Venus vs. Leona
posted by Frank Pasquale
Gerry Beyer of the Wills, Trusts & Estates blog has been providing fantastic coverage of Leona Helmsley’s bequest of $12M to her dog, Trouble (pictured at right). “Trusts for pet animals are valid under New York Law,” but the “court may reduce the amount of the property if it determines that it substantially exceeds the amount required for Trouble.” Beyer has several other posts on the topic, including this welcome bit of historical perspective quoted from John Gapper in the Financial Times:
Perhaps the rich and powerful treating animals as if they were humans is a symptom of the decadent last days of empire. Caligula is said to have wanted to appoint his horse, who was attended by 13 servants, as a consul during the era when imperial Rome was finally consumed by hubris. David Walker, the comptroller general of the US, drew a parallel between ancient Rome and present-day America in the week before Helmsley died.
A recent podcast on Cullen Murphy’s Are We Rome? explores further parallels.
In any event, it was refreshing to read Venus Williams’ take on the whole controversy in a recent article on the sports page:
The expression “a dog’s life” took on renewed meaning in New York this week when it was revealed that the recently deceased billionaire hotelier Leona Helmsley, otherwise known as the Queen of Mean, bequeathed $12 million to her dog, Trouble, a white Maltese, while leaving two of her grandchildren out of her will.
Would the grass-court virtuoso, Williams, the “Queen of Green,” consider leaving any of her fortune, which includes nearly $18 million in prize money and probably that much more in endorsements, to any of her dogs?
“I know my dog is extra cute,” Williams said, reaching down to stroke Harold’s head, “but he doesn’t need cash.” Williams, who is single, added: “I’d probably give my money to charity. Even if I had kids I’d probably give most of it away.”
I’ll be cheering for Venus in the U.S. Open finals.
Hat tip for the reference to Beyer: Tax Prof Blog.
September 2, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Posted in: Culture
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