The Most Bewildering Celebrity Wills Of All Time

It's never easy to take care of a loved one's final arrangements; yet, the process is made even harder when the deceased had some strange set of requests buried in their will. And many well-known figures printed elaborate instructions for what to do with their money, possessions, and Earthly form when they kicked the bucket. Some of these famous characters across history left behind final requests so absurd their last wills and testaments have become almost as iconic as they are!

Gene Roddenberry

As the creator of Star Trek, his offbeat will request just made sense. He ditched the coffin and arranged for a space burial. When their time came, both he and his wife were launched into space for the long sleep.

Napoleon Bonaparte

The 19th-century French emperor and military leader left behind a complicated legacy when he passed, but he also left behind a complicated will. He requested his head be shaved after his death and his hair be shared among his friends.

Fred Baur

It's only natural that one be passionate about a product they invented. Baur invented the Pringles potato chip can and couldn't have loved his accomplishment more. He requested to be buried in a Pringles container!

John B. Kelly

Grace Kelly's father even used his will as a platform to tell his daughter what do to. In the document, he asked Grace to "not bankrupt the Principality of Monaco with the bills about her clothing." 

Benjamin Franklin

As a man with plenty of wealth, Franklin had a lot to allocate when he passed on. He left his daughter 408 diamonds and some pretty specific instructions: She couldn't turn it into jewelry "and thereby introduce... the expensive, vain, and useless fashion of wearing jewels in this country."

Ed Headrick

In his lifetime, he redesigned the frisbee; upon his death, he requested to have his ashes molded into a classic disc, and his family complied!

Philip Seymour Hoffman

When he passed away from a drug overdose in 2014, he left the entirety of his estate to his girlfriend for fear that his children would become "trust fund kids." Hoffman also requested his son be raised in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.

Marilyn Monroe

Monroe lived a troubled and turbulent life, especially toward the end. When she died, she left all of her belongings to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg. He reportedly left everything in his basement until his death.

Leona Helmsley

This American hotel owner and entrepreneur amassed incredible wealth in her lifetime. When she passed at the age of 87, she left $10 million to her brother, $5 million to her kids, and a staggering $12 million to her maltese dog named Trouble.

Mickey Rooney

Even after his long career, Mickey Rooney didn't have much money to his name when he died at the age of 94. What he did have was hotly contested because of his decision to disinherit his wife of 35 years and his children.

Harry Houdini

As a man of mystery, it's no surprise he had a strange request for his wife after his death. He made her agree to hold a seance every year to attempt contact with his spirit.

William Shakespeare

It's often assumed that spouses stand to inherit the most when someone passes away. When it comes to the Bard, this was not the case: He left his wife his "second best bed." Location of his first best bed is unknown.

William Randolph Hearst

After rumors of a secret lovechild emerged, this media mogul used his will to settle the rumors once and for all. In the document, he stated that anyone who could prove they were his child would receive one dollar.

Farrah Fawcett

This '80s bombshell was with her longtime-boyfriend Ryan O'Neal for decades, but when she passed in 2009, she made headlines for leaving her beau completely out of her will. Rumors of their turbulent relationship worsened after that blow.

Adam Yauch

The Brooklyn-born Beastie Boy had some strict rules about how he wanted his image handled, even from beyond the grave. His will stated that neither his music or his likeness could be used for advertising purposes.

Charles Dickens

The 19th-century Great Expectations author had a request for those attending his funeral. He forbade them from wearing accessories to the event, stating, "Those attending my funeral wear no scarf, cloak, black bow, long hat-band, or other such revolting absurdity." 

Dusty Springfield

It's normal for people to have a plan for their animals when they pass, but this singer took it to a whole new level. Her will stated that her cat be fed imported baby food, sleep in a bed lined with her clothing, and marry a friend's female cat.

Alexander McQueen

The eccentric fashion designer tragically took his own life in 2010, and he left a large amount of his fortune to charity. Still, he managed to leave $75,000 to his dogs specifically. McQueen wanted to make sure they lived a lavish life!

Jeremy Bentham

He was a British lawyer that passed in 1832, and his will raised more than a few eyebrows even back then. He wanted his body to be stuffed with hay and displayed at the University College in London. His wish came true!

Golda Bechal

This eccentric British millionaire loved to support her favorite Cantonese restaurant; in fact, she loved it so much, she left the establishment £10 million — nearly all of her fortune. They must have had quite the spread!

Oprah Winfrey

One of the richest women on the planet's got big plans for her $3 billion fortune. With no kids of her own, the television personality and businesswoman set aside $30 million for her five pooches. Those are some very fortunate pups!

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis

The Hollywood couple plans on donating their fortune to charity when they die. Their kids — Wyatt and Dimitri —won't get much. But Kutcher expressed interest in investing in any of his kid's passions and projects when they're older.

Bill Gates

You'd think the Microsoft founder worth $87 billion would shower his kids in gold upon his death. Instead, he plans on leaving most of his fortune to various charities and has encouraged other wealthy folk to behave similarly.

Freddie Mercury

The Queen frontman and rock 'n' roll legend left most of his estate to his ex-girlfriend Mary Austin, and not his boyfriend Jim Hulton. In addition, he had her bury his ashes in a secret location that she has never divulged.

Martin Luther King Jr.

After taking a bullet in the middle of his fight for civil rights, the Noble Peace Prize winner's estate was assumed by a non-profit organization. The family then embarked on a near-endless, bitter legal battle for the rights to it, which led to the sale of most of Dr. King's intellectual properties.

Simon Cowell

He played the cold judge on American Idol, but his three dogs — Squiddly, Diddly, and Freddy — warm his heart. Instead of leaving his $550 million to his son, he's donating it to foundations that work with dogs and kids.

Hugh Hefner

The founder of Playboy left his giant estate to his last wife, Crystal, and his four children. But there was one caveat: If any of them abused drugs or alcohol, they lost all access to the money.

Warren Buffet

The businessman worth $78.9 billion, left, plans on donating 83 percent of his estate to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. And for his kids? They'll get enough to be comfortable, but not enough to stop working.

Sting

The rock star, right, accrued $200 million as the frontman of The Police, but it's not going to his six kids. Sting plans on spending it all before he's gone, maybe enjoying more nights out with Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston.

Janis Joplin

The young rock singer died at 27 because of substance abuse issues, but she made sure to leave behind $2,500 for her friends to throw a big goodbye party. Her friends had the bash at The Lion's Share Pub in California in 1970.

Robert Kardashian Sr.

The father of Kourtney, Khloé, Kim, and Rob made a fortune as an attorney and businessman, but before his death, he claims that his ex-wife took all of it. So the Kardashians got nothing from him — not that they needed it!

James Brown

The family of the soul icon ended up in court after he died suddenly in 2006. See, they expected to receive some of his $100 million estate, but he secretly willed it to underprivileged kids in Georgia and South Carolina.

Richard Harrison

The best deal Pawn Stars' "Old Man" could get for his son Christopher was... nothing. Yeah, upon his death, Harrison's youngest son received nothing — a strange development, since the old man put such a focus on family during the show.

Michael Bloomberg

The former New York City mayor, renowned businessman, and failed presidential candidate has amassed $49 billion over his lifetime, but only half's going to his daughters, Georgina and Emma. The rest is reserved for charity.

Prince

One of rock 'n' roll's most influential artists passed in 2016—and he never drew up a proper will! So, without any kids to turn to, authorities split his $300 million estate between his eight siblings.