By:Jim Dossey, MS, MBA, JD
Heath Ledger, an Australian actor and director, died on January 22nd, 2008 from an overdose of prescription drugs. Over his career, Ledger completed 19 films, including "Brokeback Mountain", "Casanova", "The Dark Knight", "The Patriot", and "Monster's Ball." At the time of his death, Ledger's estate was estimated to be worth more than $20 Million dollars.
Shortly after his death, it was discovered that Ledger's Last Will and Testament left his entire estate to his parents and his three sisters. Ledger signed his Will on April 12th, 2003, two years before the birth of his daughter, Matilda Rose. Unfortunately, Ledger never updated his Will to include Matilda.
Despite being left out of Ledger's Will, Matilda Rose was entitled to a large share of Ledger's estate under Australian law. The point was moot, however, because Ledger's family gifted everything to Matilda as part of the distribution of the estate assets.
Texas law also provides for children who are mistakenly not included in a parent's Will (called a "pretermitted child"). A child is not considered a pretermitted child if they are mentioned in the Will or if they are provided for in other ways (i.e. if they are a beneficiary on a 401k or insurance policy). The amount the pretermitted child is entitled to depends on a number of factors, including whether the parent had other children at the time the Will was written, whether the parent was married at the time of their death, and whether the parent made specific bequests to the other children in the Will.
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FAQs
While Michelle did not file a claim on their daughter's behalf, Heath's family decided to gift the entire estate to Matilda. The tax implications the Ledger family may have incurred for this generous gift remain unclear – Heath was Australian and his family is based there as well.
Did Heath Ledger leave any money to his daughter? ›
Matilda will inherit Heath's entire estate
Two years before passing away, Heath signed a will leaving all of his money and assets to his parents and sisters. Following his death, they immediately clarified that their main focus was Matilda.
Why did Johnny Depp give money to Heath Ledger's daughter? ›
Following the completion of the film, Depp pledged his entire fee to his co-star's daughter Matilda to help support her following her father's untimely passing. The Pirates of the Caribbean icon was amongst a group of actors who stepped in to revive Terry Gilliam's film after the tragic loss of Ledger.
Who took care of Heath Ledger's daughter? ›
A strong-hearted actor! Actor Jeremy Strong helped care for the daughter of actor Michelle Williams and the late Heath Ledger following Ledger's death, Williams told Variety.
Who inherited Heath Ledger's money? ›
Heath's last Will executed in 2003 left half of the estate to his sisters, Kate and Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell. The remainder was to go to his parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Bell, after debts had been paid. In 2005 Heath and Michelle Williams, had a daughter Matilda.
How much will Matilda Ledger inherit? ›
' Matilda has inherited her father's entire estate, amounting to $16.3 million. In 2003, Heath signed a will which left his fortune to his parents and sisters, two years before his daughter Matilda was born.
Why did Michelle leave Heath Ledger? ›
September 2007: Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger break up
"He liked to go out, he was a known user of drugs, he used cocaine. He had a lifestyle that really wasn't — at least in Michelle Williams's eyes — compatible with raising a child and continuing in that relationship.
How much was Heath Ledger's estate worth? ›
By the time of his death in 2008, significant life changes had occurred, most notably the 2005 birth of his daughter, Matilda, with actress Michelle Williams. Ledger's will did not reflect these changes, leaving out Matilda and Williams as direct beneficiaries of his fortune, estimated at $16.3 million.
Why was Heath Ledger's estate so small? ›
This seems to be what happened to Heath Ledger's estate in the years before his death. The famous actor created a will is 2003. In it he specified that his estate of approximately $50 million be split fifty-fifty between his sisters and parents. His daughter Matilda wasn't born until two years later.
What did Heath Ledger's family say about him? ›
“It was a one-off thing. That's what killed us, because he was warned by his sister the night before: 'You shouldn't mix what you're taking for pneumonia with your Ambien. ' But most of Heath's problems were self-induced,” Kim said of the “pressure” his son had due to his busy work schedule.
Actor Johnny donated his entire fee for the film to Ledger's daughter Matilda. A group of actors stepped in to make sure the film could be finished after the passing of Heath. Colin Farrell and Jude Law also joined the cast of Terry Gilliam's film. 16-year-old Health Ledger's first ever casting call photos, 1995.
Who was Heath Ledger's partner? ›
| Heath Ledger |
|---|
| Cause of death | Acute combined drug intoxication |
| Occupations | Actor music video director |
| Years active | 1992–2008 |
| Partner | Michelle Williams (2004–2007) |
7 more rowsMatilda, 17, whose mother is Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams, was raised in America after Heath died from an accidental prescription drug overdose in 2008.
Did Michelle Williams have Heath Ledger's baby? ›
2005, Williams welcomed her first child, Matilda Ledger, with the late actor Heath Ledger. Williams was 25 at the time. Their lives changed swiftly afterward. After three years of dating, the couple ended their relationship in 2007, per People.
What was the value of Heath Ledger's estate when he died? ›
Like many people of that age, his finances were a little disorganized. His estate was estimated to be worth about $20 Million. Documents filed in a New York court listed his personal assets at just $145,000. However, the bulk of his assets were held in trusts.
Who bought Heath Ledger's house? ›
apartment with a tragic past just changed hands for $14.25 million: Heath Ledger's former Soho loft apartment, where he lived in the final months of his life, now has a new owner. The New York Post reports that The Dark Knight actor's final Manhattan home was sold off-market last month to an anonymous LLC.
How much was Heath Ledger estate? ›
The famous actor created a will is 2003. In it he specified that his estate of approximately $50 million be split fifty-fifty between his sisters and parents. His daughter Matilda wasn't born until two years later. Unfortunately, Ledger never updated his will after this life-changing event.
How much was Keith Ledger worth? ›
According to this report by Fife-Yeomans, earlier reports citing Ledger's uncles, and subsequent reports citing Ledger's father, which do not include his actual posthumous earnings, "his entire fortune, mostly held in Australian trusts, is likely to be worth up to $20 million."
