11 Celebrities Who Plan to Leave No Inheritance for Their Children

In the world of fame and fortune, not all celebrities follow the tradition of passing down their wealth to the next generation. Instead, some high-profile stars are setting new standards by announcing that their fortunes will support charitable foundations, social causes, or will simply not be left to their children. Here are 11 high-profile figures who are breaking from the norm.

Jerry Lewis

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Late comedy legend Jerry Lewis made headlines with the announcement that some of his children would not inherit from his estate. Comedian Jerry Lewis died of heart failure at the age of 91, leaving behind a wife, six children from a previous marriage, one adopted daughter, and an estate worth about $50 million; his daughter confirmed he “passed peacefully at home,” however not everyone in that loving family would see money from his estate, as Forbes reported that Jerry Lewis disinherited five of his kids. Lewis sparked debate over family legacy and fairness, but stood by his decision, explicitly disinheriting his sons by name and their descendants in a will executed in 2012, which left the multi-million-dollar estate to his second wife and their daughter, per Gormley Law Offices. His story remains a compelling example of celebrity inheritance breaking the mold.

Anderson Cooper

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The iconic celebrity.land anchor has spoken candidly about not leaving his son a trust fund, emphasizing the importance of independence and earning one’s own way in the world. Anderson Cooper talked about the negative effect that money had on his family and how that played into his decision not to leave his wealth to his son, stating, “I don’t believe in passing on huge amounts of money,” as reported by TODAY. As a member of the Vanderbilt family, Cooper is determined not to perpetuate cycles of inherited wealth. His modern approach to legacy is sparking tons of conversation about generational responsibility.

Warren Buffett

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Legendary investor Warren Buffett has made it clear his vast fortune will go to philanthropic efforts rather than to his children. Buffett announced that after his death, his fortune would be directed to a new charitable foundation overseen by his three children, Susan A. Buffett, Howard G. Buffett, and Peter Buffett, with all the money to be given away within 10 years of his death, per CNBC.

Sting

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Sting first addressed the inheritance question publicly in a 2014 Mail on Sunday interview, where he described trust funds as “albatrosses round their necks” and made clear that his children already understood the expectation placed on them, as reported by Style Rave. Sting believes inherited wealth can be an “albatross” and wants his kids to forge their own careers.

Tyler Perry

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As one of Hollywood’s most successful creatives, Tyler Perry follows a hands-on philosophy regarding financial legacy. The award-winning filmmaker revealed that his son Aman does not get a Christmas list and flies coach despite his father’s wealth, opening up about his parenting philosophy on a recent episode of the Sherri Shepherd Show, where he shared how he is raising his son to value hard work and humility, per IOL.

Nigella Lawson

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Although British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson had a privileged upbringing herself, she’s gone on record saying she doesn’t want her two children from her first marriage to have financial security as it “ruins people not having to earn money,” according to Love Money. Lawson wants her children to develop their own skills and passions without the safety net of a large inheritance. For her, true enrichment comes from making one’s own way in life.

Shaquille O’Neal

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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has famously told his children, “We ain’t rich, I’m rich!” He expects his kids to graduate and pursue successful careers before considering any of his fortune. Rather than allowing his children to rely on his fortune, Shaq expects them to earn their own success, saying, “In order to get my cheese, you’ve got to present me with two degrees,” making it clear that higher education is a requirement for anyone looking to access his wealth, as reported by Benzinga via Yahoo Finance. Shaq’s direct approach is all about encouraging education and perseverance.

Kevin O’Leary

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Famed entrepreneur and TV personality Kevin O’Leary is upfront about not handing over his wealth to his children. O’Leary is one of the wealthiest cast members of Shark Tank, and he co-founded SoftKey in 1986, which was later sold to Mattel for $4.2 billion, as reported by International Business Times. He wants his children to experience ambition and determination the way he did. The millionaire businessman told CNBC Make It he did not want to “curse” his children by letting them inherit a huge amount of wealth without having to work hard and find their own careers, explaining: “No free lunch, it’s just the wrong thing to do. You curse a child when you de-risk their lives.”

Michael Bloomberg

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Billionaire businessman and politician Michael Bloomberg has publicized that his wealth will primarily support charitable causes. Bloomberg gave away a total of $3.7 billion to nonprofits in 2024, more than any other American, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, per CNBC.

Bloomberg’s philanthropic mission is designed to have a broad social impact, with his children encouraged to pursue their own successes. Bloomberg has enthusiastically taken the Giving Pledge, committing that nearly all of his net worth will be given away in the years ahead or left to his foundation, according to The Giving Pledge.

Jackie Chan

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Martial arts superstar Jackie Chan has surprised many by declaring that his fortune will go to charity instead of his son. In 2011, Chan reportedly told Hindustan Times that he would prefer to donate his hard-earned money to charity rather than deliver it into the hands of his son, stating: “If he is capable, he can make his own money. If he is not, then he will just be wasting mine,” as reported by UNILAD. His pragmatic approach is a classic case of tough love matched with global generosity.

George Lopez

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Comedian and actor George Lopez is another celebrity who values self-reliance over inherited wealth. Lopez has expressed that he won’t leave his daughter, Mayan Lopez, a large inheritance; amid his divorce from his ex-wife, Mayan said that although she won’t be receiving an inheritance, she “inherited wonderful gifts” from her dad, adding: “The biggest life lesson he taught me was to try to be the best comedian I can be,” according to People. Lopez believes in nurturing independence and resilience through lessons, not bank accounts. His stance is as sharp as his stand-up, setting clear expectations for the next generation.

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