Estate planning can be a serious matter – until it isn’t. Some people use their wills not just to distribute wealth but to leave behind one last joke, a bizarre demand, or a surprisingly heartfelt gesture. I’ve scoured the internet and here are the ten strangest things I could find bequeathed in wills:
1. Trouble the Maltese
Leona Helmsley, the billionaire hotel magnate known as the “Queen of Mean,” left a jaw-dropping $12 million to her beloved Maltese dog, Trouble. Helmsley famously disinherited two of her grandchildren but ensured that her pampered pup would live out its days in luxury. Trouble even had a full-time security detail due to death threats – yes, against a dog. The New York Post quoted a disgruntled family member as saying, “It’s disgusting. We’re family, and she left more to the dog than us!” Eventually, a judge reduced Trouble’s inheritance to a more “reasonable” $2 million.
2. Gene Roddenberry’s Final Frontier
The creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, truly went where no man had gone before – after his death. In accordance with his will, part of his ashes were launched into space in 1997 aboard a Celestis memorial flight. His wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, later arranged for their ashes to be permanently orbiting the Earth together. Roddenberry once said, “We stress humanity. We do not preach.” Clearly, he believed that philosophy should extend to his final journey as well.
3. The Annual Party
A British man named Roger Brown had one last wish: to keep his friends celebrating long after he was gone. In his will, he left £3,500 to cover the cost of an annual party in his honour. His instructions? “Have a hell of a party, and remember me with a smile!” His friends, touched by his humour and generosity, honoured his request for years, calling it the “Dead Man’s Booze Up.”
4. Napoleon’s Unusual Hair Care Request
French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte made an odd request in his will: he wanted his head shaved after death, and his hair distributed among his closest friends. Some historians speculate he cut his hair to check for arsenic poisoning, while others think it was simply an affectionate gesture. Either way, several lucky individuals walked away with imperial hair souvenirs, which have since been auctioned for thousands of dollars.
5. Charles Dickens’ Funeral Ban
The famous author of A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist was very specific about how he wanted to be remembered. In his will, Charles Dickens forbade any extravagant public funeral, eulogies, or statues in his honour, writing
“I conjure to my friends on no account to make me the subject of any monument, memorial, or testimonial whatever.”
Despite this, he was buried in Westminster Abbey with a lavish ceremony attended by thousands. Clearly, no one listened.
6. T.M. Zink
A misogynist beyond the grave, T.M. Zink, an Iowa lawyer, left his entire fortune (about $50,000 in 1930s money) to establish a “No Women Allowed” library. His will stated that the facility should be run entirely by men, with no books written by women, no female employees, and no female visitors. Fortunately, his daughter successfully challenged the will, and the sexist library never saw the light of day.
7. The Frozen Fish Box Will
In 2024, the UK High Court upheld the validity of a will written on the back of a frozen fish fillets box. Malcolm Chenery left his entire estate (worth £180,000) to Diabetes UK, scribbling his intentions on food packaging. His will was contested in court, but the judge ruled that despite its unconventional medium, it was legally binding. The court humorously noted: “The choice of stationery does not negate the intention of the testator.”
8. One Final Joyride
Some people take their prized possessions to the grave – literally. Sandra West, a wealthy socialite from Beverly Hills, left behind an unusual final request in her will: she was to be buried in the driver’s seat of her powder blue 1964 Ferrari 330 America, wearing her favourite white lace nightgown. A special grave large enough to accommodate the luxury car was dug in San Antonio, Texas, where West’s husband was already buried. The Ferrari, along with West inside, was carefully lowered into a concrete box to prevent car thieves from making off with the ultimate posthumous joyride.
9. The Curse of Samuel Bratt
Samuel Bratt had one final way to get revenge on his wife: in his will, he left her £330,000 (a massive sum in 1960) under one condition – she had to smoke five cigars a day for the rest of her life. Bratt had been forbidden to smoke by his wife during their marriage, so this was his ultimate payback. No word on whether she accepted the inheritance.
10. …But You Have to Marry Someone Else
Not all bequests come with sentimental parting words – some come with one last dose of sarcasm. German poet Heinrich Heine, known for his sharp wit, left his entire estate to his wife under one condition: she had to remarry. His rationale? “So that there will be at least one man to regret my death.” Safe to say that Heine’s legacy wasn’t just his poetry – it was also his petty sense of humour.
From dogs inheriting millions to posthumous jokes, these wills prove that estate planning is as much about personality as it is about property. Whether you’re planning a legacy of generosity or mischief, one thing is clear—your last wishes can leave an impression that lasts well beyond your lifetime.
Thinking of adding a unique clause to your will? Just maybe leave the frozen fish boxes out of it.
Boris