Ben Rea and Blackie

When reclusive antiques dealer Ben Rea died in 1988, he left his £7million fortune to his cat Blackie, currently – perhaps pre-Choupette – the Guinness record holder as the wealthiest cat ever. Blackie was the last of the 15 moggies Ben once shared his mansion in Dorney, Bucks, with. His family didn’t get a look in. Instead the wealth was split three ways between animal charities on instruction they look after Blackie. (He did like people a bit, as some cash went to his plumber and mechanic).

Rea, who died aged 82, came from a family of animal lovers his sister Dorothy also left a lot of money to animal charities.