The recent death of real estate mogul, luxury hotel owner, and “Queen of Mean,” Leona Helmsley meant that it was time for her lawyers to dust off the will and see who was getting what.
Most of the time, when these situations become news, it’s because the children and grandchildren start fighting and throwing accusations at each other, old friends crawl out of the woodwork, or family members are slighted and everyone leaves the lawyers’ office hating each other.
Because you are reading this, you know that Ms. Helmsley didn’t disappoint.
She started off the festivities by leaving money to only two of her four grandchildren, stating her decision was based on “reasons that are known to them.” The two that grandma did love received a cool $5 million a piece, with the caveat that they must visit the grave site of their father at least once a year. Terms anyone could live with.
She followed that up by giving her long time chauffeur $100,000. Not pocket change by any means, but when your estate is worth over $5 billion, that seems a little cheap, doesn’t it?
She set aside $3 million for maintenance of the mausoleum where she and her late husband Harry are buried. She asked that the mausoleum, worth $1.4 million and set on a secluded five acres, be “washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year.” No wants to spend eternity if filth.
And now the finale. In all of her wisdom and generosity, Ms. Helmsley left the largest piece of the pie to her beloved Maltese, Trouble. A trust fund of $12 million, to be executed by her brother Alvin Rosenthal, was established for the pampered puppy. Once his life of filets mignon, belly rubs by Vegas hookers, and raw hide bones dipped in chocolate comes to an end, Trouble will be placed in the mausoleum along with Mr. and Mrs. Helmsley.
Money well spent, madam.
