Elvis Presley
He was the King of Rock and Roll, but Elvis didn’t have as much in his bank account by the end of his life as you might guess. A mere five million dollars, according to reports. That doesn’t even take into account the many debts he’d accumulated over the years.
In his will, Presley named his father Vernon, his grandmother Minnie Mae, and his only child Lisa Marie as the beneficiaries of his will. Strangely, it’s his ex-wife Priscilla who is credited with growing his estate to a figure of a hundred million dollars, thanks to places like Graceland, and judicious licensing of his many famous songs.
Doris Duke
As the daughter of American Tobacco Company founder Buck Duke, Doris Duke was a famous heiress who was reportedly renowned because she never smiled whenever someone took her picture. However, she wasn't devoid of emotion – in fact, it turns out that she had plenty of heart. Her will helped to fund an eponymous charity that is now estimated to be worth over a billion dollars.
The foundation was established to improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental research, medical research, and more. She also left an immense amount of money – about a hundred million dollars, to her dogs, which is pretty standard by now.
Robert Kardashian
While this lawyer was initially renowned because he represented O.J. Simpson at his famous murder trial, this man's family name has shifted and changed to become the top of the line when it comes to reality TV and fame for fame's sake.
However, despite the fame and fortune everyone in the family has by now, Robert left nothing to his son Rob, his daughters Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim, or even their mother Kris a single penny. Instead, all of it went to his widow Ellen Pierson. The Kardashians disputed the will, but the court found it to be entirely correct and above board.
Kirk Douglas
Following his passing in 2020, this famous actor and high school cheerleader donated the majority of his sixty-one million dollars to his eponymous foundation. Among the beneficiaries from the foundation include the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Westwood's Sinai Temple, and St. Lawrence University.
The foundation was built on the idea of helping those who cannot help themselves. Oddly, Kirk's well-known son and fellow actor Michael didn't receive anything in the will, though Michael probably doesn't mind that much – he's worth about three hundred million dollars himself. The elder Douglas and his wife Anne spent much of their lives donating to these and other worthy causes.
Martin Luther King Jr.
It's little surprise Martin Luther King Jr. didn't have a will, seeing as he was assassinated at the young age of thirty-nine. Because of this, the various members of his family, including his wife and children, have become locked in a bitter dispute over his fortune, such as it is, and his legacy.
The family ended up selling both his personal possessions and intellectual property as a result, in order to pay off debts. It's amazing how much King was able to accomplish during his short life, though becoming rich wasn't one of them – and that might be for the best.