Comprehensive Estate Planning Research: Celebrities Who Died in 2025
This research examines the wills, trusts, and estate planning strategies of notable celebrities who passed away in 2025, with analysis of key lessons for California families and estate planning clients.
Actors and Film Personalities
Robert Redford (Sept. 16, 2025)
Net Worth: Estimated $200 million
Estate Strategy: Reportedly used trusts, holding companies, and layered ownership structures to preserve and protect wealth. This multi-layered approach is common among high-net-worth individuals seeking both privacy and asset protection.[1]
Beneficiaries: Surviving daughters Shauna and Amy Redford, plus grandchildren. Two of his children, James and Scott Redford, predeceased him.[2]
Real Estate: Sold multiple properties before death, including the Sundance Resort in 2020 (estimated at around $300 million) and California homes in Tiburon ($4.15 million in 2024) and St. Helena ($7 million in 2019).
Diane Keaton (Oct. 11, 2025)
Net Worth: $100 million
Estate Strategy: Reportedly established a revocable living trust for privacy and probate avoidance. Trusts aren’t just for the wealthy—anyone seeking privacy and reduced conflict can benefit from this structure.[3]
Pet Trust: Set aside approximately $5 million for her golden retriever Reggie’s care—a legally binding obligation under California law that identifies the pet, names a trustee, and provides guidance on care standards.[4]
Beneficiaries: Two adopted children, Dexter (29) and Duke (25), will share the remainder of the estate after the pet trust provisions.
California Law Note: Pet trusts are valid under California law and create legally binding obligations for the care of identified pets.
Gene Hackman (Feb. 18, 2025)
Net Worth: Estimated $80 million
Estate Strategy: Pour-over will directing assets to the Gene Hackman Living Trust—a common arrangement offering tax advantages and privacy.[5]
Privacy: Trust details remain private, unlike wills which become public during probate. This is one of the primary advantages of trust-based estate planning.[6]
Beneficiaries: Unknown due to trust privacy protections. Hackman had children from a prior marriage and was married to Betsy Arakawa, who died on the same day (simultaneous death situation invoking special legal provisions).
Key Lesson: Pour-over wills work seamlessly with trusts to ensure all assets ultimately flow into the trust structure.
David Lynch (Jan. 15, 2025)
Real Estate: Hollywood Hills compound (11,000 square foot Brutalist estate designed by Lloyd Wright) listed for $15 million after his death. He purchased the property in 1987 for $560,000.[7]
Estate Details: Minimal public information available about his will or trust arrangements, suggesting proper privacy planning may have been in place.
Val Kilmer (April 1, 2025)
Estate Strategy: Likely had a trust to avoid probate and maintain privacy. Trusts allow for privacy, faster asset transfers, and stronger protection of intellectual property, especially when structured as irrevocable or dynasty trusts.[8]
Beneficiaries: Two children expected to inherit most of his estate. Details have not been made public, suggesting successful privacy planning.[9]
Intellectual Property: Trust likely structured to protect IP rights, voice, image, and royalties—critical for any creator’s estate plan.
Charitable Giving: Philanthropy figured largely in his estate plan, with involvement in environmental issues, animal rescue, human rights, and more. Charitable remainder trusts and donor-advised funds can reduce taxes while supporting causes at any income level.[10]
Multi-State Property: Owned real estate in both California and New Mexico, which may have triggered ancillary probate proceedings—a second probate process in the state where you own property outside your primary residence.
Michelle Trachtenberg (Feb. 26, 2025)
Net Worth: $6 million at time of death
Estate Details: Limited public information about estate planning arrangements
Real Estate: Sherman Oaks, California home purchased in 2001 for $850,000, valued at $2-3 million at death
Rob Reiner (Dec. 14, 2025)
Net Worth: Approximately $200 million (combined with wife Michele)
Estate Strategy: Likely had wills and revocable trust, which would appoint trustees to manage estate distribution.[11]
California Slayer Statute: Son Nick Reiner was charged with his parents’ murders. Under California Probate Code, if convicted, he would lose his inheritance and any right to serve as a fiduciary of the estate. The slayer statute ensures that individuals cannot profit from killing someone they would inherit from.[12]
Other Beneficiaries: Daughters Romy (28) and Jake (34), plus Tracy (61) from Rob’s first marriage to Penny Marshall, would receive Nick’s share if he is convicted.
Key California Lesson: The slayer statute is an important safeguard in estate law, preventing killers from inheriting from their victims.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner (July 20, 2025)
Estate Planning: Created a meaningful creative legacy through carefully curated journals, poetry, music, and recordings. His estate reflects a lifetime of creativity, family, and purpose.[13]
Legacy Fund: The Malcolm-Jamal Warner Creative Legacy Fund was established to support young artists who create from a place of freedom, originality, and authenticity—honoring his daughter and future generations.[14]
Beneficiaries: Survived by wife Tenisha and 8-year-old daughter
Key Lesson: Estate planning isn’t just about money—it’s about leaving a meaningful legacy that reflects your values.
Brigitte Bardot (Dec. 28, 2025)
Net Worth: $65-100 million
Estate Distribution: Split 50/50 between her only son Nicolas Charrier and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation (animal welfare charity).[15]
Real Estate: Extensive property holdings in Saint-Tropez and French Riviera
Charitable Legacy: The distribution reflects her lifelong devotion to animal rights activism, which began when she retired from acting in 1973 at age 39.
Husband’s Inheritance: Widower apparently received nothing, with estate split between son and foundation.
Michael Madsen (July 2025)
Net Worth: Modest estate; faced bankruptcy and financial struggles in earlier years despite appearing in over 300 films
Key Lesson: Fame doesn’t always equal wealth—proper financial and estate planning matters regardless of celebrity status.[16]
George Wendt (Oct. 2025)
Net Worth: Estimated $10 million
Estate Strategy: Reportedly had a will and trust for his blended family, with estate planning “done thoughtfully to ensure [family’s] security and well-being.”[17]
Key Lesson: Blended families require extra attention in estate planning to ensure all family members are properly provided for.
Joan Plowright (Feb. 2025)
Net Worth: Estimated $100,000 to $1 million
Real Estate: The Malthouse estate (shared with late husband Sir Laurence Olivier) owned by family for over 60 years, listed for sale. The property served as their family home and reflected their theatrical legacy.[18]
Musicians and Singers
Ozzy Osbourne (July 22, 2025)
Net Worth: $220-230 million
Estate Strategy: Likely used trusts to keep details private and avoid probate court. However, trusts aren’t foolproof—estates can still end up in court if trust contests arise due to family discord.[19]
Beneficiaries: All six children will inherit shares. Sharon Osbourne receives lifetime estate rights, with the bulk ultimately passing to Aimee, Kelly, and Jack after Sharon’s death.[20]
Blended Family Planning: Will provides for children from both marriages with a combination of lifetime gifts, trust interests, and specific bequests—reflecting best practices for complex family arrangements.[21]
Real Estate: Made smart property moves, with homes in Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Hancock Park that sold for more than $30 million combined.
Brian Wilson (June 11, 2025)
Net Worth: Estimated $100 million
Estate Strategy: Assets held in trust; conservatorship (established after wife Melinda’s death) covered personal and medical affairs only, not financial estate.[22]
Beneficiaries: Seven children from two marriages:
Key Lesson: Conservatorships and estate planning serve different purposes. Wilson’s case underscores the importance of establishing an estate plan that accounts for possible mental decline or incapacitation, allowing you to name your own fiduciaries rather than leaving decisions to the court system.
Sly Stone (June 9, 2025)
Net Worth: Variable due to complex royalty disputes
Estate Complexity: Sold U.S. publishing catalog to Michael Jackson Estate in 2019, ending a long-standing royalty lawsuit against former manager Jerry Goldstein.[24]
Legal History: Long battle over royalties he allegedly gave up in 1989 while manager fueled his drug addiction
Key Lesson: Protect your intellectual property rights and ensure proper legal representation when making significant asset transfers.
Roberta Flack (Feb. 24, 2025)
Net Worth: Modest estate
Foundation: Roberta Flack Foundation supports children’s education (especially music) and animal welfare—a two-fold mission reflecting her life’s values.[25]
Real Estate: Manhattan apartment in the historic Dakota building; listed for sale in 2015 for $9.5 million, later delisted.