12 Celebrities Who Choose Not to Leave Their Wealth to Their Children

People born into wealthy and famous families may face a more complicated life than those with ordinary parents. It can be challenging to determine whether their success is attributed to their own efforts or the fame of their family. To avoid this confusion, Nicolas Cage even chose to change his surname, Coppola, to establish his own success and recognition.

Heath Ledger

The daughter of the late actor Heath Ledger, Matilda, was not initially included in her father’s inheritance as he had written his will prior to her birth. After Ledger’s passing in 2008, his property was distributed among his three sisters and parents. Nevertheless, the Ledger family acted ethically and transferred all of Heath’s funds to his young daughter, who was only two years old at the time.

David Cassidy

Actor David Cassidy provides a notable example of unequal treatment between children. In an interview, he stated that he did not consider himself to be a father to his daughter Katie Cassidy, who was known for her role in the popular TV series Gossip Girl.

On the other hand, he referred to his son, who he raised, as one of the finest individuals he had ever met. After Cassidy’s death, it was revealed that he did not bequeath any inheritance to his daughter, and all his assets were transferred to his son.

Daniel Craig

The actor who brought agent 007 to life is a wealthy person, with an estimated net worth of approximately $160 million, mostly earned from his portrayal of James Bond. Nevertheless, his two daughters are unlikely to receive any part of this wealth.

With a background of poverty, having grown up with a sailor father and an art teacher mother, Craig holds the belief that a person should work hard to earn a living. He finds the idea of inheritance unappealing and advocates for people to spend their hard-earned money during their lifetime.

Sean Connery

Since Sean Connery’s passing in 2020, the public has been eagerly anticipating the release of his will to determine if his son was included as an heir. Despite this, Connery made numerous statements during his lifetime that he would disinherit his son with the intention of teaching him a valuable lesson about hard work and self-sufficiency.

In 2007, the actor publicly expressed his desire for his 45-year-old son to become self-sufficient and not rely on his father’s financial support.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the renowned composer and writer behind hit musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, has accumulated more than $1 billion in earnings throughout his career. Despite this wealth, his five children will not inherit any of it as Webber holds the belief that individuals should work for their own livelihood.

According to the composer, “It is about having a work ethic — I don’t believe in inherited money at all. I am not in favor of children suddenly finding a lot of money coming their way because then they have no incentive to work.”

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s will designated only one recipient for his entire fortune, estimated at $35 million, his girlfriend and costume designer, Marianne O’Donnell. The couple had three children together, but the actor did not include them in his inheritance plans. His accountant revealed that Hoffman did not want his heirs to experience the feeling of being “trust fund” kids.

50 Cent

Rapper 50 Cent’s relationship with his son, Marquise, has been a source of media attention for some time due to their ongoing disputes. The two regularly air their issues publicly by posting their text exchanges online. As a result, 50 Cent publicly threatened to exclude Marquise from his will.

Joan Crawford

The iconic Hollywood star Joan Crawford was the mother of four adopted children. Upon her death, it was revealed that her elder children were left without any inheritance while her entire fortune was passed on to the younger twin siblings. This resulted in legal proceedings, and eventually, the older adopted children received a fair outcome.

Simon Cowell

The music industry tycoon, who has produced renowned shows such as The X Factor, American Idol, and America’s Got Talent, has no intention of leaving an inheritance for his children. He believes that the greatest gift a parent can give to their children is their time and the opportunity to impart their knowledge.

The producer does not support the idea of passing on his wealth to his offspring. Instead, Cowell prefers to donate the funds to charitable organizations that support children and canine causes.

Kirk Douglas

The actor was known for his philanthropic efforts and dedication to helping those in need. Alongside his wife, he established a foundation aimed at providing aid to those unable to help themselves. As such, it was not unexpected that the majority of his wealth was designated in his will to be given to charitable causes.

Laurene Powell Jobs

The spouse of the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, Laurene, continues to carry on her husband’s legacy. Just as her husband had intended, she has no plans to leave an inheritance to her children. Rather, her aim is to utilize resources in an impactful way.

As a successful businessperson, she invests large sums in companies that have the potential to bring about positive change. For instance, in 2015, she initiated a program aimed at assisting low-income students in paying for their college education.

Anderson Cooper

The prominent American television journalist, Anderson Cooper, has publicly stated that he will not be leaving his son an inheritance. He believes in the philosophy of his parents, who only provided financial support for his college education, after which he believes individuals should work hard to achieve their own success.

Bonus: Marlon Brando

The well-known actor had 11 children, from whom he could have divided his wealth. However, even during his lifetime, he chose to disinherit two individuals: his adopted daughter Petra, who he raised starting at age 14, and the son of his deceased daughter, Cheyenne.

The official reasoning behind this decision was never disclosed. However, it is speculated that the actor may have excluded Petra due to her mother suing him for financial compensation. The reason for the actor’s decision to disinherit his grandson remains unknown.

Would you leave your money to your children, or would you leave them without a penny? Tell us in the comments below.