Famous Parents Who Publicly Disinherited Their Celebrity Children

Many rich and famous people choose not to leave their fortunes to their children, often due to personal conflicts or a belief in encouraging independence. These decisions often cause public controversy, and this list details the stories of well-known figures who’ve chosen to disinherit their children or leave them a smaller inheritance than expected.

Jerry Lewis

Comedian Jerry Lewis, famous for movies like ‘The Nutty Professor,’ recently made news regarding his will. He specifically chose not to include any of his six children from his first marriage to Patti Palmer in his estate plan. The will stated this exclusion was intentional, though he didn’t explain why. Instead, he left his entire fortune to his second wife, SanDee Pitnick, and their adopted daughter. This decision deepened a years-long rift between the comedian and his eldest sons.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford is famously known for cutting her children out of her will. The star of ‘Mildred Pierce’ left nothing to her two oldest adopted children, Christina and Christopher, stating in her will that they knew the reasons why. This led Christina Crawford to write a very critical memoir, ‘Mommie Dearest,’ where she described alleged abuse. Both the book and the movie it inspired dramatically changed how the public viewed the iconic actress.

Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis, a beloved actor known for films like ‘Some Like It Hot’ and ‘The Defiant Ones’, made a surprising decision in his will. He chose to leave his entire fortune to his fifth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, and specifically excluded all of his children, including his daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis. He stated clearly that this was an intentional choice. His children were reportedly very upset and shocked by this change to his estate plans.

Bette Davis

As a lifelong Bette Davis fan, I was always saddened to learn about her difficult relationship with her daughter, B.D. Hyman. It was really heartbreaking when Hyman published a memoir, ‘My Mother’s Keeper,’ that wasn’t kind to Bette. Bette, in turn, made a very clear statement with her will. She completely cut B.D. out, leaving everything to her son and a friend. It felt like the ultimate, painful end to their public falling out, and she made it known that the book was directly responsible for the disinheritance. It’s a sad story behind such a brilliant actress.

Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby, famous for his singing and the song ‘White Christmas,’ was seen as a warm and friendly figure, but his family life was said to be quite strict. After he died, it came out that he’d created a trust fund for his children that they couldn’t access until they were sixty-five years old. His oldest son, Gary Crosby, later wrote a book claiming he’d been physically and emotionally abused by his father. This unusual inheritance and the allegations about his upbringing continued to spark debate about Crosby’s parenting even years after his death.

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney worked in Hollywood for an incredible nine decades. Despite being a famous actor, he didn’t have much money when he died, reportedly because of how his family handled his finances. In a surprising move, his will left everything to his stepson, who cared for him near the end of his life, and excluded his wife and children. The family fought the will in court, but the whole situation sadly showed how difficult the end of his life was for such a beloved former child star.

Ryan O’Neal

Ryan O’Neal, known for his role in ‘Love Story,’ had a difficult and often strained relationship with his children, especially Tatum and Griffin. After his passing, it was revealed that his will primarily left his possessions to his son Redmond. Tatum and Griffin didn’t receive a significant inheritance, a decision that seemed to stem from years of family conflict and distance. Tatum O’Neal responded to the news with a sense of acceptance, but also a feeling that it wasn’t surprising, given their long-standing issues.

David Cassidy

David Cassidy, famous for playing a role in ‘The Partridge Family’, intentionally removed his daughter, actress Katie Cassidy, from his will before he passed away due to organ failure. He made it clear in the legal documents that he didn’t want Katie or any of her children to receive any of his money or possessions. Instead, his estate was left to his son, Beau. Even though David and Katie had briefly made amends before his death, his will stayed the same.

Glen Campbell

In his later years, country music star Glen Campbell struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. When he passed away, his will surprisingly left out three of his children – Kelli, William, and Wesley – meaning they didn’t inherit any of his approximately fifty million dollar fortune. The three children then took legal action, arguing that their father may not have been mentally capable of making such decisions when he signed the will. This dispute unfortunately overshadowed his achievements as a musician.

Peter O’Toole

Peter O’Toole, famous for his role in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and a renowned stage actor, financially provided for his children Kate and Lorcan. However, he deliberately excluded his younger daughter, Patricia, from his will, explaining they hadn’t been close for several years. This direct omission surprised many people who didn’t know about the family disagreement. Patricia chose not to make any public statements about the private issue.

Aaron Spelling

Aaron Spelling, the successful producer behind shows like ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Dynasty’, made a huge fortune. However, he surprisingly left his daughter, Tori Spelling, only about $800,000 when he passed away, despite being worth an estimated $500 million. Tori has talked openly about her financial difficulties and being shocked by the small inheritance. The majority of his estate went to her mother, Candy Spelling, which caused a strained relationship between them for many years.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan, the famous action star, plans to donate all of his wealth to charity. He’s known for saying that his son, Jaycee, should earn his own living, and that giving him money would be pointless if he isn’t able to support himself. Chan wants to motivate his son to be independent and build his own character, and he’s always been against the idea of simply providing for his family without them working for it.

Sting

Sting, the former lead singer of The Police, has publicly said he doesn’t want to leave an inheritance for his six children. He plans to spend all of his money during his lifetime, believing that large sums of wealth would hinder their motivation and independence. He wants his children to rely on their own efforts to build successful lives, and they are aware of his expectations.

Elton John

Elton John and David Furnish don’t plan to leave their entire fortune to their sons. Inspired by Warren Buffett, Elton John believes that inheriting too much money can actually hinder a child’s drive and ambition. They want to provide comfortably for their sons, but also encourage them to build their own successes through hard work. The couple intends to donate the bulk of their wealth to charity.

Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay, the famous chef, is well-known for being demanding and having a quick temper. He brings this same approach to raising his children, and has decided not to leave them an inheritance. He even insists they travel in economy class while he and his wife enjoy first class, believing this will help them stay humble and avoid becoming spoiled. He’s willing to help them with a down payment on a home, but won’t be providing any further financial support.

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell, the famous music producer, has said he doesn’t plan to leave his fortune to his son. Instead, he intends to donate it to charities that help children and animals. Cowell believes that inheriting money would discourage his son from working hard and building his own success, and he wants him to forge his own path rather than depend on his father’s achievements. This approach is consistent with his reputation for being a tough and demanding judge.

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig, known for playing James Bond, doesn’t like the idea of leaving a large inheritance to his children. He intends to give away most of his wealth before he passes away, believing it’s unfair to provide future generations with unearned riches. Having come from a humble background, Craig strongly believes in the value of hard work, and his daughters won’t be receiving the majority of his fortune.

George Lucas

George Lucas, the creator of ‘Star Wars’, earned a huge sum of money when he sold Lucasfilm to Disney. But instead of keeping it all, he’s committed most of his fortune to improving education. As a member of the Giving Pledge, Lucas wants to help future generations through educational programs. While his four children will be well-provided for, they won’t receive the entirety of his billions. Lucas believes his wealth should be used to benefit society, not just his family.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the wealthiest people ever, has decided to limit how much money his children will inherit. While each of his three children will receive a significant amount – around $10 million – it’s a very small portion of his total fortune. Gates believes that giving them billions wouldn’t be helpful to them or the world, and he wants them to build their own careers and make their own way. Most of his wealth is going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time, created the Giving Pledge, a commitment to donate the vast majority of his fortune to charity. He believes that wealthy people should provide their children with opportunities, but not enough money to discourage them from working. While his children participate in his charitable work, they won’t directly inherit his immense wealth. This approach has inspired numerous other billionaires to make similar commitments to giving.

Gene Simmons

As a movie buff, I’m always fascinated by compelling characters, and Gene Simmons is definitely one of them. Beyond being the iconic bassist for KISS, he’s built this incredible business empire. But what really struck me was hearing him talk about his kids. Despite being incredibly wealthy, he’s determined they won’t just be handed everything. He genuinely believes in the value of hard work and wants them to feel the pride of earning their own success. He put it really powerfully – he thinks giving them a fortune would be like crippling them, preventing them from ever learning to truly fly on their own. It’s a surprisingly thoughtful perspective from a rock legend!

Marie Osmond

Marie Osmond, the singer and TV star, has said she doesn’t want to leave a big inheritance to her seven children, believing it could actually harm them. Instead, she plans to donate her wealth to charity. Osmond feels that receiving a large, unearned sum of money can lead to laziness and a sense of entitlement. She wants her children to find their own drive and learn the value of hard work, ultimately becoming self-sufficient adults.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the creator of famous musicals like ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Cats’, is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, he doesn’t believe in leaving his wealth to his children. Instead, he plans to use his fortune to support the arts, specifically music education and theatrical productions. Webber worries that a large inheritance might discourage his children from working hard, and he’d rather be remembered for fostering creativity in the arts.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman, the acclaimed actor who sadly passed away, openly disliked the idea of children inheriting wealth without working for it. He left everything he owned to his partner, Mimi O’Donnell, who is also the mother of his three children, but he intentionally didn’t create trust funds for them. Hoffman believed this would allow his children to grow up without the negative effects of inherited money and encourage them to become independent and self-reliant.

Kevin O’Leary

Kevin O’Leary, a well-known investor on ‘Shark Tank,’ is famous for his tough approach to business. He uses this same philosophy with his own family and has decided not to leave an inheritance to his children. O’Leary thinks that the drive to succeed comes from the fear of financial hardship. While he’s established trusts for future generations, he expects his children to be self-sufficient and encourages them to become independent by ‘leaving the nest’ and learning to support themselves.

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson, the well-known British chef, strongly believes in letting her children build their own financial futures. She argues that not having to work can be detrimental, and she intends to fund their education but expects them to be self-sufficient afterwards. Lawson feels that facing challenges and needing to work are crucial for growth, and she prioritizes giving her children the skills they need to succeed, rather than simply giving them money.

Gloria Vanderbilt

Gloria Vanderbilt, the well-known fashion designer and socialite, famously told her son, Anderson Cooper, that he wouldn’t be receiving an inheritance. Cooper has often shared that his mother insisted he earn his own way in life, and he considers this a positive thing that motivated his successful career in journalism. Vanderbilt felt that having money handed to you could actually be detrimental, and Cooper has indeed built a significant fortune through his own hard work, separate from his family’s wealth.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas, a beloved icon from Hollywood’s classic era, passed away leaving the bulk of his $60 million estate to the Douglas Foundation, a charity he supported. While his son, Michael Douglas, wasn’t included in the will, he had already established himself as a very successful actor and producer. This generous act was considered a final, meaningful contribution from the legendary actor.

Ted Turner

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and a major figure in media, has committed to giving away almost all of his fortune to charity before he passes away. He established charitable foundations not only to donate money, but also to engage his children in philanthropic work, encouraging them to earn their own living. Turner hopes to be remembered for his dedication to protecting the environment and promoting global collaboration.

John Phillips

John Phillips, the leader of The Mamas & the Papas, had a very difficult relationship with his daughter, Mackenzie Phillips. Their family was devastated when Mackenzie publicly revealed a disturbing and inappropriate relationship with her father. After Phillips’s death, it became known that he had excluded Mackenzie from his will, leaving his estate to his other children and his wife. This final act marked a sad and tragic end to a troubled family story.

Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida, the famous Italian actress, spent the last years of her life in a difficult legal fight with her son, Milko Skofic Jr. Ultimately, she decided to leave her possessions to her assistant, who she considered a close friend. Her son claimed the assistant had unfairly influenced her, but Lollobrigida maintained her choice, feeling let down by her family and wanting to provide for the person who truly cared for her. The disagreement continued even after her death.

James Brown

James Brown, known as the “Godfather of Soul,” left most of his money to a trust dedicated to helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds. While his children were to receive his personal belongings like costumes and furniture, this arrangement sparked years of legal disputes involving his children and partner over his estate. Brown’s primary goal was to use his wealth to fund educational opportunities for those in need, but complicated legal challenges prevented the funds from being distributed for more than ten years. He prioritized a charitable cause over directly benefiting his family.

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

2026-01-31 03:50