Leona Helmsley's dog meant more to her than grandkids

Mean until the end, and even in the afterlife. The poster girl for the rich and smug, Leona Helmsley, has bequeathed her dog a fortune, cutting out two of her grandchildren in her will. Real estate baroness Leona Helmsley appears for court in New York on January 21, 2003. Helmsley, who famously declared 'only little people pay taxes' and later went to prison for tax evasion, died on Monday at the age of 87, her publicist said. REUTERS/Chip East

Real estate baroness Leona Helmsley appears for court in New York on January 21, 2003. Helmsley, who famously declared 'only little people pay taxes' and later went to prison for tax evasion, died on Monday at the age of 87, her publicist said. REUTERS/Chip EastThe dog will continue to live an opulent life, and then be buried alongside her in a luxury mausoleum. Two of Helmsley's grandchildren got nothing from the late luxury hotelier and real estate billionaire's estate.Helmsley left her white Maltese, named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund, according to her will, which was made public Tuesday in surrogate court, reports the AP.Helmsley left her brother,Alvin Rosenthal, some money too, and was cited as the caretaker for Trouble in her absence, as well as two of four grandchildren from her late son Jay Panzirer with stipulation that they visit their father's grave site once each calendar year.If they do not honor her wishes, Helmsley wrote in her will neither grandchild will get any $5 million trust she left for each.Helmsley left absolutely nothing to two of her son's other children Craig and Meegan Panzirer, for "reasons that are known to them," she wrote in her will."I direct that when my dog, Trouble, dies, her remains shall be buried next to my remains in the Helmsley mausoleum," Helmsley wrote in her will.The AP reports that the Helmsley mausoleum must be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year." She left behind $3 million for the upkeep of her final resting place in Westchester County, where she is buried with her husband, Harry Helmsley.Helmsley left her chauffeur, Nicholas Celea, $100,000.Leona ordered that cash from sales of the Helmsley's residences and belongings, reported to be worth billions, to be sold off and then the money be given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.Helmsley died earlier this month at her Connecticut home. Dubbed "the Queen of Mean" after her 1988 indictment and subsequent conviction for tax evasion. One employee had quoted her as saying, "Only the little people pay taxes

And Also

The Decade: Film's 10 Best Music Moments In The Aughts

The Decade: Film's 10 Best Music Moments In The Aughts - Cinema Blend
GASP: Goldstriker creates world's most expensive iPhone - The Tech Herald
Mysteries of "Zhu Zhu Hamsters," "Al Alberts," and "White House Party Crashers" Solved - PopEater
Chris Rock interview, Sons of Anarchy and Woody Allen shout out for 'Madagascar' star

Your Talkback on this Story

Latest Headlines in People

Older Talkback

page: 1 2

MacafferySep 1st, 2007 - 16:52:17

I really hate it when people say WHO CARES HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME/YOU/US?
If you don't care don't say anything. NOW>>>>
This woman has always been rich and spoiled. She died. The sad thing is. She was alone and pitiful. Billions of dollars don't always buy joy. She had none in her life. Her attitude was that of why should I give those brats money they never did a thing for me ! Because she was a crab. Thats all. I am sure her grandkids are not living on a riverfront in a shack by some R/R tracks someplace.
Don't feel bad for the kids. Feel bad for this old bag that never had a warm moment with her beautiful grandchildren because she looked on them as rivals to her money.

Report this comment

one more thing..Sep 1st, 2007 - 16:55:45

GAAHHH!!

Report this comment

SageSep 9th, 2007 - 05:17:21

I agree with her - I would imagine she had years of problems from ungrateful
spoiled drug addicted grandchildren who felt they deserved everything, most likely only heard from when they wanted more money to blow.
A pet is unconditional love that makes good times great & bad times better & is solace in the constant series of crisis invoked by dependents.
Kudos to her, I wish she had left her entire estate to animal charities.
Surely I am not the only one who relates to this.

Report this comment

soo....Sep 10th, 2007 - 01:24:45

you also are a rich stuck up snooty heart and soulless misererly ugly old bag?

Report this comment

lalaSep 18th, 2007 - 18:09:57

Pets love us no matter what. That dog deserves every penny.

Report this comment

?Feb 11th, 2008 - 21:43:55

What is the dog going to do with the money? It's rediculous!

Report this comment

I think thatJul 6th, 2008 - 07:15:01

however she wanted to distribute her money is up to her. There are lots of greedy ungrateful people in this world. I'm sure being wealthy she saw a LOT of that, and i am sure that many people were nice to her because of her money. At least her dog loved her unconditionally.

I wouldn't distribute my money that way, but I can kinda understand why she did.

Report this comment

page: 1 2

People

People News

Leona Helmsley's dog meant more to her than grandkids

And Also

Your Talkback on this Story

Latest Headlines in People

Older Talkback

From Sites we Like

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print