In the first part of this series, we looked at how wills originated as a social practice and legal provision. We’ll move on to something a little more lighthearted in this, the second installment in this series.
Although wills are usually a somber matter, there are some that stand out for the way they’re structured and the unique items that have been bequeathed as a final act of mischief. Here’s what we know about a few famous last wills.
Last Wills of Renown
Michael Jackson
One of the most widely-recognized figures in the world at the time, Michael Jackson passed away in 2009. He left behind a gargantuan musical legacy and the significant wealth that came with that success.
Despite having amassed such a fortune, Michael Jackson’s will spans just 21 pages. That is a lot shorter than one would expect it to be, given all of the assets that he would have had to write off to different members of his family and close network.
But the brief will is not a result of inattention. Rather, it did its job, since he had already set up a trust to oversee his estate. That trust was left in the able hands of an attorney and an executive from the music industry. The two together tried to get away with valuing Jackson’s likeness at $2,000. The IRS was quick to set things right and revised the number to a slightly higher $400 million because, of course, the King of Pop was worth well over a couple thousand dollars.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie is an iconic figure in the world of science. Her contributions to physics and chemistry earned her two Nobel Prizes.
The story of Marie Curie’s will goes back to a mahogany box that she received from American president, Warren G. Harding, in 1921. The box weighed almost a hundred pounds but it contained a much smaller quantity of a precious substance: one gram of radium. Thanks in part to advances in the field of radioactivity, radium was priced at $100,000 per gram at the time, costlier than diamonds gram-for-gram.
In light of that piece of information, it quickly becomes clear why Curie made mention of the gram of radium in her will. She wrote it off to the University of Paris on the condition that Irene Curie, her daughter, would be able to continue her research using the material.
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was a media mogul whose influence spanned politics, publishing, and the entertainment industry. His career in publishing started off when he took over the reins of the San Francisco Examiner from his father, George Hearst. He would go on to establish the largest newspaper chain in America at the time.
Hearst used part of his will to divide his almost $60 million estate between his wife, son, and a foundation he had established. But he also used it to set the record straight on some gossip that had been doing the rounds at the time.
According to his will, Hearst bequeathed the handsome sum of $1 to anyone who could prove that they were an heir of his, born out of wedlock. This was his (one final) way of putting the rumors to rest. Nobody has claimed that $1 so far.
Janis Joplin
We’ve seen wills that involved large sums of money and grand bequeathments. Now let’s get around to one that had simpler intentions.
Janis Joplin had a brief but storied career as a singer. Just two days before she passed, Joplin made a correction to her will to help ensure that her near and dear ones moved on from the sorrow of their loss quickly. She assigned a sum of $2,500 to throw a party for 200 of her closest friends in the wake of her death. Now if that isn’t a thoughtful use of a will, what is!
Lesser Known Facts About Wills
From the aforementioned examples, it’s clear why composing a last will and testament is important. However, there are some quirks when it comes to the laws around this legal provision. Let’s take a look at a few examples.
Provisions for Family and Dependants
Although individuals have a fair amount of freedom when it comes to structuring their will, they do have to make sure that all dependents are provided for.
Consider the case of William Shakespeare, who left his wife, Anne Hathaway, a bed, and most of his financial assets to his daughter, Susanna. An individual in Hathaway’s position today could claim a larger share of the inheritance since she is owed sufficient financial support in her position as a dependent.
Intestate Deaths
An intestate death is a situation in which a person passes away without leaving a will behind. This happens more often than one would think, even when large sums of money are involved.
Iconic musical artist Prince passed away in 2016 without writing up a will or having set up a trust to oversee his estate. This led to an unfortunate situation where many of his family members have had to spend large sums of money on legal fees to get their rightful share of the inheritance. Spouses and children are usually given priority by courts in the case of intestate deaths, followed by other dependents and extended family.
Pets in Wills
In case you’re wondering, yes, you can leave your pet a part of your assets in your will. One famous instance of this occurred in 2004, when billionaire Leona Helmsley assigned a sum of $12 million to her dog, Trouble. Her grandchildren, on the other hand, received nothing, or were left assets on the condition that they’d visit their father’s grave every year.
Now that gives the phrase, ‘it’s a dog’s life,’ a whole new meaning!
Read Part 1 of this series, our post on the history of the will and testament, here.
