5 of the Strangest Wills
For those who follow my blog, you know that I enjoy finding unique will provisions, especially of the rich and famous. This week I want to share with you 5 strange wills that I have found.
1. Romantic:
Jack Benny was a legendary comedian who can still be heard on the Radio Classics station on satellite radio. When he died in 1974, he wrote in his will that every day one long stemmed red rose was to be delivered to his widow for the rest of her life. Some may say this is not a strange will, but a romantic one.
2. Joyful:
Janis Joplin is the singer of “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” and one of my favorites, “Mercedes Benz. ” She is also a member of the 27 club, which includes famous people who died at age 27 – Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison (the Doors), and Brian Jones (Rolling Stones). When she died in 1970, she had made changes to her will 2 days before. She set aside $2,500 to pay for an all night party for 200 guests at her favorite pub in San Anselmo, California. That does not sound too strange until you realize that was $2,500 in 1970 dollars, which is over $16,000 in today's money!
3. Bitterness:
German Poet, Heinrich “Henry” Heine had his works set to music by famous composers such as Robert Schumann, Richard Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Wagner. Henry left his estate to his wife on the condition that she remarry. He was very clear on the reason. So, that “there will be at least one man to regret my death.”
4. Dog Lover:
Most people have heard of Quaker State oil. The heiress Eleanor Ritchey left about $14M to her 150 stray dogs. When the last dog died, she left the remainder to Auburn University Research Foundation. It was not to look for a cure for cancer, but to research canine diseases.
5. Superhero:
The Executive Editor of Captain America and Iron Man was Mark Gruenwald. His will requested that his ashes be mixed with ink used to print comic books. And, it was!
If you would like to make estate plans, strange ones or not, please contact me at 210-874-5700 or email me at hspires@TexasWillsLawyer.com or through a contact form found on www.TexasWillsLawyer.com.