Famous Parents Who Publicly Disinherited Their Celebrity Children

Wealthy stars often choose not to pass their fortunes to their offspring for a variety of personal and philosophical reasons. Whether stemming from bitter family feuds or a desire to teach their children the value of self-reliance, these estate planning decisions frequently become public scandals. The following list explores the stories of famous figures who decided to disinherit their children or leave them with significantly less than the public expected.

Jerry Lewis

The legendary comedian and star of ‘The Nutty Professor’ made headlines with his final will. Jerry Lewis explicitly excluded all six of his children from his first marriage to Patti Palmer from inheriting any part of his estate. The document stated that he had intentionally excluded them and their descendants for reasons he chose not to disclose. His entire fortune was instead left to his second wife, SanDee Pitnick, and their adopted daughter. This decision cemented a long-standing estrangement between the comedian and his eldest sons.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford is perhaps the most infamous example of a Hollywood star disinheriting her children. The actress known for ‘Mildred Pierce’ left nothing to her two eldest adopted children, Christina and Christopher. Her will stated that she excluded them for reasons which were well known to them. This act of disinheritance prompted Christina Crawford to write the scathing memoir ‘Mommie Dearest’ which detailed allegations of abuse. The book and subsequent film forever altered the public perception of the screen legend.

Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis was a screen icon who starred in classics like ‘Some Like It Hot’ and ‘The Defiant Ones’. Upon his death, it was revealed that he had rewritten his will to exclude all of his children, including the famous actress Jamie Lee Curtis. He left his entire estate to his fifth wife and widow, Jill Vandenberg Curtis. The actor stated in the document that he intentionally and with full knowledge chose not to provide for his children. His kids were reportedly shocked and hurt by the sudden change in his estate planning.

Bette Davis

The iconic star of ‘All About Eve’ had a tumultuous relationship with her daughter B.D. Hyman. After Hyman wrote a tell-all book titled ‘My Mother’s Keeper’ that painted Davis in a negative light, the actress retaliated through her estate. Davis bypassed her daughter entirely in her will and left her assets to her son and friend. The disinheritance was seen as the final word in their bitter public feud. Davis made it clear that the exclusion was a direct result of the estrangement caused by the book.

Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby was a beloved crooner and actor known for ‘White Christmas’, but his home life was reportedly much stricter than his public persona. After his death, it was revealed that he had set up a blind trust for his children that they could not touch until age sixty-five. His eldest son Gary Crosby later wrote a memoir alleging physical and emotional abuse by the singer. The restrictive nature of the inheritance fueled ongoing discussions about his parenting style long after his passing.

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney enjoyed a career that spanned nine decades in Hollywood. Despite his fame, he died with a relatively modest estate due to alleged financial mismanagement by family members. His final will disinherited his wife and all of his biological children. He left what little remained of his assets to his stepson who had been his caregiver in his final years. The family contested the will, but the situation highlighted the sad and chaotic end to the life of a former child star.

Ryan O’Neal

The star of ‘Love Story’ had a famously volatile relationship with his children, particularly his daughter Tatum O’Neal and son Griffin. Following his death, reports surfaced that his will left his tangible personal property to his son Redmond. Tatum and Griffin were apparently omitted from the primary inheritance. Tatum O’Neal publicly reacted to the news with a mixture of resignation and dismissal. The decision reflected decades of well-documented struggles and estrangement within the O’Neal family.

David Cassidy

David Cassidy was a teen idol known for his role in ‘The Partridge Family’. Before his death from organ failure, he specifically amended his will to exclude his daughter, actress Katie Cassidy. The legal documents stated that it was his specific intent not to provide any benefits to her or her descendants. His assets were instead left to his son Beau. Although David and Katie had reconciled briefly before he died, the will remained unchanged.

Glen Campbell

Country music legend Glen Campbell battled Alzheimer’s disease in his final years. His will excluded three of his children from previous marriages, specifically Kelli, William, and Wesley. These children were left nothing from his estimated fifty million dollar estate. They later challenged the validity of the will and questioned their father’s mental capacity at the time he signed it. The legal battle cast a shadow over the singer’s musical legacy.

Peter O’Toole

Peter O’Toole was the celebrated star of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and a titan of the stage. While he provided for his daughter Kate and son Lorcan, he explicitly left nothing to his younger daughter Patricia. His will stated that he made no provision for her because they had been estranged for some years. The blunt nature of the exclusion surprised many fans who were unaware of the family rift. Patricia declined to comment publicly on the personal matter.

Aaron Spelling

Prolific television producer Aaron Spelling amassed a massive fortune from hits like ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Dynasty’. Despite a net worth estimated at half a billion dollars, he left his daughter Tori Spelling a relatively small inheritance of roughly eight hundred thousand dollars. Tori Spelling has since spoken about her financial struggles and the shock of receiving such a small portion of the family wealth. The bulk of the estate went to her mother, Candy Spelling. This disparity caused significant tension between mother and daughter for years.

Jackie Chan

Martial arts superstar Jackie Chan has publicly stated that he intends to leave his entire fortune to charity. He famously remarked that if his son Jaycee is capable, he can make his own money. If his son is not capable, Chan reasoned that he would simply be wasting his father’s money. This tough-love approach is meant to encourage his son to build his own path and character. Chan has been consistent about not wanting to create a trust fund lifestyle for his family.

Sting

The former frontman of The Police has been vocal about his refusal to leave trust funds for his six children. Sting has stated that he plans to spend his fortune while he is alive. He told the press that he does not want to leave his children with “albatrosses” around their necks in the form of massive wealth. He expects his children to work and earn their own living. The musician emphasized that his kids know they must make their own way in the world.

Elton John

Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish have decided not to leave their vast fortune entirely to their two sons. The singer has cited Warren Buffett as an inspiration for this decision. Elton John believes that leaving children with too much money ruins their lives and destroys their ambition. He intends to leave them enough to be comfortable but expects them to work for their own success. The couple plans to give the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.

Gordon Ramsay

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is known for his fiery temper and strict standards. He applies a similar philosophy to parenting and has stated his fortune will not be going to his children. Ramsay even makes his children fly in economy class while he and his wife fly first class. He believes this prevents them from becoming spoiled and keeps them grounded. He has agreed to help them with a deposit on a flat, but nothing more.

Simon Cowell

Music mogul Simon Cowell has declared that he does not believe in passing on wealth from one generation to the next. The creator of ‘The X Factor’ stated that he would likely leave his money to charity, specifically benefiting kids and dogs. He views inheritance as a lack of incentive for his son to work hard. Cowell wants his son to create his own legacy rather than relying on his father’s success. This stance aligns with his generally critical and demanding professional persona.

Daniel Craig

James Bond actor Daniel Craig finds the concept of inheritance distasteful. He has stated that he plans to get rid of his money or give it away before he dies. Craig believes that leaving huge sums to the next generation is not the right thing to do. He grew up from a modest background and values the work required to earn a living. His two daughters are not expected to receive the bulk of his millions.

George Lucas

The creator of ‘Star Wars’ made a massive fortune when he sold Lucasfilm to Disney. However, George Lucas has pledged the majority of his wealth to educational philanthropy. He joined the Giving Pledge and stated his dedication to improving education for future generations. His four children will likely receive a comfortable amount, but not the billions he acquired. Lucas views his wealth as a tool for social good rather than a family dynasty.

Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is one of the richest men in history but has set a cap on his children’s inheritance. He has stated that each of his three children will inherit a minute fraction of his wealth, reportedly ten million dollars each. Gates believes that leaving children with billions of dollars would be a disservice to them and society. The vast majority of his fortune is directed toward the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He wants his children to create their own paths and careers.

Warren Buffett

Legendary investor Warren Buffett is the architect of the Giving Pledge. He has promised to give away over ninety-nine percent of his wealth to philanthropic causes. Buffett has famously said that a rich person should leave their kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing. His children have been involved in his charitable foundations but will not inherit his billions personally. This philosophy has influenced many other billionaires to follow suit.

Gene Simmons

KISS bassist Gene Simmons has built a massive empire through music and merchandising. Despite his wealth, he has stated that his children will not be getting a free ride. Simmons believes that his kids should be forced to get up and work every day. He wants them to experience the satisfaction of making their own way. He has compared giving them a fortune to clipping a bird’s wings so it can never fly.

Marie Osmond

Singer and television personality Marie Osmond has publicly stated that she considers leaving a large inheritance a disservice to children. She plans to give her money to charity rather than her seven children. Osmond believes that handling large sums of unearned money breeds laziness and entitlement. She wants her children to discover their own passions and work ethics. Her decision is rooted in her desire for them to be independent adults.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

The composer behind ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Cats’ has an estimated net worth in the hundreds of millions. Andrew Lloyd Webber has said that he does not believe in inherited wealth and plans to leave his fortune to support the arts. He wants his money to encourage music education and theater production. Webber is concerned that a large inheritance would remove his children’s work incentive. He prefers his legacy to be the continuation of musical creativity.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Before his tragic death, Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman expressed a strong dislike for the concept of trust fund kids. He left his entire estate to his longtime partner and the mother of his children, Mimi O’Donnell. He deliberately chose not to set up trusts for his three children. Hoffman wanted them to grow up without the stigma and burden of unearned wealth. His decision was made to ensure they would become self-sufficient individuals.

Kevin O’Leary

‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary is known for his ruthless business advice. He applies the same logic to his family and has stated he does not plan to leave his wealth to his children. O’Leary believes that the fear of not having money is a necessary motivator for success. He has set up trusts for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren but expects his own kids to work. He wants to kick them out of the nest to ensure they learn to survive.

Nigella Lawson

British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has taken a firm stance against leaving her children financial security. She has stated that not having to earn money ruins people. Lawson plans to support her children through their education but expects them to support themselves afterward. She believes that hunger and need are essential drivers for personal development. Her focus is on equipping them with skills rather than cash.

Gloria Vanderbilt

Fashion icon and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt famously told her son Anderson Cooper that there was no trust fund waiting for him. Cooper has frequently mentioned that his mother made it clear he would need to work for his living. He viewed this as a blessing that pushed him to succeed in journalism. Vanderbilt believed that inherited money could be a curse. Cooper built his own substantial net worth independently of his family’s historic wealth.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas was one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. When he died, he left the majority of his sixty million dollar fortune to the Douglas Foundation for charity. His son Michael Douglas was not a beneficiary of this fortune. However, Michael was already a highly successful actor and producer in his own right. The decision was seen as a final act of philanthropy by the legendary actor.

Ted Turner

Media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner has signed the Giving Pledge. He has stated that virtually all of his wealth will have gone to charity by the time he dies. Turner set up foundations early on to involve his children in charitable work rather than just giving them money. He wants his legacy to be environmental protection and international cooperation. His children are expected to make their own living.

John Phillips

The leader of The Mamas & the Papas had a deeply troubled relationship with his daughter Mackenzie Phillips. After Mackenzie made public allegations of an incestuous relationship with her father, the family was torn apart. When John Phillips died, it was revealed that he had cut Mackenzie out of his will. The estate was divided among his other children and his final wife. The disinheritance was the final chapter in a dark and tragic family saga.

Gina Lollobrigida

Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida spent her final years in a bitter legal battle with her son Milko Skofic Jr. She eventually left her assets to her assistant, whom she considered her closest companion. Her son accused the assistant of manipulating his mother, but Lollobrigida stood by her decision. She felt betrayed by her family and chose to leave her wealth to the person who cared for her. The dispute continued even after her passing.

James Brown

The “Godfather of Soul” left a will that bequeathed his costumes and household items to his children but left the bulk of his assets to a trust for underprivileged children. This decision led to years of legal fighting between his children, his partner, and the estate. James Brown wanted his legacy to support education for those in need. The complex legal battles delayed the distribution of funds for over a decade. He ultimately intended for his fortune to serve a charitable purpose rather than his offspring.

Please share which of these parenting decisions you agree or disagree with in the comments.