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Helmsley Leaves Dog $12 Million in Will

Posted: 2007-08-29 11:40:07

NEW YORK (Aug. 29) - Leona Helmsley's dog will continue to live an opulent life, and then be buried alongside her in a mausoleum. But two of Helmsley's grandchildren got nothing from the late luxury hotelier and real estate billionaire's estate.

Also See: More Bizarre Bequests

Helmsley left her beloved white Maltese, named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund, according to her will, which was made public Tuesday in surrogate court.

She also left millions for her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was named to care for Trouble in her absence, as well as two of four grandchildren from her late son Jay Panzirer - so long as they visit their father's grave site once each calendar year.

Otherwise, she wrote, neither will get a penny of the $5 million she left for each.

Helmsley left nothing to two of Jay Panzirer's other children - Craig and Meegan Panzirer - for "reasons that are known to them," she wrote.

But no one made out better than Trouble, who once appeared in ads for the Helmsley Hotels, and lived up to its name by biting a housekeeper.

"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 mausoleum, she ordered, 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, and where the pair have a view of the New York skyline.

She also left her chauffeur, Nicholas Celea, $100,000.

Everything else, including cash from sales of the Helmsley's residences and belongings, reported to be worth billions, she ordered sold and the proceeds given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Her longtime spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, had no comment.

Helmsley died earlier this month at her Connecticut home. She became known as a symbol of 1980s greed and earned the nickname "the Queen of Mean" after her 1988 indictment and subsequent conviction for tax evasion. One employee had quoted her as snarling, "Only the little people pay taxes."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-08-29 10:24:53

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23 comments

v36love 10:13:26 AM Aug 30 2007

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IT WAS HER MONEY AND YES SHE CAN DO WHAT SHE WANTS......BUT SHE IS GONE NOW AND SHE CAN'T BE MEAN TO ANYONE ANYMORE SHE IS NOW IN GODS HANDS, SHE WILL GET WHAT SHE DESERVES....I CAN ONLY SAY RIP!!!!!!!!!!

freedomfirst1776 04:03:31 PM Aug 29 2007

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It really is amazing.

This woman left less than 1% of her money to her dog, and then she more than 99% of it to charity.... and the whole story is about the dog. And in the story they call her "mean" several times.

She loved her dog. She's no Michael Vick. So go ahead and hate her for that.

docairatl 03:54:21 PM Aug 29 2007

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I would like to see the face on the two grand kids who got nothing.To funny.

economyuhoh 03:09:42 PM Aug 29 2007

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Queen of mean.

economyuhoh 03:09:42 PM Aug 29 2007

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Queen of mean.

jlydude 02:45:00 PM Aug 29 2007

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today is a great day for the estate tax, america needs this money to give to another country to help with their problems.

dahst 02:05:00 PM Aug 29 2007

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Wish I was her dog !!

rrucker5 02:00:00 PM Aug 29 2007

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god takes care of those who love and care for his animals.may she rest in peace..

gebm4 01:02:00 PM Aug 29 2007

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Who cares about the dog,...the article should be about the BILLIONS she left to her charitable trust. The real story here is how the press twists the truth to get the best headlines and the most for them. SHAME SHAME on the AP and CNN (as well as others) for creating news rather than reporting it!