10 Celebrity Deaths That Sparked Family Conflicts

10 Celebrity Deaths That Sparked Family Conflicts

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most infamous familial disputes that erupted following the death of a famous person.

Ozzy Osbourne

Even before his death in July 2025, the relationship between the children of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t exactly harmonious. The family exploded to fame in the early 2000s with their MTV reality show “The Osbournes.” But Osbourne’s daughter Aimee famously moved out as a teenager after refusing to take part. Since then, her bond with siblings Kelly and Jack has only worsened. In 2021, Kelly even admitted publicly that they still don’t get along. This strained dynamic seemed evident when the siblings reunited at their father’s funeral a week after his passing. With an estimated $230 million fortune and assets spread across multiple continents, the divvying up of Osbourne’s estate will likely further deepen the rift among them.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams’ shocking death in August 2014 triggered a painful legal battle within his family. The dispute was between his widow, Susan, and his three children from previous marriages over his $100 million estate. Susan sued the children, claiming she was entitled to the Tiburon, California home she shared with Williams and everything inside it. She also sought funds for living expenses and upkeep of the property. However, Williams’ children argued that she was “adding insult to a terrible injury” by trying to alter the terms of their father’s will, which reportedly left all of his properties to them. Ultimately, both sides reached a settlement in 2015; Susan retained the Tiburon house and some personal belongings, while the children received the majority of their father’s memorabilia.

Joan Crawford

Unlike many celebrities who pass away with a clear will, Joan Crawford left behind detailed instructions for her $2 million estate. The Oscar-winning icon divided her assets among her two youngest children, Cindy and Cathy, a few close friends and her favorite charities. But two names were noticeably missing: her eldest children, Christina and Christopher. In fact, Crawford explicitly stated that she was excluding them “for reasons which are well known to them.” The siblings contested the will, claiming that Cathy and her husband had influenced their mother’s decision. Ultimately, the court sided with them and awarded them a $55,000 settlement. Christina would go on to write the shocking exposé “Mommie Dearest,” which painted Crawford as a cruel and controlling figure.

Mickey Rooney

Once one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, Mickey Rooney left behind an estate worth only $18,000 when he died in April 2014. His fortune had been drained by failed marriages, mismanagement and alleged elder abuse by his stepson, Christopher Aber. In his will, Rooney disinherited his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, leaving his entire estate to another stepson, Mark Aber, who had cared for him in his final years. This decision was challenged by Rooney’s last wife, Jan Chamberlin, who claimed he had been under “undue influence.” With so little money to fight over, the family dispute turned to his burial. Jan and Christopher wanted him buried in a modest family plot, while Mark insisted on the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. In the end, Mark won.

Bob Marley

When he died in May 1981, reggae icon Bob Marley left no will. As a result, his $30 million estate fell under Jamaican estate laws, which granted about 55% to his wife, Rita, and divided the remainder among his children. However, the family was denied rights to his image, which left the estate vulnerable to intense legal battles. Business associates, former collaborators and even people claiming to be Marley’s children all sought a share of his fortune. In a misguided attempt to protect the estate, Marley’s attorney and accountant convinced Rita to forge his name on backdated documents. When this scheme was uncovered, she was removed as a trustee. Eventually, in 1991, the Jamaican Supreme Court ruled that Rita and Marley’s children held exclusive rights to his name, likeness and image.

James Brown

It took 15 years for the family of singer James Brown to finally settle his estate. Brown passed away in 2006, leaving behind assets estimated between $5 and $100 million, and more than a dozen lawsuits were filed to partake of that fortune. His last partner, Tomi Rae Hynie, was however excluded after their marriage was deemed invalid because she was still legally married to another man. The family dispute extended beyond money, as they also disagreed on how he should be buried. As a result, Brown’s body remained inside a gold coffin in the cold storage of a funeral home for two months. In 2021, a settlement was finally reached, with Brown’s music royalties going towards establishing scholarships for underprivileged children in South Carolina and Georgia.

Casey Kasem

Legendary radio host Casey Kasem hadn’t even died before his family became locked in a bitter feud. As his health declined from Lewy body dementia, Kasem’s children accused his second wife, Jean, of isolating him and preventing them from visiting. After his passing in June 2014, the conflict worsened. Kasem’s children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jean, alleging elder abuse and claiming that her actions hastened their father’s decline. Jean denied these accusations and countersued. She accused the children of similar misconduct and argued that they only wanted a share of Kasem’s $100 million estate. The dispute also extended to his burial. While his children wanted him interred in Los Angeles, Jean had his body flown to Norway and buried there against their wishes.

Jimi Hendrix

The death of Jimi Hendrix in September 1970 sparked a bitter family dispute that would drag on for decades. Because he left no will, control of his estate went to his father, Al, who excluded Jimi’s younger brother, Leon. At first, the estate was modest, but as his music continued to sell, its value grew enormously. After Al’s death in 2002, he left the estate, by then worth an estimated $80 million, to his adopted daughter, Janie Hendrix, who further tightened the grip on Jimi’s image and music rights. Since then, Janie has blocked any attempt by Leon to profit from the Hendrix name. Although the family reached a settlement in 2015, Janie took Leon back to court in 2021 for trying to use the name commercially.

Michael Jackson

Ever since his sudden death in June 2009, Michael Jackson’s estate has generated over $2 billion. Needless to say, control over these immense assets has caused ongoing tensions in his family. In his will, Jackson left his estate to his mother, Katherine, his three children and several charities, while excluding his siblings and his father, Joseph. They soon challenged the will’s validity, claiming that the Jackson’s signature was forged, but their case was dismissed. The disputes soon extended to Jackson’s chosen executors, as some siblings tried unsuccessfully to pressure them into resigning. Even Jackson’s daughter, Paris, accused the executors in 2025 of “skimming money” from the estate. With an ever growing posthumous brand, it’s hard to see an end to the battles over Jackson’s fortune.

Prince

To see how chaotic things can become when a wealthy celebrity dies without a will, look no further than the case of Prince. The legendary musician passed away in April 2016, leaving behind neither a spouse nor children. As a result, his six siblings immediately laid claim to his $156 million estate and they were eventually declared his legal heirs. But even among themselves, the siblings couldn’t agree on how the estate should be divided, which often sent the case in and out of court. The legal battles dragged on for six years, during which two of the siblings also died. Finally, in 2022, a settlement was reached, splitting the estate between three of the siblings and a music company that purchased the others’ shares.

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