Leona Helmsley’s Dog, Trouble, Not the Wealthiest Pooch

As I previously blogged, Trouble, the millionaire dog of the late Leona Helmsley, passed away in December. Trouble was twelve years old. When Helmsley passed away in 2007, she left $12 million of her estate to Trouble. A judge later reduced the amount to $2 million. The remainder of Trouble’s inheritance will now go to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Though Trouble’s $12 million fortune may seem excessive to some, two other dogs have fortunes that far outshine Trouble’s. A German dog named Gunther IV received $130 million after his owner’s death. Miss Charlie Brown, a cocker spaniel from South Dakota will receive $130 million when her mining magnate owner passes away.

See Greg Wilson, $12M Dog: Leona Helmsley’s Beloved Pooch Dies, NBC New York, Jun. 9, 2011.

Special thanks to Daniel B. Kelly (Associate Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School) for bringing this article to my attention.