10 Famous People who Died without a Will
70% of the UK population don’t have a Will, meaning they’ll die intestate! It’s an easy thing to forget to do, even the rich and famous can fail to plan ahead when it comes to their estate. Here’s 10 famous people who died without making a Will or failed to update their Will.
1. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 without a Will, resulting in the battle over his estate lasting for more than 30 years. To complicate matters, the estates of musicians and other artists often continue to generate money long after their deaths.
2. Diana, Princess of Wales
The executors of the Will of Diana, Princess of Wales decided to give her god children small mementos, rather than the more generous gifts detailed in a ‘letter of wishes’ which was attached to her Will, but this was not legally binding.
3. Michael Jackson
Immediately following Michael Jackson’s death in July 2009, his mother filed court papers claiming that Jackson died intestate. Since Jackson’s death, his estate has generated over $242 million.
4. Bob Marley
Bob Marley died intestate at the age of 36 in 1981, but despite the singer’s eight-month battle with cancer, he did not make a Will. He left an estimated $30 million estate, and dozens of claimants. After his state funeral, the squabbles began over his legacy. Like Hendrix, Bob Marley’s estate continues to generate significant revenue.
5. Heath Ledger
The late Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda was left out of his Will which was completed before her birth. Even if you have made a Will, you need to ensure it is updated. Situations can change after the birth of a child or the breakdown of a marriage, but if a Will is not updated to include or remove beneficiaries, they will have little or no claim to the estate should you die.
6. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US president became the first US president to be assassinated, as well as the first president to die intestate, despite being a lawyer himself.
7. Stieg Larsson
Swedish author Stieg Larsson who wrote The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, died in 2004. Larsson died without a Will and Swedish law, not unlike UK law, dictated that Larsson’s estate was to be divided up between his father and brother. His partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, received nothing, although the family did grant her ownership of the couple’s apartment.
8. Jill Dando
When Gill Dando was sadly murdered, she had not made a Will. Similar to Steig Larsson, her long term partner received none of her estate.
9. Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso died in 1973 at the age of 91, leaving behind a fortune in assets that included artwork, multiple houses, cash, gold and much more. Because Picasso died intestate and left no will, it took 6 years to settle his estate at a cost of $30 million. His assets were eventually divided up among six heirs.
10. Barry White
Barry White died in 2003 at the age of 58 without a Will, and left children, wives and girlfriends fighting over his fortune.