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Leona Helmsley Gives Her Dog $12 Million in Death
By
tien mao
Published Aug 29, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
tien mao
Published Aug 29, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Leona Helmsley sure loves Trouble. Trouble, her dog, that is. How much did Helmsley, the hotelier who was known by some as the "Queen of Mean" and passed away last week, love her pooch? Enough to leave the white Maltese $12 million in her will, more than she left four of her grandchildren. In addition to the $12 million trust, when Trouble dies, she'll be buried next to her former owner in the family mausoleum. The dog appeared in ads for the Helmsley Hotels and was usually seen by Helmsley's side in her later years.
Some of the other recipients of monies from the estate include: $10 million for her brother Alvin Rosenthal (who is also caring for the dog); $100,000 for her chauffeur; $5 million for two of her grandchildren provided they visit her late son's grave once a year; $0 for her other two grandchildren "for reasons which are known to them." Clearly, Trouble made out pretty well. She also left $3 million for the upkeep of the family mausoleum where she and her late husband Harry are buried. The rest of Helmsley's assets, including residences and belongings, are to be sold with proceeds given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. That figure is reportedly in the billions of dollars.
The Daily News has a nice sidebar of other people like tobacco heiress Dorris Duke, Dusty Springfield, Mrs. Howell on "Gilligan's Island," and supposedly Oprah Winfrey, who have left money for their pets.
What now for Trouble? Will she get a dog posse and blow the millions on dog treats and doggie gigolos? And who will Trouble leave the rest of her money to when she's gone? Surely she doesn't have any children to pass along her assets to.
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