The craziest celebrity wills and dying wishes

Everyone has a dying wish. For many, that means managing money beyond the grave. Wills are pretty important, and it’s good to ensure you pass something on to your loved ones. That said, many celebs have unusual wills and dying wishes.

Alexander McQueen

The innovative fashion designer loved his dogs, and left a reported US$75,000 to them.
Tupac Shakur

On his track, ‘Black Jesus,’ the rapper asked for friends to smoke his ashes. Members of his crew, Outlawz, followed through with this request.
Farrah Fawcett

Controversy ensued when Farrah Fawcett passed away in 2009, leaving nothing to her longtime lover Ryan O’Neal.
Leona Helmsley

The flamboyant businesswoman left US$10 million to her brother, and US$5 million to her grandsons. Meanwhile her dog, Maltese, received US$12 million.
William Shakespeare

The legendary writer left a strange present to his wife, Anne Hathaway. He left his “second best bed” for his wife—that’s right, his second best.
Charles Dickens

Dickens didn’t want any “monument, memorial or testimonial whatsoever.” Although, this was ignored. “He could not possibly imagine that his popularity would have been what it is today,” said his great-great-grandson.
Harry Houdini

Houdini was an iconic magician, and kept the tricks coming from the afterlife. His wife was instructed to hold séances every year on his death date, October 31.
Napoleon

After his death, Napoleon asked for his head to be shaved, and his hair divided among friends.
Gene Roddenberry

The ‘Star Trek’ creator asked for his ashes to be sent into space. This was done in 1997.
Philip Seymour Hoffman

Apparently, the actor didn’t want “trust fund kids,” so he left everything to his girlfriend Mimi O’Donnell.
Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe left thousands to her half-sister, friends, and her personal secretary. However, all of her possessions and clothing went to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg.
John B. Kelly

The Olympic gold rower had a humorous request, asking his daughter (Grace Kelly) to “not bankrupt the Principality of Monaco with the bills about her clothing.”
Janis Joplin

Joplin was a wild superstar, and didn’t want a miserable funeral. Instead, she left around US$2,500 for her friends to have an all-night party.
William Randolph Hearst

Mr. Hearst was an influential magazine mogul. In his will, he offered just one dollar to anyone who could prove they were his child.
Dusty Springfield

Springfield had some curious requests for her cat, Nicholas. She asked for him to be fed baby food, given a tree house, and to be serenaded by Springfield’s records.
Adam Yauch

In his will, the Beastie Boy asked that neither his image or music should be used for advertising.
Mickey Rooney

Once a star, Mickey Rooney had around US$80,000 before he passed away. The actor left none of it to his wife and children.
Jeremy Bentham

The philosopher asked that his body be stuffed with hay, and put on display in London. You can still see him there today.
John Bowman

The socialite paid US$50,000 to employ staff who would mind his house after he died, as he believed that he, his wife, and his daughter would be reincarnated.
George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw was a bit of an odd fellow, and left behind money to fund a new alphabet. By the end of his death year (1950), the Shaw Alphabet was introduced.
Benjamin Franklin

His face is on money, but Benjamin Franklin said his daughter Sarah would “not engage the expensive, vain, and useless pastime of wearing jewels.” She didn’t listen.
Fred Baur

Fred Baur invented the Pringles can, and asked that he be buried in one. His family agreed.
Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey has apparently left US$30 million to her dogs.
Robert Kardashian

The defense lawyer left a US$100 million estate in trust for the Kardashians.
Simon Cowell

The powerful media figure has said that he will leave all his money to charity, and not to his children.
Bill Gates

The entire Gates fortune will not be left to his children, but his children will receive a small portion of US$10 million.
Elton John

Elton John has an estimated fortune of over US$500 million, but has told the Mirror about his concerns leaving money. “It’s terrible to give kids a silver spoon. It ruins their life.”
Sean Connery

Sean Connery reportedly told his son that he would not receive a penny of his fortune. Connery’s former wife, Diane Cilento, revealed the news.