When a famous person passes away, what happens to their fortune can surprise everyone, including their own kids. Some celebrities have made the bold choice to leave their children out of their wills entirely, for reasons ranging from family drama to a desire to give back to the world.
Whether driven by principle, philanthropy, or personal pain, these decisions spark big conversations about money, family, and legacy. Here are 15 celebrities who chose a different path when it came to passing down their wealth.
1. Joan Crawford
Few celebrity will stories are as dramatic as Joan Crawford’s. The legendary actress specifically cut out two of her adopted children, Christina and Christopher, with a chilling line in her will: she offered no explanation beyond saying the reasons were “well known to them.”
Christina later wrote the memoir “Mommie Dearest,” which painted a dark picture of life with Joan. Their broken relationship clearly followed them all the way to the end.
2. Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis had five biological children, including the famous actress Jamie Lee Curtis, but none of them received a single dollar from his estate. He left everything to his sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg, in what became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about inheritance snubs.
Reports suggest the relationship between Tony and his children had grown distant over the years. Whatever the reasons, the decision left his kids publicly stunned and quietly heartbroken.
3. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan made headlines when he announced he planned to donate his entire fortune to charity rather than pass it on to his son, Jaycen. His reasoning was refreshingly straightforward: “He can make his own money.” Chan believed handing over millions would only hurt his son’s motivation to work hard.
This attitude reflects a growing trend among wealthy celebrities who worry that inherited wealth can rob children of drive and purpose.
4. Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney had eight children from his many marriages, but when he passed away in 2014, none of them were named in his will. Instead, he left his estate to his stepson, Mark Rooney, who had cared for him during his final years.
The situation was messy, with Rooney having previously claimed he was a victim of elder abuse by family members. His will reflected both gratitude toward Mark and a painful estrangement from his biological kids.
5. Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas had a net worth estimated at over $60 million when he passed away in 2020 at the age of 103. Rather than splitting that fortune among his children, including son Michael Douglas, he directed the vast majority to charitable causes through his foundation.
Kirk felt his children were already financially comfortable enough on their own. His generosity toward charity over family made a powerful statement about what he valued most in life.
6. Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett is one of the richest people on Earth, but his three children will not be inheriting his billions. He has pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to philanthropic causes, most notably through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Buffett has spoken openly about why he made this choice, saying he wants to give his kids “enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing.” That quote alone says everything about his philosophy on wealth and family.
7. Sting
Sting, the iconic frontman of The Police, has openly said his six children should not expect to inherit his fortune, which is estimated at around $300 million. He plans to spend it or give it away rather than pass it down.
His reasoning? He does not want his kids to feel like they are “trust fund babies.” Sting has said he hopes this approach pushes them to carve out their own paths and find success through their own hard work.
8. Bill Gates
Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates have pledged to give away the bulk of their enormous fortune to charity. Their three children will receive what Gates describes as a “minuscule” portion compared to the total wealth.
Gates has explained that leaving billions to his kids would not be good for them or for society. He believes in giving his children a strong education and foundation, but not a free pass to a life without effort or purpose.
9. Angie Dickinson
Angie Dickinson, the beloved actress known for “Police Woman,” reportedly left her estate to charitable organizations rather than family members after the death of her disabled daughter, Nikki. Nikki had required lifelong care before passing away in 2015.
Angie’s choices around her estate reflected the deeply personal grief she carried. Her story is a reminder that behind every celebrity will is a very human story filled with love, loss, and complicated decisions that outsiders rarely fully understand.
10. Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich, the German-American screen legend, had a notoriously turbulent relationship with her daughter Maria Riva. When Dietrich passed away in 1992, her will was structured in a way that left Maria with far less than many expected given the actress’s fame and storied career.
Maria later wrote a biography about her mother that detailed their difficult bond. Dietrich’s estate decisions were seen by many as one final act in a lifelong power struggle between a complicated mother and her daughter.
11. Leona Helmsley
Known as the “Queen of Mean,” Leona Helmsley made headlines in life and in death. When she passed away in 2007, she famously left $12 million to her dog, Trouble, while cutting out two of her four grandchildren entirely with no explanation.
The other two grandchildren could only inherit if they visited their father’s grave regularly. Helmsley’s will was so unusual that courts later reduced the dog’s inheritance.
It remains one of the most bizarre estate stories in American history.
12. Jenifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston made a quiet but firm decision to cut her father, actor John Aniston, out of her will after years of a strained relationship. While this story flips the usual parent-child dynamic, it shows that inheritance decisions run in all directions within celebrity families.
John Aniston passed away in 2022, and the nature of their reconciliation, if any, remains private. Jennifer has rarely spoken publicly about the will decision, keeping one of Hollywood’s more personal family stories close to her chest.
13. Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando’s estate situation was a legal mess after he passed away in 2004. Several of his children claimed they had been promised portions of his estate, but his longtime personal assistant, Angela Borlaza, also filed a lawsuit claiming she was owed money.
Brando had made late changes to his will that left some of his children feeling blindsided. His estate battles went on for years, reflecting the complicated personal life of one of Hollywood’s most brilliant and troubled stars.
14. Artie Shaw
Jazz legend Artie Shaw had eight marriages and several children, but when he passed away in 2004, his will left his entire estate to various charities rather than his biological kids. His children reportedly contested the will, arguing they had been unfairly excluded.
Shaw had a famously complicated personal life and was known for being outspoken and unconventional. His choice to bypass his children in favor of charitable causes matched the rebellious, independent spirit he carried throughout his remarkable musical career.
15. Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell, the sharp-tongued judge behind “American Idol” and “The X Factor,” has publicly stated that he does not plan to leave his fortune to his son, Eric. Cowell has said he finds the idea of inherited wealth deeply unappealing and believes it sends the wrong message to young people.
With an estimated net worth of around $600 million, that is a serious amount to redirect. Cowell wants Eric to grow up understanding the value of earning his own way in the world.