Millionaire Leaves Estate to Scotland Based on Fantasies of ‘Brigadoon’

William Roberts Lindsay, a retired investor who was reclusively living out his days in the Nevada desert, bequeathed his entire estate to the National Trust for Scotland before shooting himself in November. His estate is expected to be worth at least $4 million, which would match the $4 million he gave the charity 18 months ago.

Mr. Lindsay, who had never been to Scotland, was in love with Scotland ever since he saw the movie Brigadoon. Johanna Gurland, fundraising consultant for NTS in the U.S., says that Mr. Lindsay’s conception of Scotland was of his imagination rather than reality.

Elton Marvin, Mr. Lindsay’s only friend and barber, discovered Mr. Lindsay’s body. Mr. Lindsay left his pug to Elton, but no money to care for the dog or otherwise.

See Jonathan Brown, Love of ‘Brigadoon’ Inspires Vegas Tycoon to Leave Fortune to Scotland, The Independent, Jan. 5, 2011.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this to my attention.