Celebrity Estates: Wills of the Rich and Famous

Simon Cowell, reality star and record producer, has an estimated net value worth of $600 million. How much of that will be left for his son? According to him, nothing. Listen in as host David Lenok is joined by Thomas Kopelman, head of community at Estate Planning platform wealth.com and co-founder of All Street Wealth. Together, they discuss how Simon plans to handle his $600 million estate and t...

Even celebrities aren’t free of the pitfalls of poor estate and legacy planning. With their lives and finances often in the spotlight, it can be easy to see where they fall short and how to avoid those same problems if you know where to look. Join David Lenok and his guest, psychologist and economist Eric Schoenberg, as they discuss the psychological implications of inherited wealth and how econom...

Len Bias was a star basketball player at the University of Maryland drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1986 and one step away from becoming a pro athlete. Unfortunately, he passed away just two days after being selected but before signing any MBS or sponsorship documents, leaving him and his family just out of reach of the riches he would have gotten due to the timing of his death. With host David L...

A close-knit network of family businesses, the NFL earns around $200 billion annually. On top of traditional family business within their individual branches, the NFL navigates those same financial planning connections between extended family members as well. Join David Lenok and his guest Alvina Lo, chief wealth strategist at Wilmington Trust, as they delve into the complexities of the NFL as a f...

When King Charles III was crowned, he had lived a life full of experiences at the age of 74. His heirs equally have lived their lives and made their own decisions, including his son Harry who has taken up residence in the US. This decision will impact how Harry’s inheritance will be taxed after his father passes. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by David Lesperance, of Lesperance and Associa...

Uncut Gems star Julia Fox recently went viral for posting a TikTok video showcasing her home, which was modest compared to the extravagant wealth you expect from someone wealthy and famous. Today, many millennials are shifting away from buying luxury homes. In this episode, David Lenok speaks with Kelley Wolfington, Senior Wealth Strategist at SEI Private Wealth Management, on why the housing tren...

Bob Barker is best known as the beloved host of The Price Is Right , the longest-running game show in American television history. Barker sadly passed away in August 2023. The majority of his estate was donated to forty different animal and military charities, which was no surprise, given his life as a vegetarian and an outspoken animal rights advocate. In this episode, David Lenok speaks with Dav...

The entertainment industry is a world of buying, selling and competing for the right to use certain intellectual property and work in specific places. Managing the money, and more importantly, the tax implications requires a deft hand. In this episode, David Lenok speaks with Charles Lubar, retired Senior Counsel from McDermott Will & Emery, about his experience working with celebrity clientel...

When King Charles III was crowned, he had lived a life full of experiences at the age of 74. His heirs equally have lived their lives and made their own decisions, including his son Harry who has taken up residence in the US. This decision will impact how Harry’s inheritance will be taxed after his father passes. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by David Lesperance, of Lesperance and Associa...

Kylie Jenner has been an influential figure since 2010 as a model, business owner and social media personality. The majority of her wealth comes from the sale of 51% of her cosmetics company for an estimated $600 million. In this episode, David Lenok speaks with Brad Franc, Director of Business Law at Houston Harbaugh and author of The Succession Solution , about succession planning for business o...

Lisa Marie Presley was only 9 years old when her father, Elvis Presley, died and she gained control of his whole estate at the age of 25. When she passed in 2023, her mother, Pricilla Presley, challenged the legitimacy of Lisa Marie’s daughters being named trustees of the trust containing the assets in Lisa Marie’s estate. In this episode, David Lenok talks to Brian Dillon, partner at Lathrop GPM,...

Summary: Uncut Gems star Julia Fox recently went viral for posting a TikTok video showcasing her home, which was modest compared to the extravagant wealth you expect from someone wealthy and famous. Today, many millennials are shifting away from buying luxury homes. In this episode, David Lenok speaks with Kelley Wolfington, Senior Wealth Strategist at SEI Private Wealth Management, on why the hou...

The Windsors maintain a rigid estate and succession plan that’s been (in some cases, quite literally) written in stone for hundreds of years. With the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II, it’s an opportune time to ask: What can planners learn from such an impossibly rigid, yet simultaneously extremely transparent ‘plan’? In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Tim Volk, Founder and Managing Dir...

Anne Heche was an actress known for her roles in a variety of genres in film, television and theater, receiving numerous accolades. On her tragic death in August 2022, Heche’s son Homer and her former partner James Tupper fought in court over who would be her estate administrator and guardian of her youngest son Atlas.  In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Benazeer “Benny” Roshan,...

Pat Bowlen was an American lawyer and partial owner of the Denver Broncos, along with his two brothers and sister. He served as the Broncos CEO until July 2014, when he stepped down due to progressive effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and passed away in 2019. His estate plan was unique due to the family trust in place, with the three trustees taking over in 2014 with the sole purpose of determining...

Named the Greatest Rock Star Ever after his death, David Bowie is a singer, songwriter and actor who left his mark on the world along with a $100 million dollar estate at the time of his death.  Recently, his music catalog sold for a reported $250 million, higher than his initial estate value. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Stacie Jacobson, director of the wealth strategies group at All...

The Douglas family started their legendary Hollywood career with Kirk Douglas in 1946, who had been a major box office star. Michael Douglas later surpassed his father’s great fame, receiving numerous accolades. However, Cameron Douglas, Michael’s son, struggled to continue the family’s Hollywood legacy. In this episode, David Lenok speaks with Dr. Jamie Weiner, Co-Founder of Inheriting Wisd...

Whitney Houston, beloved singer and actress, left her entire estate to her 18-year-old only child Bobby Christina Brown. The wealth transfer was divided into three age-based distributions, with the final transfer scheduled at age 30. However, things got complicated when Brown, too, died at 22 before inheriting her mother’s estate. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Jennifer Proper, Managing...

Lead vocalist for Queen, Freddie Mercury kept quiet about his love life up until his death in 1991 due to complications from HIV. Since then, LGTBQ+ rights and recognition have led to a more tolerant society, with financial planning following suit. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Tim Volk, Founder and Managing Director of T. Volk and Company, for a conversation on LGBTQ+ financial planni...

Vince McMahon Sr. is best known for founding the company that eventually became World Wrestling Entertainment. In a family business, which the WWE very much is, passing down core values can be a struggle as future generations look to create their own paths. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Kelley Wolfington, Senior Wealth Strategist at SEI Private Wealth Management, in dissecting the idea...

Conrad Hilton got his start in hospitality at his family’s general store in the New Mexico Territory. Years later, he established the largest hotel chain in the world, Hilton Hotels. After his death, Conrad left much of his estate to the Conrad Hilton Foundation — until his son decided to contest the will. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by David Bokman, Managing Director and Head of Family...

The war between Russia and Ukraine is upsetting what many thought to be a well-established world order. The ripples of the conflict are being felt thousands of miles away, as the global economy struggles to recalibrate on the fly. The return of war to Europe reinforces the need for clients to have a backup plan in place to protect their families and their assets. Exploring alternative citizenship...

Michael Nesmith, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist and member of the popular group The Monkees passed away in December 2021. His will stated he wished to donate his entire estate to his mother’s foundation—however, there was one complication to the legality of the document. Nesmith’s will was hand written. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Megan Gorman, founding partner of Chequers Fin...

Named the Greatest Rock Star Ever after his death, David Bowie is a singer, songwriter and actor who left his mark on the world along with a $100 million dollar estate at the time of his death.  Recently, his music catalog sold for a reported $250 million, higher than his initial estate value. In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Stacie Jacobson, director of the wealth strategies group at All...

Pat Bowlen was an American lawyer and partial owner of the Denver Broncos, along with his two brothers and sister. He served as the Broncos CEO until July 2014, when he stepped down due to progressive effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and passed away in 2019. His estate plan was unique due to the family trust in place, with the three trustees taking over in 2014 with the sole purpose of determining...