I was vey surprised to read an article by Grant Fietze in today’s Personal Finance, 25 April 2026, of 4 high profile people who died intestate causing serious pain and suffering to their families and friends. Here is a summary of what happened in each case.
- Bob Marley – this Jamaican singer and song writer died of cancer at the age of 36. Being a Rastafarian he chose not to have a will creating complications for his family and business associates. The legal battles, financial struggles and disputes went on for decades seriously affecting the ability of his wife, Rita, to move on. Hundreds claimed to be his children causing even further complications. At the time of his death his estate was worth $30million but grew to hundreds of millions as royalties continued to be paid for his music. Because he died intestate the Jamaican government was able to control his estate for more than 10 years. Eventually, his estate was settled in accordance with intestacy laws but there were still legal disputes and family feuds.
- Pablo Picasso – died in 1973 aged 91. He had plenty of time to draft a will but never did so. His death sparked one of the most complicated inheritance battles involving a public figure in history. There were multiple heirs, including children from various relationships, who were forced into lengthy negotiations. There were years of litigation meaning that his artworks could not be catalogued and distributed. His family were left trying to reconcile personal relationships while emotionally strained and fighting court battles. But problems extended far beyond his family with consequences for cultural treasures in the artworld and global market.
- Jimi Hendrix – died intestate aged just 27. His estate, which included valuable music rights, quickly became a hotbed of disputes. Under intestacy laws his father initially inherited Jimi’s estate but that quickly led to legal wrangling over how his estate was to be handled. Conflicts between family members and business partners led to lawsuits and the haphazard control of his recordings. With all the disputes among family members, his creative vision as well as his estate left vulnerable to exploitation.
- Abe Lincoln – for me, this was the biggest surprise. Lincoln was a lawyer so it should have been obvious for him to have a valid will, but he didn’t. His widow, Mary Todd Lincoln, was left in severe financial strain while she mourned her husband whom she had lost so suddenly and brutally. The financial difficulties she faced were compounded by the fact that no decisions could be made about his assets. It was a modest estate but still took a long time to be sorted out. From him we realise that even great leaders can leave their families distraught trying to sort out practical matters while mourning the loss of a loved one.
Grant Fietze closes with this moral of the story of dying intestate. “A will provides a roadmap for your loved ones, ensuring that your final wishes are respected and sparing them unnecessary stress and chaos.”