying to put their relationship back together. Bill has successfully reconciled with Kate's brother Oliver, however, still, things look a little dicey for the millions that Kate might miss out on.
Howard Hughes
Eccentric, inventive, and expensive, Howard Hughes had a lot of things going for him, but there was also plenty of weird stuff. With a net worth equal to 6.6 billion dollars in today's money, at one point, he was worth slightly less than one-thousandth of the entire US Gross National Product. With that money came disputes, however, and Hughes disinherited several relatives.
After his passing in 1976, a written will that was kept by the Church of Mormon was found. While there wasn't that much to it, the will did manage to disinherit a good half of Hughes's family. Even for a businessman that might not have been all there, this was a surprising move.
Ryan O'Neal
After launching his career on the soap opera “Peyton Place,” Ryan O'Neal was ready for the big time. He was in a long-term relationship with Farrah Fawcett and was married twice before that. However, he was estranged from his two kids, Tatum and Griffin, and describes himself as a “hopeless father.”
He's disinherited both of his kids and made things worse by going on to the Oprah Show to try and talk about their differences. It clearly didn't work, and now the kids became even more at odds with their famous dad. Things changed after his death, though, with Tatum stating that he meant the world to her and that she felt great sorrow with his passing.
Barry White
Born in 1944 in Galveston, Texas, Barry White was a legendary singer/songwriter and record producer. When he passed away in 2003, his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean from the California Coast, as was his request. White and his wife Glodean had five children, but not all of them would see their portion of the family money.
There was a conflict between one of their sons, Darryl, and Glodean, which led to Darryl being disinherited shortly before White's passing. Darryl has contested the change, and the lawsuit is still working its way through the courts.
Abraham Lincoln
The reason Honest Abe didn't leave anything to his family is different than you might expect. As one of the most famous presidents in American history, Lincoln presided over a country in conflict with itself. We're used to presidents being wealthy these days, but Lincoln was actually quite poor, carrying debts that sank his net worth into the negatives.
A lawyer by trade, he wrote his last will and testament himself, leaving property to his heirs instead of straight cash. Despite Lincoln's passing being shocking, Lincoln was in poor health as the ravages of trying to preserve a nation took their toll on his well-being.
Paul Shane
Best known for his role as Ted Bovis on the television show “Hi-de-Hi!”, Paul Shane was a British comedian whose life ended in 2013. Shane also had his own show, “Very Big Very Soon,” which ran for a single season in 1991.
He was married to Dory Speight for forty years, until 2001, and the pair had a trio of children: Andrea, Janice, and Gillian. His children and six grandchildren all got their share of his net worth, but the family of his wife, who had passed away more than ten years before him, was left out of his will.
Sonny Bono
Before their famous falling-out, Sonny and Cher were the power couple of the airwaves. The two had several kids together, including Chaz Bono, with whom Sonny was estranged at the time of his passing in 1998. Always wear the proper safety equipment while skiing, kids.
Chaz was also estranged from his mother at that time, but the two were able to reconcile. One of the major reasons Sonny and Chaz were estranged was because of Sonny's connection to the contentious Church of Scientology. At the time of his passing, Sonny had a net worth of approximately four million dollars.
Nancy Dow
Actress Nancy Dow was married to the late actor John Aniston, and you may have heard of their daughter, Jennifer Aniston. Nancy and Jennifer were estranged for nine years leading up to Nancy's passing. This was due to Nancy writing a book titled “From Mother and Daughter to Friends.”
It came out in 1999 – the height of Aniston's fame on her famous sitcom – and didn't paint Jennifer in a good light. The two briefly reconciled after Aniston's divorce from Brad Pitt, but eventually became estranged again. It's not like Jennifer Aniston needs any of her mom's money, but that's still three million dollars that are going somewhere else.
Anthony Hopkins
From Hannibal Lecter on “Silence of the Lambs” to Odin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Anthony Hopkins is a journeyman actor who has done it all. Hopkins and his former wife Petronella Barker had a daughter together named Abigail, but in 2018 Hopkins revealed that he and his daughter hadn't spoken in about twenty years.
There was an attempt at reconciliation, but the animosity remains. He has no plans to leave his daughter with any of his money, so we wonder who is going to win the fortune.
Peter Brock
Nicknamed “King of the Mountain,” Peter Brock was a racecar driver that was always at the front of the pack in Australia. Thanks to his numerous wins on the track and his lucrative product endorsements, Brock had amassed a vast fortune.
His children did get the lion's share of his money, but the conflict came about when his girlfriend at the time (he had divorced his wife of thirty years only a year earlier) would be cut out of the will. Thus, all of the money would go to his marital children as a result. The opposite of what we normally see on this list.
Sam Cooke
Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, which means Sam Cooke was the King. His contributions to music are still felt. He was married to Barbara Campbell until his unexpected passing in 1964. Cooke had six claimed children (though one's life ended before reaching his second birthday), so each was set to inherit a grand portion of his one hundred million dollar estate.
It was then discovered that Cooke had three children outside of his marriage, which sparked a huge debate that tied up the money for years in court. In the end, the children ended up receiving a much smaller amount than they had originally thought.
Heath Ledger
Born in 1979 and passing unexpectedly in 2008, Ledger didn't even get to see his performance as the Joker in 2008's “The Dark Knight” gain the critical acclaim it rightly deserved. He's the first person to win a posthumous Oscar, and he left behind a daughter with his former partner Michelle Williams.
His daughter, Matilda, was only two years old when he passed away, and he hadn't updated his will to reflect her. Initially, she was left with nothing, but the family that did inherit everything ended up donating all or almost all of the money they had received as his next-of-kin. Two of his uncles protested, but they were eventually won over.
Bob Marley
To many people, Marley means reggae and vice versa. His career spanned from 1962 to 1981 before he passed away at thirty-six. He had a net worth of over a hundred million dollars, which means each of his eleven kids stood to inherit a good bundle of cash.
Marley never made a will, and his Rastafarian faith banned him from recognizing his own mortality – hard to write a will with that sort of condition. To this day, the dispute rages over who should get what out of the Jamaica native's self-made fortune. To call it a familiar dispute is barely scratching the surface.
Steve McNair
NFL quarterbacks who became a season's MVP are usually pretty well-off, playing at the toughest position in all of sports and everything. Air McNair was one of the most celebrated QBs of the era, playing for the Oilers, the Titans, and the Ravens.
While McNair was married and had four children, he and his wife Mechelle were on the skids at the time of his tragic passing. His twenty million dollar fortune didn't go to his kids – instead, it went to Mechelle. Despite the two being at odds, they were still married at the time, so she was the beneficiary.
John Denver
John Denver was born Henry Deutschendorf, Jr. and yeah, we can understand wanting to change your name from that. “Take Me Home Country Roads” has been given new life thanks to some new covers, but we can't forget his original.
Denver was also a willing philanthropist, who founded a charity called The World Hunger Project. At a memorable event called The Wildlife Concert, he sang “Take Me Home Country Roads,” as he was also dedicated to environmental causes. He had three biological children and a pair of adopted children, but he disinherited both of his ex-wives for reasons that are unknown to us.
Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul had plenty to her name, and a good collection of children, too. Beginning when she was just a child, she often sang gospel songs at her Baptist Church in Michigan where her father was a minister. When Aretha passed away, she left her piano and her papers to her four children Teddy, Kecalf, Clarence, and Edward.
It's a lot more complicated than that, however, since she apparently had three wills, which were found in various places around the home after her passing. She had also disinherited her eldest son, Clarence.
Stieg Larsson
Stieg Larsson was the author of the Millennium trilogy of books, which begins with the famous “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Larsson might not have had any kids, but his approximate fifty million dollar net worth also wouldn't be going to his longtime ex-partner, Eva Gabrielsson.
Inheritance laws are a little different in Sweden, and Eva had a devil of a time proving that she and Stieg were actually in a relationship. Not only was his will unwitnessed, but the couple also never married as it would have posed a security threat to Larsson since he would have had to make his address public under Swedish law.
Davina McCall
If you're the kind of person that loves classic reality TV, then Davina McCall should already be familiar to you. She was the presenter of “Big Brother” on British Channel 4 for ten years. She and her ex-husband Matthew Robertson had three children together: Holly, Till, and Chester. It was McCall's second marriage, but her first produced no children.
McCall has decided not to leave her kids any money in her will, stating that it would be better for them than to provide for their every need. McCall is also a fitness model, has a net worth of several million dollars.
Maurice Laboz
Maurice Laboz had some specific rules about his daughters inheriting money. The head of Regal Real Estate passed away in 2015 with a net worth of twenty million dollars, and if his two daughters Victoria and Marlena wanted to get what they were owed, they'd have to follow some rules.
They could only inherit the money if they were married and if they didn't have any children out of wedlock. There are other terms and conditions, but those are the two main rules. Once the daughters get married, they have the chance to inherit. Why all the conditions? We can only guess, but odds are it was a father's attempt to keep his kids clean.
Andrew Carnegie
There's no way you can come up with someone who better exemplifies the rich man. To call Carnegie a steel magnate is to almost do him a disservice – his net worth these days is calculated at almost four hundred billion dollars. He's one of the richest men in history. This was during the era that gave rise to the title of “Robber Baron,” but Carnegie ended up being closer to Robin Hood as his life went on.
He left a small portion to his children, but the majority of his money went to charities. Think of how much could be done with all that money! Despite being in the time of ruthless businessmen, Carnegie seemed to have been the proudest of his philanthropy.
Donatella Versace
Even if you're aren't big into fashion, you're almost certainly familiar with Versace. Donatella is the head of the company and boasts a net worth of about two hundred million dollars. She has two children, Allegra and Daniel, and it came as a shock to everyone when Allegra inherited a considerable sum of money, as well as control over the fashion company, following her uncle Gianni's passing.
It's mostly been Donatella's work that has kept the company going so well, and Allegra is the up-and-coming leader. The biggest shock was that Gianni didn't leave anything to his partner, despite the two being together for fifteen years.
Glen Campbell
While this man's biggest hit was the song “Rhinestone Cowboy,” there's plenty more on Campbell's resume. He had a variety show, “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” which he hosted during the sixties and seventies, and he was also an actor.
He was married to his wife Kimberly from 1982 until his passing in 2017, and it turns out his will included the caveat that his children would be disinherited if they tried to contest anything in the will. He had an estate of half a million dollars, and all three of his children did, in fact, contest the will. Thus, they were cut out.
Richard “Old Man” Harrison
If you're a long-time fan of “Pawn Stars,” this name and hilariously droopy mug will be familiar. Harrison was one of the owners of the featured store but passed away in 2018. Rick Jr. was part of the show and is also the executor of his father's estate. There were two other sons, Joseph and Christopher, who didn't appear on the show.
In addition, an update to Richard's will shortly before his passing left Christopher out of his will. There was never a reason given, and Rick Jr. isn't saying anything, either. Richard had a net worth of more than eight million, so this is sizable.
Reg Grundy
He was the genius producer behind shows such as “Scrabble,” “ABBA: The Movie,” and “Time Machine,” among plenty of others. He had a net worth of almost a billion dollars at the time of his death. He and his wife, Joy Chambers, had one child, a daughter named Kim, who will be getting most of the money. So where's the problem?
Well, after Grundy died, a man named Simon Thomas Russell claimed that he was the love child of the TV producer, and sought a portion of the inheritance. However, this was proven to not be true after a blood test, and Simon wasn't allowed to throw his hat in the ring for a share of the money.
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop had three children and at the time of his passing, Jackson boasted a net worth of about five hundred million dollars. His children did get some of his money, but a somewhat insignificant part. The rest of it went to his mother, various charities that he had been working with, and his pets. Yes, his pets.
He left two million dollars to care for his favorite animals. Also notable is that his father, Joe, got nothing when Michael died. The two were at odds for much of Michael's life, despite Joe being the one behind the Jackson Five, which is ultimately responsible for Michael's rise to superstardom.
David Cassidy
From Keith Partridge to teen icon to famous singer and actor, David Cassidy had it all. He was also a family man with a son, Beau, and a daughter, Katie. When Cassidy passed away in 2017, he stated that while he was proud of his daughter, the two didn't see eye-to-eye.
Neither side of the conversation opted to clarify what this meant, and before Cassidy passed he signed a will specifically disinheriting her. He left a significant portion of his net worth to his son, but Katie was out in the cold. Despite being one of the biggest names of the seventies, Cassidy passed with a net worth of about half a million dollars.
Marlon Brando
A two-time Oscar winner and big-name hunk while he was acting, Brando was one of the biggest names in Hollywood during the time. He's considered one of the greatest thanks to his chameleon-like ability to play almost anyone. With eleven children and a hundred million dollars to his name, you know things are going to get messy.
Several of Brando's children were troubled, and one of them even passed away before he did. As such, there aren't as many children named in the will as you might think. We hate to think about the lawsuits that probably happened, just due to the fame that the Brando name carried.
Sean Connery
The famous Scotsman portrayed James Bond in seven films and had a huge career in a hundred other films, and so he was pretty well stacked by the time of his passing in 2020. He had a tough life, dropping out of school at thirteen to work odd jobs and earn money. However, none of his nine-figure net worth will be going to his only son Jason according to his ex-wife Diane Cilento.
Jason defended the choice, saying that Connery had earned his money through his own hard work and smart choices, and it was entirely up to him where it goes. We'd like to think Connery is taking the track of teaching his son money's value.
Robert Kardashian
You are probably aware of Kim, Khloe, and all the others, but where did all that money come from? Robert Kardashian was a celebrity lawyer who acted as the defense attorney on the O.J. Simpson trial. With a total net worth of about thirty million dollars at the time of his passing, Robert made the surprising decision to leave his entire estate to his wife Ellen Pierson.
They had only been married a year, and he left his first wife Kris and their four children, Kourtney, Kim, etc, out of the will. The Kardashians were outraged, but the will was upheld. We don't think you need to worry about any of his children. They seem to be doing all right.
Barron Hilton
Barron Hilton knows exactly what it's like to have everything provided for you since he inherited a great deal of money from his father Conrad – the person who founded the Hilton Hotel Corporation. He was able to take advantage of this money by getting the expensive hobby of becoming a private pilot, he started the American Football League, and much more.
When it came to passing his billions along to his eight children and many grandchildren, including the famous Paris Hilton, Barron instead decided to donate ninety-seven percent of his money to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Oprah Winfrey
Boasting a net worth of almost three billion, Oprah isn't wanting for much. In fact, she's gone on record saying that she doesn't really need much of anything, and the only thing that she would try to save if her home was on fire was a photo album of her five dogs.
Oprah is a big philanthropist, who loves to give away prizes to guests and people who really deserve them, but she's keeping some of her money back for her beloved pooches. That amount? A total of thirty million dollars. We imagine her family is going to do fine, but her dogs will be living the big life.
Dan and Jennifer Gilbert
If you use Quicken Loans, a financial service, you're pretty familiar with the work of Dan Gilbert. However, you almost certainly know him better as the owner of a number of Cleveland sports teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilbert and his wife Jennifer have signed the Giving Pledge, willing to give up the majority of their finances to the community at large instead of to their family.
They've said that wealth is created, and if that wealth is passed on to other generations it's often underutilized. A better path would be one that allows wealth to be activated as a force to make the world a better place.
Judy Faulkner
When she started Human Services Computing, she had no idea that it would turn into the medical software company Epic Systems, which is responsible for the systems that many hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices use to track records and keep things working smoothly. She, like many others, has signed the Giving Pledge, showing that her family will have to find their own way in the world.
She has asked her children what two things children need from their parents, with the proper answer apparently being “roots and wings.” Roots meaning food, warmth, shelter, healthcare, and education will come through her philanthropy, while wings are the ability to reach for their goals beyond simple existence.
Richard and Nancy Marriott
Richard E. Marriott's father, J. Willard Marriott, founded the line of Marriott hotels. J. Willard's son and daughter-in-law Nancy Peery, have decided that they would also sign the Giving Pledge since as the chairman of the board of Host Hotels & Resorts, both are making plenty.
The couple has always been willing to support the schools that had educated and trained them, as well as hospitals and communities. They are dedicated to continuing doing so during their lives. The bulk of their estate will go to a charitable foundation run by their daughters, who are already heavily involved in supporting communities of their own.
Nathan Blecharczyk, Brian Chesky, and Joe Gebbia
The three founders of Airbnb, the home-sharing app, have all joined in signing the giving pledge after their app took off in a big way. Gebbia wrote that his philanthropic contributions would aim to build pathways for future creatives and entrepreneurs, no matter their age, gender, or location, so they too have a way to achieve their dreams.
As the co-founder of Airbnb, the chairman of Samara (Airbnb's design studio), and the chairman of Airbnb.org (the company's non-profit foundation), Gebbia is estimated to have a net worth of almost ten billion dollars. The other two combine to have more than fifteen million.
Sheryl Sandberg
Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Meta Platforms, the new name of Facebook's parent organization. That makes her one of the most powerful women in the world, whether you know who she is or not. She is a Giving Pledge signer, and she also runs the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Foundation, named after her and her late husband.
The foundation is split between empowering women to achieve their ambitions and helping people build resilience and find meaning in the face of adversity.
Larry Ellison
Even if you don't know the name, you're probably using this guy's product. As the Oracle Corp. co-founder, he's responsible for the world's largest database management company, which provides services to huge businesses like Apple and Google as well as small customers like you and me. Ellison apparently signed the Giving Pledge because of one person.
He put almost all of his assets into the trust with the intent of giving away at least ninety-five percent of his wealth to charitable causes. It was after none other than Warren Buffet personally asked him to write the letter as a way to set an important example for others and for the future.
Richard Branson
When you think about high-flying billionaires who are living the dream, Richard Branson might be the first one to come to mind. He founded the Virgin Group, a multinational venture capital conglomerate, and like many others, he has signed the Giving Pledge. With an estimated net worth of four point six billion dollars, that's a lot of good he can do.
His Giving Pledge note gives thanks to his close family, and gives perspective on life, saying that stuff doesn't bring happiness. Family, friends, good health, and the satisfaction of doing something good bring real happiness.
Elon Musk
With his eyes on the sky and the world around him, Elon Musk is pushing ahead with his projects despite the contentious nature of his character. Still, he's signed the Giving Pledge, which means that all the money he's accumulated won't be staying with his family.
This South African native is also the chairman of the Musk Foundation, which is working to provide disaster relief in the form of solar-powered energy in places all over the world. He has plenty of money to donate to worthy causes, though he does currently have a family to support while he's trying to colonize Mars.
Reed Hastings
He once worked as a door-to-door salesman, but now he's worth billions. He and his friend Marc Randolph are responsible for us all losing sleep while rewatching the new shows on his streaming platform Netflix. Hastings has signed up for The Giving Pledge and has recently donated more than a hundred million dollars to historically black universities in the United States.
He's also created a one hundred million dollar fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation for education. Since he's signed the Giving Pledge, his children probably aren't going to be receiving that much.
James Brown
He was the Godfather of Soul, and millions of music lovers and artists owe it all to him. With a career that spanned more than fifty years, he had plenty in his coffers at the time of his passing. A majority of that money went to I Feel Good Trust, a charity that raises funds for underprivileged children in South Carolina.
Eventually, the family story ended up in court, and his fortune (or at least some of it) was distributed amongst his children. His ex-wife went with nothing.
Gloria Vanderbilt
Like mother, like son. Anderson Cooper's mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, comes from old money and a big name. She benefited from a five-million-dollar trust when her father Reginald Vanderbilt passed away in 1925, and is worth an estimated two hundred million dollars today. But Cooper made it clear to Howard Stern that there's no trust fund waiting for him.
There's no information about where the money is going, but we don't think Cooper is in any danger. He doesn't really need Mom's cash. He earns a couple million a year for his work on CNN as one of the most well-known reporters in the biz.
Jerry Lewis
He was the king of comedy, but no one was laughing when he passed away in 2017. Least of all his children, who discovered that his fifty million dollar fortune would go in its entirety to his second wife SanDee and their adopted daughter Danielle, intentionally excluding his other children and their families.
In a stark contrast to his fun-loving persona and his work raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Lewis's oldest son Gary Lewis has said that his relationship with his father was nothing to be proud of.
Mickey Rooney
Lots of people only know him for the odd casting choice in “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” but Mickey Rooney was one of the biggest actors on stage and screen during his day. At his height, he was pulling about $250,000 a week in today's money. With over three hundred films under his belt, his nine children thought they were in the clear. However, Rooney's relationship with his children wasn't perfect.
In addition, Rooney's spending had gotten out of control by the time of his passing, with only eighteen thousand dollars left, which went to his stepson Mark and stepdaughter-in-law Charlene, who had taken care of him during his final years. Seven of Rooney's children filed lawsuits to adjust the will, but an LA judge dismissed the challenge.
Tony Curtis
Since he was married six times, it's no surprise that the “Some Like It Hot” star had half a dozen children. Curtis apparently had a great relationship with his children, including celebrated actress Jamie Lee Curtis, so when he passes away in 2010 his will came as a big shock to everyone involved. He acknowledged the existence of his children but intentionally chose not to provide for them.
His children have suspected that his last wife, Jill Vandenberg, was the one who put the pressure on Curtis to make this change. Jill kept everything. To add insult to injury, shortly after Tony's last days, Jill auctioned off numerous items of Tony's. She reportedly kept the over one million dollars the auction earned.
Bette Davis
You know all about her extra-special eyes, but this star was also a top earner. As one of Joan Crawford's biggest rivals, it's a little ironic that Davis's daughter, Barbara (known as B.D.) would do the same thing as one of Crawford's daughters and publish a tell-all book about her contentious relationship with her famous mother.
While Crawford's had come out after her passing, B.D. Published hers while her mother was still alive, and for this reason, Davis disinherited her. Instead, it all went to Davis's son Michael and a friend. At something between one million and three million dollars, that's a pretty big misstep.
John Seward Johnson I
Lots of people are named Johnson, but you probably know this Johnson. He's one of the directors of the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson – it was founded by his father. When JS Johnson got married to the family chambermaid, it was the start of a contentious family.
Johnson left his money to his young wife Barbara instead of his children, and they sued, stating she had used undue influence to direct the money to her. The court eventually ruled that each of his six children was entitled to about two percent of his worth or about eight million dollars. Nothing to sneeze at.
Joan Crawford
With a start as a silent film actor, then becoming one of Hollywood's leading ladies, Crawford is one of the biggest names in the history of film. With multiple children, a couple of divorces, and even a few adoptions, her family was almost as big as her career.
Crawford decided to leave nothing to her two older kids while shelling out some pretty good cash to Cathy and Cindy, the younger two. She had her own reasoning for doing so, and we'll probably never know what lies behind this story.
Sara Blakely
The founder and CEO of Spanx, the underwear company, Sara Blakely, was the first woman to sign the Giving Pledge. She's going to be donating her money to charities and philanthropic organizations, and in 2013 she announced that she would be investing in women. She apparently told her son that she would be donating her estimated one billion dollars of wealth to other people when he was only three years old.
This went over his head at the time as he reportedly asked to do a puzzle after learning the news. Three years old might not be old enough to understand exactly what all those words mean.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
This acclaimed actor was in “Twister,” “Patch Adams,” “Boogie Nights,” “Capote,” and many, many more, and when he tragically passed away in 2014, he was already sure he didn't want his three children being trust-fund kids. Philip Seymour Hoffman had accumulated more than thirty million dollars and he entrusted his entire fortune to his girlfriend Mimi O'Donnell.
Mimi is the mother of his children, and he trusted her to make sure that she would teach them how to earn their own cash. His children are still rather young, but his son Cooper is already making waves as an actor.
Nigella Lawson
This celebrity chef had a somewhat privileged upbringing herself, but she wants to make sure that her kids know how to take care of themselves. Those children, Cosmo and Bruno, won't have the kind of financial security that she had, because, as Lawson says, it ruins people not having to earn money. She certainly will be leaving her kids with something, but she still wants them to support themselves.
This is especially strange or unique since Lawson herself was the beneficiary of her father, who was a Lord in the British government. Despite that, she still thinks that her children should have to tough it out.
Chuck Feeney
Feeney was a co-founder of the Duty-Free Shoppers group and was once a billionaire, but he transferred all of his wealth to his Atlantic Philanthropies foundation in the eighties. He's committed to his mantra, “giving while living,” and he made sure to teach his children the value of money by telling them to get holiday jobs and work their own way through university.
He had the odd goal of being broke, and in September 2020 he seemed to have been successful. He has already passed his 90th birthday and lives with his wife Helga in a rented apartment in San Francisco. Not cheap, but he's not living in a mansion anymore.
Candy Spelling
After Aaron Spelling passed away, his widow received the bulk of his money, and she's being tight with it. Aaron was a TV producer responsible for such shows as “Family,” “Charlie's Angels,” “The Love Boat,” “Hart to Hart,” “Dynasty,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and many more. He accumulated around six hundred million dollars for all his hard work, and now it's Candy who controls the purse strings.
Their daughter, Tori Spelling (who was a big part of “Beverly Hills, 90210”) hasn't been happy about this, since she received a mere eight hundred thousand when her father died. Tori apparently has some overspending issues, so Candy isn't about to change her ways.
Marie Osmond
She's used to being in the public eye as a singer and talk show host, but Marie Osmond isn't about to leave all her easy money behind to her kids. During a segment of her show in 2020, Osmond declared her intention to make sure her children know the value of hard work.
She said it would be a great disservice to her children to just hand them a fortune, which would be depriving them of one of the most important gifts she could give them – learning how to work for themselves. This gal knows how important it is, so she wants her kids to know as well.
Anderson Cooper
From his ground-breaking reporting of Hurricane Katrina to moderating a presidential debate, Cooper is the newsman who has done it all. With a reported net worth of around two hundred million dollars, he could pass on plenty to his family, but he isn't interested. He apparently plans on covering the cost of his son's college tuition, but after that, the boy is on his own.
Cooper doesn't seem to believe in passing on huge amounts of money. We're not sure what he plans to do with it, but it's his choice. Most likely there are a couple of charities on a shortlist.
Daniel Craig
You probably know him as James Bond, but he's been in plenty of other things, too. He was reportedly paid twenty-five million dollars to be in the film “No Time To Die,” but he reportedly isn't interested in leaving his money to the next generation. He believes that inheritance is distasteful, and is going to either give his money away or otherwise get rid of it.
Craig's daughter Ella, from his first marriage to Fiona Loudon, seems to be following in her father's footsteps. She has a few acting credits right now, and she has also performed with Shakespeare and Company.
Bernard Marcus
If you've ever needed to pick up some plywood or find a new power tool, Bernard Marcus's business Home Depot was probably where you visited. He has a net worth of about eight billion, and he's donated about two billion to organizations throughout his life. He plans on leaving up to ninety percent of his personal worth to his organization after he's gone.
His kids are taken care of, he has plenty of houses, and he's ready to do good for the world. He's also signed the Giving Pledge, so most of his money is going to head back to the community.
Pierre Omidyar
That name might not ring a bell, but if you've ever bought or sold anything on eBay, you have him to thank. With a net worth above twenty million, Omidyar has made more than enough. He and his wife have signed the Giving Pledge after their online auction corporation went public. He's said that the family has more money than they'd ever need, and he wants to help solve some of the world's problems.
With a five percent stake in eBay and a six percent stake in PayPal, he still has plenty to keep him supported. Omidyar and his wife have so far put over a billion dollars into their philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network since 2004.
Laurene Powell Jobs
When her husband Steve passed away in 2011, Laurene Powell Jobs inherited billions of dollars in Apple and Disney stock, but she's choosing to donate her massive fortune instead of passing it down to their three kids in trust funds. She's said that Steve didn't care about the accumulation of wealth. She isn't interested either, and their kids know it as well.
Powell Jobs founded Emerson Collective in 2004 — a private organization dedicated to a systematic change in things like education, immigration, and cancer research. Eldest son Reed is a managing director at Emerson, middle daughter Erin is an architect, and their youngest, Eve, is a professional equestrian and model.
Sir Elton John
Even though this flamboyant performer once made headlines with his spending – once shelling out fifty-seven million dollars in twenty months – having kids has changed him. He and his husband aren't planning on leaving their fortune to their kids, or at least not most of it.
He wants to leave his boys in a sound financial state, but he doesn't want to give them a silver spoon to eat from. His kids do chores around the house and help out in the garden. The couple believes in hard work and wants to keep their sons grounded so they know how to apply themselves.
Simon Cowell
He never holds back his true feelings when it comes to how people perform, and he's okay with discussing his kid's inheritance, too. He's going to leave his money to a charity – most likely kids and dogs, but he isn't sure just yet. He doesn't believe in passing wealth from one generation to another, as he told the “Daily Mirror” in 2013 when his partner Lauren Silverman was pregnant with their son.
To back up his words, the music mogul has donated more than one and a half million dollars to Feeding America and Feeding Britain during harsh times. That's putting your money where your mouth is.
Andrew Lloyd Webber
You might still be humming the music from “The Phantom of the Opera” or “Cats” (the stage show, not the “movie”), and you have Andrew Lloyd Webber to thank. He's crossed the billion-dollar mark, but he wants to make sure his kids have the chance to achieve greatness on their own. He doesn't believe in inherited money at all and isn't in favor of children getting money from nowhere.
They'd have no incentive to do anything with their lives. The eldest of his children, Imogen Lloyd Webber, is a successful author and broadcaster, while his oldest son Nicholas is following in his father's footsteps.
Ted Turner
Media mogul barely even begins to describe Ted Turner. He's made billions founding CNN, TBS, and TNT, but after that, he also became famous for his philanthropy empire. So far, he's donated billions to charitable organizations all over the world. His five kids won't collect all that much when he passes, since he's signed the Giving Pledge, with most of his money going to charity.
His kids are involved in the Turner Foundation, and are also building their own lives, becoming teachers, running for public office, and more. He intends for his net worth to go to people who need it more.
Kevin O'Leary
If you're a fan of “Shark Tank,” you know O'Leary as a shrewd investor who is always looking for the next big thing. Even with hundreds of millions in his bank account, he's insisting that his kids won't get anything. When their education is over, he's pushing them out of the nest. He specifically wants his kids to prepare for their own lives.
He says that the stresses of life will result in them being better, stronger people. A failure to launch will just mean unsuccessful adults. His children have made it their own way, becoming music and magazine producers. O'Leary has said that he's going to help support his grandchildren's educations, but no more than his children.
George Lucas
You know him because of Star Wars, and you might love him because of Star Wars, but thankfully he didn't have anything to do with the sequel trilogy, so he didn't lose anything there. He became one of the richest people in Hollywood thanks to his space opera, and even richer after selling the property to Disney. But he isn't just going to be giving all his money to his kids.
Lucas's long-standing passion is education, and he founded the George Lucas Educational Foundation in 1991. His children are doing well, with the eldest daughter Amanda fighting in MMA, second daughter Katie writing for Hollywood – including “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and son Jett working on visual effects, including on “The Mandalorian.”
MacKenzie Scott
With her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019 after twenty-five years of marriage, MacKenzie Scott became one of the richest women on the planet almost overnight. Scott has since vowed to join the Giving Pledge, which is full of famous people who are rededicating their money back to the world after they pass.
She and Bezos met when they were both working at a hedge fund in 1992. Since the divorce, Scott's money has increased up to around fifty billion dollars. Her approach to philanthropy is stated to be careful and thoughtful. It's going to take time and effort, but she'll continue giving back until there's nothing left.
Ashton Kutcher
You might know him as an actor, but Kutcher is also a venture capitalist and has a net worth of more than two hundred million dollars. He and his wife Mila Kunis flat-out refuse to spoil their children. Kutcher wants to make sure his kids don't grow up in a wealthy bubble.
They aren't setting up a trust, and both actors plan on giving away their money to charities. Kutcher has said he'll be willing to support his children's business ventures, but they won't get preferential treatment from their dad. They'll need a good business plan before he is going to invest.
Michael Bloomberg
He's a former New York City mayor and multi-billionaire, and he hopes to give away his entire fortune before he dies. The majority of his extensive wealth is expected to be donated to Bloomberg Philanthropies, his humanitarian initiative. He's said that the best thing he could do for his kids is create a better world for them and their children.
Bloomberg's two daughters, Emma and Georgina, are both on the Bloomberg Philanthropies board, so it seems like they are both fine with it. Plus, we imagine they're going to get a little bit of something to make sure they don't have to beg on the street.
Sting
As the former frontman of the band Police, and one of the more successful solo artists of our era, Sting has plenty of cash to flash. Before becoming one of the biggest musicians in Britain, he worked as a bus conductor, a laborer, a tax officer, and a teacher. Thus, he wants to make sure his six children learn how to earn their own way in the world, and has even stated that trust funds would do them more harm than good.
According to him, his kids rarely ask him for anything, which he appreciates. Three are pursuing acting, two more have music careers, and one pays the bills as a music video director.
Larry Page
Who's this rich guy? None other than one of the founders of Google. He's also a signatory of the Giving Pledge, which means that most of his eighty-nine billion dollars are going to go to the philanthropic org after he's gone. Page is famously quiet about his personal life and family, but he has revealed some plans for his future.
Instead of donating to a charity or nonprofit, he'd rather fund a visionary entrepreneur that will be able to bring about changes. We can see the thought in that tactic. He's very interested in Elon Musk's plan to colonize Mars.
Gordon Ramsay
While celeb chef Ramsay seems pretty surly on TV, he's actually quite the charmer – just check out his Youtube channel. He's said that he refuses to pamper his kids. In fact, when the family travels, he and his wife Tana fly first-class while their five kids have to make do in economy class.
Ramsay has had great success as a chef, restaurateur, and media personality, but he's being stingy with his money when it comes to the kids. The only thing he's agreed to do so far is a twenty-five percent deposit on a flat when they become of age. It seems as if Tana wants the kids to get more, but Ramsay isn't having it.
Warren Buffet
He's constantly seen as one of the richest men in the world, even if his net worth is actually a hair under a hundred billion. His smart financial advice has helped millions, and his sharp investing has done much for his personal pocketbook. The Oracle of Omaha, as he's called, has also promised to give away his entire fortune. Little, if any, will go to his three children.
He's always encouraged his children to challenge themselves, and it seems to have worked. Susan Alice Buffet is a philanthropist in her own right. Howard is a businessman, politician, and author, and his youngest son Peter is a musician and composer. The money that they will receive when he passes away will mostly go to their own organizations.
Gene Simmons
Growing up poor, the bassist and frontman for KISS earned a healthy appreciation for money, and he's going to make sure that his kids get the same thing. He's said that he won't leave them out in the cold, but they'll never be rich off of his money. He says the best thing for them will be to get out of bed every day and work.
He doesn't want their gratitude for making them rich – he wants them to look at something they did and understand that they had worked hard to achieve it. So far, both of the kids seem to be heading in that direction.
Mark Zuckerberg
Thanks to Facebook, Zuckerberg and his family won't want for anything. They're currently enjoying a net worth of more than a hundred billion dollars, but Mark's children – the oldest was born in 2015 – won't be able to enjoy all of it. Zuckerberg and his wife signed the Giving Pledge in 2015, saying that the Facebook co-founder would reroute ninety-nine percent of his child's inheritance toward philanthropic efforts.
Zuck has stated that they have a moral responsibility to all children of the next generation, and the money will focus on learning initiatives, curing disease, and building strong communities. The two parents have their own group, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, which will be controlling the funds.
Jackie Chan
As one of the most well-known actors in the world, Chan brings in plenty of money even if he isn't acting in as many movies anymore. Over his decades-long career, he's become one of the biggest earners in the national and international movie industry. He's said that he's promised to leave at least half of his fortune to charity when he passes, and none of it will be going to his son, Jaycee.
Chan has gone on record saying he wants his son to be capable of earning his own money, not just wasting Chan's. The two have a somewhat troubled relationship, presumably caused by Jaycee's dependency issues.
Bill Gates
With a net worth of over a hundred billion dollars, Gates is consistently one of the richest people in the world, and for good reason. Starting a company like Microsoft and beginning the age of personal computers is no small task. However, Gates has made his mission philanthropy.
He refuses to spoil his children, saying it isn't a favor to leave kids with a lot of money. It distorts anything they might do and keeps them from finding their own path. We don't doubt that the Gates children will get plenty to inherit, but the bulk of the Gates wealth will be going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.