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- June 11, 2021
- 7:44 am
For many couples, marriage is a beautiful thing — the ultimate expression of their undying love for one another.
If they’re lucky, that love endures to the very end, and they’re blessed with the devotion of a partner, even as they leave this world behind.
What comes after death is often complicated — the surviving spouse is left to deal with the legalities of their partner’s estate. In most cases, a person’s assets will go to their surviving spouse. But sometimes, other arrangements will have been made, leaving said spouse high and dry financially. Here are just a few celebs who completely stiffed their spouses in their wills.
Why is proper estate planning important and how can one ensure that their estate plan reflects their values?
For many of us, the idea of a will is a necessary element of proper estate planning. However, for some celebrities, the will seems to be more an opportunity to wield power over their family members and loved ones. In recent years, there have been a number of high profile cases of celebrities who completely stiffed their spouses in their wills, leading to much debate and controversy.
One of the most notable cases of this type of behavior was that of Robin Williams. The beloved actor, who passed away in 2014, left behind a will that left the entirety of his estate to his three children from previous marriages, effectively leaving nothing to his wife of three years, Susan Schneider. The decision sparked a legal battle between Schneider and Williams’ children, which ultimately ended in a settlement that allowed Schneider to keep a modest portion of the estate.
Another example of this trend is that of Nikola Tesla, the famed inventor and scientist. Tesla, who died in 1943, had never been married, but had told friends that he intended to leave his estate to his lifelong love interest, Anne Morgan, the daughter of the famous financier J.P. Morgan. However, the inventor never formalized any plans for his estate, and so when he died, his estate was left to his nephews and nieces, leaving Morgan with nothing.
Perhaps the most controversial example of this phenomenon came in 2015, when legendary musician David Bowie passed away after a long battle with cancer. Bowie, who had been married to model Iman for nearly a quarter of a century, left no money to his spouse in his will, choosing instead to leave the bulk of his estate to his two children and several close friends. The decision was widely criticized, with many fans and commentators expressing disappointment that Bowie had not found a way to provide for his devoted partner.
While these examples are certainly extreme, they are part of a larger trend in which wealthy individuals use their wills as a means of controlling their legacy and punishing those they feel have wronged them. While it may be tempting to view these situations as mere examples of celebrity greed or selfishness, they also serve as powerful reminders of the importance of proper estate planning and the need to be conscious of every individual affected by one’s decisions.
In the end, the question of whether or not to stiff one’s spouse or loved ones in a will is a highly personal one, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. However, it is clear that when celebrities choose to do so, they often create significant problems that can last long after they are gone. Whether it is because of the financial implications, the emotional turmoil that it causes, or simply a sense of injustice, the repercussions of these decisions can be felt for years to come. Anyone who is considering drafting a will should carefully consider all of the factors involved, and seek professional advice if necessary, in order to ensure that their estate plan is fair, just, and true to their values.
