fasteddie
08-31-2007, 11:04 AM
NEW YORK - Billionaire Leona Helmsley's pampered pooch will go on living in the lap of luxury.
"The Queen of Mean" cut two of her grandchildren out of her US$4-billion fortune, leaving her largest bequest to Trouble, her tiny white Maltese.
Mrs. Helmsley died last week at 87. Her 14-page will was made public in Surrogate's Court on Tuesday and was reported in New York newspapers yesterday, with the New York Post headlining the story "Rich bitch," referring to the female dog.
The will establishes a US$12-million trust to care for the dog, who once starred in ads for the Helmsley Hotels.
Mrs. Helmsley stipulated that the dog be buried beside her and her husband, Harry, in a five-star mausoleum that will be maintained with a US$3-million perpetual-care trust.
The luxury-hotel queen set aside billions for charity and left generous bequests to loved ones. But no one made out better than Trouble -- not even Leona's brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was left US$10-million.
The will meticulously details how Mrs. Helmsley and Trouble are to spend the afterlife -- in an ornate mausoleum she ordered to be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year."
The pooch will be cared for by Mr. Rosenthal until she dies.
While Trouble scored a boneanza, two of Mrs. Helmsley's grandkids were ordered to keep their paws off the mountain of money accumulated by the woman Forbes magazine last year ranked as the world's 369th richest person.
"I have not made any provisions in this will for my grandson Craig Panzirer or my granddaughter Meegan Panzirer for reasons which are known to them," she wrote.
The two outcasts are among the four children born to Mrs. Helmsley's only son, Jay Panzirer, who died in 1982. The others, David and Walter Panzirer, will get US$5-million each.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=5c507631-a4fb-4de8-8ea0-3fc0be78e4d0&k=23499
"The Queen of Mean" cut two of her grandchildren out of her US$4-billion fortune, leaving her largest bequest to Trouble, her tiny white Maltese.
Mrs. Helmsley died last week at 87. Her 14-page will was made public in Surrogate's Court on Tuesday and was reported in New York newspapers yesterday, with the New York Post headlining the story "Rich bitch," referring to the female dog.
The will establishes a US$12-million trust to care for the dog, who once starred in ads for the Helmsley Hotels.
Mrs. Helmsley stipulated that the dog be buried beside her and her husband, Harry, in a five-star mausoleum that will be maintained with a US$3-million perpetual-care trust.
The luxury-hotel queen set aside billions for charity and left generous bequests to loved ones. But no one made out better than Trouble -- not even Leona's brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was left US$10-million.
The will meticulously details how Mrs. Helmsley and Trouble are to spend the afterlife -- in an ornate mausoleum she ordered to be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year."
The pooch will be cared for by Mr. Rosenthal until she dies.
While Trouble scored a boneanza, two of Mrs. Helmsley's grandkids were ordered to keep their paws off the mountain of money accumulated by the woman Forbes magazine last year ranked as the world's 369th richest person.
"I have not made any provisions in this will for my grandson Craig Panzirer or my granddaughter Meegan Panzirer for reasons which are known to them," she wrote.
The two outcasts are among the four children born to Mrs. Helmsley's only son, Jay Panzirer, who died in 1982. The others, David and Walter Panzirer, will get US$5-million each.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=5c507631-a4fb-4de8-8ea0-3fc0be78e4d0&k=23499