Last Wills and Testaments of Iconic Hollywood Actresses

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Hollywood‘s most famous stars didn’t just leave their mark on film – they also carefully planned what would happen to their wealth and possessions, impacting their families, charities, and historical collections for years to come. Some used private trusts to protect their finances and control things like image rights and personal items. Others openly chose to donate their fortunes to good causes. This is a look at how several iconic actresses made these arrangements, and where their legacies can still be seen today.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe’s will primarily left her possessions to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg, and also provided funds to her psychiatrist for charitable causes. She left smaller, specific amounts of money to family and those who worked for her. Strasberg also gained control of her personal belongings, which later influenced how her image was used for profit. Her name, likeness, and other publicity rights continued to generate income for those who inherited them.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor used a living trust to manage her estate, keeping most of the details private and avoiding a lengthy court process. Her famous jewelry and clothing were sold at auction, with the proceeds going to charity. This arrangement allowed her to provide for her family and also support causes she cared about. The trust also simplified the handling of her estate and kept many details out of public record.

Audrey Hepburn

As a lifelong Audrey Hepburn fan, I was really interested to learn how her estate was handled after she passed. It’s lovely to know her two sons were provided for, of course, but it’s also wonderful that her incredible film legacy and personal belongings were carefully considered. What I especially appreciate is that the rights to her name and image are being used to support charities – that truly reflects her spirit. And it’s heartwarming to hear her longtime partner was also remembered. It’s reassuring knowing that everything related to her humanitarian work will continue to be looked after with the care it deserves.

Grace Kelly

Following Monaco’s laws, Grace Kelly’s estate ensured financial security for Prince Rainier and their children. Her personal belongings and items from her acting career were kept separate from the royal family’s official assets. Her work in films was carefully managed to protect her legacy and control how it was used. Family trusts were established to safeguard the family’s privacy while also funding cultural initiatives.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford’s will left out certain people for reasons they already understood. She left her possessions to her other children and also gave money to charities. She chose professional managers to handle her earnings from her work and any rights related to her books and films. The will also included instructions about what could be published after her death and how her name could be used.

Bette Davis

Bette Davis used a simple will and trust to leave most of her possessions to her son. She intentionally made limited provisions for some other family members and clearly stated that was her wish. Her plan also covered how to manage income from her films and her personal documents, with a focus on carefully handling requests to use her classic movies.

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn planned for her family’s future with trusts and left specific personal belongings to loved ones as outlined in a private document. She also wanted her work in theater and film to be preserved and accessible for study. Arts-related charities received direct donations, and the sale of some of her properties provided funds for further gifts and distributions.

Lucille Ball

As a huge fan of Lucille Ball, I always wondered what happened to everything after she passed. It turns out her estate was brilliantly set up to take care of her kids. She used trusts to make sure they’d continue receiving money from her shows – things like royalties and profits from the production companies involved, and even payments from reruns! She also left very clear instructions in writing about how to divide up her personal belongings. And to protect her image and brand, she appointed people she trusted to oversee things like licensing and how her likeness was used. It’s amazing how thoughtfully she planned for the future, ensuring her legacy and her family were both well taken care of.

Judy Garland

When Judy Garland passed away, I learned there were a lot of debts that needed to be paid off before her family could receive anything. Thankfully, over time, things improved as royalties and payments from her work started coming in, which really helped secure her children’s future. I remember hearing that everything she owned – personal items and all her recordings – was carefully documented, both to pay off those debts and to make sure her legacy was preserved. It was a complicated process, but ultimately, everything was settled fairly, balancing what was owed with the ongoing management of her recordings and rights.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman’s belongings and financial assets were divided among her children, with special attention given to preserving her film history, including costumes, photos, and other items. Those managing her estate worked with organizations in Europe to safeguard historical records of her work. Money earned from her famous films was collected and distributed to her heirs, and the overall plan focused on maintaining a complete record of her successful career around the world.

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood’s will established a trust to manage money for her daughters, with her husband responsible for overseeing it. This trust handled earnings from her film and writing work. The will also outlined plans for the children’s care and education, and specifically listed which personal belongings should stay within the family.

Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds carefully planned how her valuable movie collectibles and personal belongings would be handled after her death, ensuring her family would benefit. When her Hollywood museum didn’t succeed, she had the items organized and sold, with the money distributed as she intended. She also worked with her daughter Carrie Fisher’s estate to prevent any disagreements. This approach allowed her to both preserve some items and make practical provisions for her loved ones.

Doris Day

Doris Day left most of her money to the Doris Day Animal Foundation. She wanted her assets, like property and belongings, sold to help fund the foundation’s work. To stay out of the public eye, she used a private trust process instead of a public court proceeding whenever possible. The foundation also continued to receive income from her music and films.

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall’s will provided for the care of her dog and primarily benefited her children. She also left gifts to charities supporting the arts and civil rights. Her Manhattan apartment was to be sold, with the money divided as specified in the will. Her personal belongings were either given away or sold at auction, overseen by the executor of her estate.

Rita Hayworth

Most of Rita Hayworth’s possessions went to her daughter, with careful planning for how her films and career would be handled. Records of her work were saved for historical and public display. In later years, money raised in her name supported Alzheimer’s research and awareness campaigns, using officially approved products. Those in charge of her estate also carefully controlled how her image was used in advertising and other commercial projects.

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner carefully planned how to distribute gifts, like jewelry and important papers, to her family and friends. This included sharing income from her movies. She also made sure valuable historical items would be protected and released to the public in a controlled way. A trust was set up to manage the money and distribute it to those she named.

Mae West

Mae West used a will and trust to ensure her earnings from books, movies, and performances went to the heirs she chose. She also made plans for her properties, outlining how they should be maintained and eventually sold, with the profits distributed according to specific percentages. Her personal items, like scripts and costumes, were cataloged to be either donated or sold, and her executors were directed to only approve licensing agreements from trustworthy companies.

Jean Harlow

When Jean Harlow passed away, her will directed most of her assets to her mother. Her financial obligations to the studio, as well as any money she was owed, were handled through the legal process of settling her estate. Her jewelry and clothes were carefully listed and divided among those entitled to them. This followed the typical legal procedures for estates in California at the time, with the court overseeing all financial records.

Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield’s will set up trusts to care for her children. Trusted adults were named to manage these trusts and look after the children. Money from life insurance policies, along with income from her films, was used to pay off debts and provide ongoing financial support. Her personal belongings were distributed with the goal of preserving cherished family mementos.

Vivien Leigh

The belongings of Vivien Leigh, including items from her stage and film work, were first given to family members and then sold at auction as directed. Her letters and the rights to her life story were kept for researchers and students. Money from her films continued to be paid to her heirs through organizations that collect and distribute those funds. Those managing her estate worked to both preserve her legacy and fairly share her assets.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple Black carefully planned what would happen to her belongings after her death. She set up trusts to manage money earned from things like licensed products and recordings, ensuring her children were provided for. Her important documents and personal collections were given to museums and archives, with a focus on keeping her private life protected and preserving her legacy for the future.

Mary Pickford

Mary Pickford created the Pickford Foundation to fund arts education, using the rights to her early silent films. She also took steps to preserve her legacy at Pickfair, preventing anyone from using her image without permission. She entrusted the care of her films to family and close friends, and made charitable giving a key part of her will.

Carole Lombard

After Carole Lombard’s unexpected death, the legal process of settling her estate moved quickly. This involved managing her insurance policies, contracts, and assets shared with her husband. Funds were distributed to cover her debts and provide for her family. The court also finalized payments from the studio she worked with and accounted for any earnings she hadn’t received. Her personal belongings were distributed as she had requested in writing.

Elizabeth Montgomery

Elizabeth Montgomery planned ahead with a living trust to ensure her family’s privacy and provide for them financially. Payments from her television work continued to be distributed to her beneficiaries according to union guidelines. She used a separate, private document – a memorandum – to specify how her personal belongings would be divided, rather than including those details in her will. The trust also included provisions to keep the amounts and details of assets and payments confidential.

Carrie Fisher

As a critic, I’ve always admired Carrie Fisher’s sharp wit and foresight, and that clearly extended to her estate planning. She meticulously designated her daughter as her primary heir and put a solid plan in place to manage everything from book royalties to income from those iconic franchises she was a part of. It wasn’t just about the money, though. She thoughtfully organized her personal belongings and archives, intending for them to be donated and released in a controlled manner. And, showing incredible consideration, the executors worked closely with Debbie Reynolds’ estate to ensure everything was handled smoothly and without conflict. It’s a testament to her character that even in planning for the future, she prioritized family and a legacy of grace.

Olivia de Havilland

As a huge fan of Olivia de Havilland, I was reading about how her estate was handled after she passed away. It sounds like she had a really thoughtful plan in place using trusts to make sure her family was taken care of and that her legacy – things like rights to her films and publicity – were managed properly. Because she lived both in the US and France, the people handling her estate had to deal with legal stuff in both countries. It’s great to know her personal letters and papers are being preserved for researchers, but with some rules about how they can be accessed. And of course, it’s wonderful that she continued to earn royalties from those classic movies, and those funds are going to the people she wanted them to go to!

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury made arrangements to ensure her family would continue to receive income from her work in theater and television through a trust. She also carefully detailed how her scripts, awards, and personal belongings should be organized and distributed. Her plan included donations to support arts education, and she directed that her properties be sold, with the money divided among her heirs as outlined in the trust.

Raquel Welch

Raquel Welch used a living trust to maintain her privacy and simplify the process of passing on her possessions. This trust included income from her movies and TV shows to provide for the future. She also carefully cataloged her personal belongings, distinguishing between items she wanted to keep within the family and those she intended to sell. The trust’s managers were given permission to approve how her name and likeness could be used.

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols created a system to handle her finances, including income from events, merchandise, and past work. This plan also ensured the preservation of her science fiction and TV memorabilia. She appointed a financial trustee to manage her image and contracts after her passing, and provided detailed instructions for distributing her belongings to family and historical collections.

Cicely Tyson

I recently learned some fascinating details about how Cicely Tyson meticulously planned for the future, and it really speaks to her character. She wasn’t just thinking about her family’s immediate needs, but also about protecting the work she built over a lifetime. She set up a trust to manage the income from her films and her incredible memoir, ensuring everything was handled smoothly with the help of unions and collection agencies. What I found particularly touching was her dedication to preserving her history – she specifically requested that certain papers and photos be archived in institutions so future generations could appreciate her contributions. It’s a beautiful legacy, both on and off screen.

Betty White

Betty White planned her estate to benefit both her family and animal charities. The trust she created allowed for private gifts and continued management of how her name and image were used. She also carefully outlined how her awards and career memorabilia should be handled, whether through donation or sale. Money earned from reruns of her TV shows continued to support the trust’s work.

Anne Heche

After Anne Heche’s death, a representative was appointed to handle her estate, including legal issues related to her children and possessions. This involved managing money she would continue to earn from her movies and TV shows, assessing the value of her belongings, and paying any outstanding debts before distributing what remained to her heirs.

Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida’s estate included property and possessions in multiple countries, requiring legal work across borders. She had arranged for her art and jewelry to be valued and distributed separately from her financial assets. Those managing her estate also handled publicity and rights related to her films. Her will clearly outlined her wishes for charitable giving, including specific gifts to organizations.

Veronica Lake

After Veronica Lake passed away, her estate was handled according to the typical legal procedures of the time. This included settling all payments and ongoing earnings from her film work before anything was distributed. Her personal belongings were given to family and friends, and future earnings from reruns of her movies on television were designated to specific people. The estate’s final report made sure all taxes and debts were paid.

Barbara Stanwyck

As a classic film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by Barbara Stanwyck, and it’s amazing how carefully she planned for the future. She really wanted to make sure her family was taken care of, so she put a lot of thought into managing her money and assets. She left very clear instructions on how to sell her properties and investments slowly and responsibly. Plus, she allowed her estate to license her image and name – but only for projects she’d approve of, which is great. And thankfully, she made sure all her career records were preserved, with instructions on who could access them – a real testament to her foresight and dedication to her legacy.

Lana Turner

As a huge Lana Turner fan, I’ve been reading about how she handled her estate, and it’s actually pretty fascinating! She set up a trust to manage all the money coming in from things like movie royalties, and everyone who was supposed to get a share would receive regular updates. To prevent arguments later on, she left detailed notes about who should get her jewelry, costumes, and photos. When it came time to sell things or divide them up, the people in charge made sure everything was professionally appraised first. And even if someone wanted to use her image for something, it needed to be approved by the folks managing her estate – they had a responsibility to protect her legacy and make sure everything was done right.

Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert planned her estate to cover properties both in the US and internationally. Her trust included things like ongoing income and ownership rights to her creative work. She specifically asked for her personal papers to be carefully organized before being given away. Careful tax planning through the trust helped keep her estate private by minimizing public court proceedings.

Greer Garson

Greer Garson arranged for her estate to support education and the performing arts through charitable donations, while also taking care of her family. Money earned from her films was managed through a trust to ensure consistent administration. Before distributing her possessions, her estate planners carefully documented all awards and keepsakes. They also sold her properties at opportune times to cover expenses and keep costs down.

Donna Reed

Donna Reed’s estate continued to earn money from reruns of her television shows, and instructions were given on how to manage those funds. She also made plans to preserve items from her shows, like scripts and letters. Money was distributed to her heirs through a trust, with detailed records kept of all transactions. The people handling her estate worked with companies that manage rights and royalties to ensure payments continued smoothly.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr’s estate handled both her movie earnings and the history of her inventions, making sure credit and ownership were correctly assigned. The people managing her estate were careful about licensing her image because so many people around the world admired her. Before anything was given away, her personal belongings and papers were carefully organized and preserved. Those who were set to inherit from her received payments from the trust based on the income it earned over time.

Share which actress’s estate plan surprised you most in the comments.

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2025-10-20 14:20