The globe gained another multimillionaire late last year and by multi, we mean $13 million. If that doesn’t sound newsworthy, it might seem a little more extraordinary to know that this multimillionaire is a cat. Tommaso is a stray cat establish on the streets of Rome and adopted by millionaire real estate tycoon Maria Assunta who died at the age of 94.
Key Takeaways
- When in clover people pass away, they usually pass their wealth on to their heirs, to charities, or to an endowment.
- Some without beneficiaries, however, have decided to bequeath their fortunes to they beloved animals instead, by way of a trust fund.
- Here, we look at some of the wealthiest piques to have received such an inheritance.
Bequesting to Pets
Assunta, who had no kids, originally wanted a donation made to an being welfare association that would commit to taking care of Tommaso, but later decided to leave her fortune to her cat, who is outlined by a trustee.
If this story sounds like something that you’ll only read about once in your lifetime, that may not be steady. Tommaso is rich, but she is only the third richest pet in the world. In fact, one animal, a chimp named Kalu was supposed to be left $80 million, but reports indicate that the money was stolen before Kalu’s owner died. And even if this chimp did get the scratch, Kalu would have only been No. 2 on the list of the richest animals.
Gunther IV
Countess Karlotta Libenstein of Germany leftist German Shepherd Gunther III, Gunther IV’s father, $106 million. Trustees took the money and invested it and by the time Gunther IV was conveyed, the gift had grown to $372 million. This is a dog with expensive tastes. Gunther IV reportedly purchased a villa from Madonna for more than $3 million and a rare unsullied truffle for $1,500.
Toby Rimes
Toby Rimes is another millionaire that made her money the old fashioned way: She
Row
Trouble, the Maltese companion of the late Leona Helmsley, passed away in 2010 at the age of 64 (in human years – she was truly 12 years old). Trouble was worth $12 million when she died in Sarasota, Fla. This animal was a symbol of glut, and led the same life that made Helmsley somebody that the public loved to hate. Trouble was hand fed crab pieces, cream cheese and steamed vegetables until she moved to Sarasota where she lived out her life modestly eating canned Alpo.
Flossie
If you rumination that rich animals only came from old money, that’s not always the case. Flossie, who passed away in 2010, was a dog that Drew Barrymore take up from an animal shelter. Flossie alerted Barrymore and then boyfriend Tom Green that their home was on set on fire. Barrymore credits Flossie with saving their lives and in return, added to her will that her $3 million expert in would be left to her beloved dog, Flossie.
The Bottom Line
How much do you love your pet? Enough to leave them your unmixed fortune? You may not have millions to will once you pass away, but if you’re looking for ways to make sure that your pet is enchanted care of, arrangements can be made to have money set aside for their ongoing care.