Posted on 08-29-2007
Filed Under (Entertainment) by Colleen

There’s a special place in hell reserved for people like Leona Helmsley. She who earned her name as the “Queen of Mean” in life (she was once quoted as saying “Only the little people pay taxes”) will keep the nickname in death. She left $12 million to her dog in her will, but gave nothing to her 2 grandchildren. Here’s how Leona’s heirs made out:

  • A white Maltese named Trouble gets $12 million
  • Leona’s brother, Alvin Rosenthal, will care for trouble in her absence. For his “trouble”, he receives a few million of his own.
  • Two grandchildren, born to her late son Jay Panzirer, receive a $5 million each, as long as they visit their father’s grave once a year.
  • Jay’s other two children, got nothing. Taking a page from the book of Joan Crawford, Leona said that Craig and Meegan Panzirer will receive nothing for “reasons that are known to them”.
  • Leona’s chauffeur, Nicholas Celea, received $100,000.

Helmsley also specified that her dog be buried with her in the Helmsley mausoleum, which is to be steam cleaned once a year. Talk about a control freak!

For the record, there may very be some great reason that Craig and Meegan Panzirer were excluded from receiving any cash. That’s certainly Leona choice, since it’s her cash. But to give $12 million to put in a trust for the DOG? That money could have gone a lot further, and helped a lot more than just one dog. What about making a contribution to the Humane Society? Or donating the money to an organization that spays and neuters pets?

What a waste!

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Comments

CHESSNOID on 29 August, 2007 at 11:17 pm #

Both my wife and I thought the same thing. That’s alot of money that could of helped out alot of other needy dogs through the HSUS. Such a waste!


Jules on 30 August, 2007 at 1:44 am #

I read that this morning and went, WTH? Of all the charities in the world she could have given that money to, she gives it to her dog?? Crazy old bat. Actually I think the brother Alvin Rosenthal (appointed Trouble’s caregiver) probably has a pretty good case to obtain the money eventually.


Paul Counts on 30 August, 2007 at 5:34 am #

It is really terrible. That money could have been used for many more important things like feeding the hungry, or sponsoring several thousand hungry children across the world. There is only so much you can buy for a dog anyways. Stories like this just make me shake my head. I guess it was her money, so she could decide what she wantedt to do with it.


LaDonna on 30 August, 2007 at 7:37 am #

Yeah, she’s a whack job. Reminds me of my own grandmother on a smaller scale. I guess her stint in prison did absolutely nothing for her.


Cheryl on 30 August, 2007 at 11:12 am #

Yeah, I’m leaving it all to Snoopy….!
Oh, and PS for $5 Mill…..I’d visit that gravesite as many times as they wanted! But, how do you keep track of that, do they have to check in with the caretaker?


lattegirl on 30 August, 2007 at 6:41 pm #

I can understand leaving money for a beloved dog’s keep/maintenance/etc. until it dies, but beyond that? Nuh-uh.

Bitch could have at least left a few mill to an animal shelter, as you noted.

It really boggles the mind how some humans can be so mean-minded and short-sighted. Perhaps… deliberately?

After all, at the very least Madame Helmsley has guaranteed to garner post-mortem publicity for herself; but I hope her name eventually sinks into well-deserved obscurity as time goes by. *checks wristwatch*


Carol on 1 September, 2007 at 5:44 pm #

And that mausaleum is an eyesore! My husband’s grandmother is buried in the same cemetary (so much for her contempt for “the little people” — they’re buried all around her!) and I’ve seen the Helmsley resting place. It’s as ridiculous as she was. The dog trust is just unreal.