Joseph Broz Tito was a longtime dictator who who ruled the former Yugoslavia with an iron fist and even caused Stalin to back down after a series of assassination attempts. When he died, he owned tens of millions of dollars worth of personal property ranging from gifts or art to guns and cars. However, these personal possessions are set to remain property of Serbia after a court ruled against Tito’s heirs in their quest to receive more from his estate other than the copyright to the late strongman’s memoirs. An 80’s era law made all possessions of Tito public property but it was revoked in the last few years at the request of his widow. However, what constituted his personal property was in dispute and the court ruling classified almost everything he owned at his death as state property. The heirs are expected to appeal the ruling but no filings have yet been made.
See, Serbian court leaves family of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito empty-handed, Art Daily, January 26, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
