We spend most of our lives working for money and saving for the future, so it only makes sense that you make a will to have control of the fruits of your labor should you leave this world.
Celebrities, who rake in tons of cash, should all the more pen one to protect their assets, but best believe that there were stars who failed to create this important statement.
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop’s death sent shockwaves everywhere – after all, despite malicious allegations thrown at him, he still was a legend who helped shape the music industry that we’ve come to love nowadays.
Michael Jackson died at 50 in 2009, and with the many hits he made at the height of his career (that everyone knows generated revenue long after his demise), people scrambled to find his last will.
Believing that he didn’t make one, his family stormed the court as Katherine Jackson, the singer’s mother, sought to be in charge of the estate.
A will that Michael signed seven years before he died surfaced, leaving his mom as a trust beneficiary – but not so fast, there’s a tax-related problem that’s holding the process back.
Amy Winehouse
At 27, Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning. While it was reported that she had a will, it turned out that she didn’t.
Her estate, which was said to be worth $4.6million, was awarded to her parents, Janis and Mitch Winehouse, who put up a foundation in honor of their daughter. Blake Fielder-Civil, her ex-husband, didn’t inherit anything from the soulful singer.
Prince
Iconic musician Prince passed away in April 2016 at 57 and with the impact he had on the music industry, it’s not shocking to know that he was worth $200 million. In the 50 years of his career, the singer earned seven Grammys.
With the eye-popping amount and without a will by the time of his death, claimants appeared. A year later, a judge ruled that Prince’s siblings would inherit his money, but because of the appeals from those who say they were previous wives or children, the distribution has yet to push through.
Kurt Cobain
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain took his own life in 1994 and while he wrote a harrowing suicide note, he didn’t leave a will. His wife Courtney Love, whom he shares daughter Frances Bean Cobain, benefited from a trust called NMWH.
After a messy drama, Frances gained the rights to Kurt’s name and likeness.