Battle ahead as Prince ‘did not leave a will’
PRINCE is believed to have left no will which opens up the possibility of a battle over his fortune, according to reports.
The singer, who was found dead aged 57 at his home in Minnesota on Thursday, left an estate variously valued at between $150 million (£103 million) and $800million.
He was twice divorced and had no surviving children or parents.
His only full blood relation is his younger sister, Tyka Nelson, 55, but he also had five half-siblings from his father’s second marriage who might try to argue they had an equal claim.
Sources close to the family told the TMZ website there had not been a will. Many of Prince’s friends claimed he had not wanted to make one.
Londell McMillan, his former lawyer, said: “It’s likely there is no will. He couldn’t face it. He didn’t think he would die.”
The disclosure came as more details emerged of the difference between the musician’s public image and his private life as a committed Jehovah’s Witness.
He made anyone using bad language at his Paisley Park mansion pay up to $10 a time into a swear jar. “He didn’t want to dishonour the faith. He wasn’t joking,” said James Lundstrom, a friend and fellow Jehovah’s Witness. “You had to pay in cash in the bucket. He would charge you between $3 and $10 per swear word.”
A week before his death Prince’s plane had to make an emergency landing after he took too many prescription painkillers for a hip problem.