Buzz
When famous individuals with vast wealth and recognition pass away, it's assumed they have their affairs in order, including a will to manage their property and assets. Yet, for many stars, this is not the case.
Whether they were young like Heath Ledger, who may have thought he'd handle it later, or older like Aretha Franklin, who passed away recently without a will, the aftermath of their deaths has proven to be a complex matter for those left to manage. Once the chaos dies down, strange and even bizarre occurrences often unfold in relation to their legacy.
10. Kurt Cobain and The Muppets
When you're young, creating a will to safeguard your family, assets, and legacy after death isn't typically a priority. Kurt Cobain was one of many young stars who passed away without a will, leading to complications.
Courtney Love (Cobain’s widow) referred to the use of Nirvana's song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by the Muppets in their 2012 movie as “rape”—yes, that’s the term she used—despite the film targeting mostly a younger audience.
Love argued that she never gave consent for the song’s use. However, permission wasn’t required, as Primary Wave Music, which had acquired half of Love’s shares years earlier, had granted permission, as well as the remaining members of Nirvana. One member even made an appearance in the film.
9. Bob Marley and the RICO Conspiracy
As Bob Marley followed the Rastafarian faith, drafting a will would have contradicted his beliefs about death. When Marley passed away at the age of 36, his estate was divided among his wife, mother, and 11 children in accordance with Jamaican law.
Since his wife, Rita, received only a small portion of the estate, her attorneys suggested she forge and backdate documents that appeared to transfer large portions of Marley’s estate to her before his passing.
Rita was exposed by one of Marley’s former managers. The attorney and accountant involved, along with Rita, were found guilty in court, and Rita was removed from her role as an estate administrator.
8. Marvin Gaye and ‘Blurred Lines’
After Marvin Gaye’s death, the California Probate Code ensured that his songwriting rights were divided equally among his children. The estate of Marvin Gaye pursued legal action against Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke, alleging that their song “Blurred Lines” was heavily influenced by Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up.”
The estate succeeded in its lawsuit, winning $7.4 million for copyright infringement and securing 50 percent of the royalties from the song. This ruling sparked a renewed understanding among artists about the importance of crediting the original creators when drawing inspiration from their work.
This was not the only lawsuit sparked by Gaye’s estate. In 2018, Structured Asset Sales, a company that holds one-third of the copyright to Gaye’s iconic “Let’s Get It On,” filed a $100 million lawsuit against Ed Sheeran, accusing him of borrowing the same music in his song “Thinking Out Loud.”
7. Jimi Hendrix and Marijuana
Jimi Hendrix is a name synonymous with the 1960s, often hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Reflecting the era, Hendrix was known to indulge in drugs and alcohol. After his passing without a will, his siblings have been embroiled in disputes over his estate.
Most recently, his brother Leon has launched businesses selling Jimi Hendrix-branded marijuana. While Hendrix himself partook in such activities, he was also a key figure in a cultural revolution that opposed commercialism. His sister, Janie, who is the estate’s executor, has blocked Leon’s attempts to profit off Jimi’s legacy by branding liquor, speakers, and other paraphernalia.
6. Howard Hughes and the Handwritten Will
In a strange twist of fate, Melvin Dummar claimed to have received a handwritten will from Howard Hughes after the mogul’s death. The will allegedly stated that Dummar was entitled to one-sixteenth of Hughes's vast fortune, once believed to make him the wealthiest man in the world.
Dummar alleged that the gift was offered to him after he helped an elderly, disheveled man stranded on a remote Nevada road in 1967. The man introduced himself as Howard Hughes, though Dummar did not believe him at the time.
Initially, Dummar’s claim was rejected by the court. However, in 2006, he returned with fresh evidence to support his story, arguing that the executors of Hughes’s estate had obstructed his ability to receive a fair hearing. In the end, Dummar was never awarded any of the inheritance.
5. Sonny Bono and His ‘Love Child’
This one is likely familiar to many. Upon Sonny Bono's death, he left behind no will. While his family was in the midst of claiming his estate, a man named Sean Machu stepped forward, declaring himself to be Bono's secret love child.
Even though Bono acknowledged in his autobiography that he had an affair with Machu's mother and his name appeared on the birth certificate, the court ruled that a DNA sample from Bono be retrieved from the coroner for testing. However, Machu withdrew the lawsuit once the DNA test was ordered.
4. Princess Diana and Her Godchildren
Princess Diana did have a will, but it was not properly executed. She created a will during her marriage to Prince Charles and updated it after their divorce. Yet, she also had a separate ‘Letter of Wishes’ which was not legally considered a part of the will after her passing.
This ‘letter’ designated a substantial portion of her estate for her godchildren. It stated that 25% of her estate was to be distributed among 17 godchildren. The executors of her estate—her mother and sister—later obtained a 'variation order' from the court to modify the amounts the godchildren were to receive.
Rather than distributing the 25 percent among her godchildren, each of them received one of Diana's personal items (chosen by the executors). However, these gifts were not given until Prince Harry, Diana’s youngest son, reached the age of 30.
3. Steve McNair and the Apartment
At the age of 36, NFL quarterback Steve McNair was tragically shot and killed by his mistress. He passed away without a will, and as a result, his estate went through probate. Probate is a public process, where creditors come forward to claim their share before the estate is divided.
One of McNair’s creditors was the owner of an apartment building, who alleged unpaid rent. The tenant of the apartment was a young woman, although she was not the same person who had killed McNair. This revelation uncovered that McNair, who was married, had multiple girlfriends. Had he left behind a will, this matter might have been handled more discreetly.
2. James Brown and the Missing Heirs
James Brown had a will, but it was outdated and did not account for his most recent marriage or child. This oversight resulted in more than a decade of legal conflicts surrounding his estate.
A significant point of contention was whether Tommie Rae Brown was truly James Brown’s widow, as she was still legally married to another man when she wed him. Additionally, an inconclusive DNA test of Daryl Brown, James Brown’s son and trusted associate, fueled further disagreements, ultimately depleting the estate’s funds.
1. Prince and the Cybersquatter
Prince’s estate has faced several lawsuits in recent years, including one against Domain Capital. The company buys domain names from owners, leasing them back to maintain privacy while allowing the original owners to remain anonymous.
Domain Capital claimed ownership of Prince.com, hoping to profit from the wealth of the estate. However, Prince’s estate contends that the company never used the domain and points out that this isn’t the first time Domain Capital has engaged in cybersquatting. The estate is continuing Prince’s legacy of fiercely protecting his intellectual property, a value he upheld during his lifetime.
