Helmsley's Dog Gets $12 Million in Will
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
NEW YORK - Leona Helmsley's dog will continue to live an opulent life, and then be buried alongside her in a mausoleum. But two of Helmsley's grandchildren got nothing from the late luxury hotelier and real estate billionaire's estate.

Helmsley left her beloved white Maltese, named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund, according to her will, which was made public Tuesday in surrogate court.

She also left millions for her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was named to care for Trouble in her absence, as well as two of four grandchildren from her late son Jay Panzirer - so long as they visit their father's grave site once each calendar year.

Otherwise, she wrote, neither will get a penny of the $5 million she left for each.

Helmsley left nothing to two of Jay Panzirer's other children - Craig and Meegan Panzirer - for "reasons that are known to them," she wrote.

But no one made out better than Trouble, who once appeared in ads for the Helmsley Hotels, and lived up to her name by biting a housekeeper.

"I direct that when my dog, Trouble, dies, her remains shall be buried next to my remains in the Helmsley mausoleum," Helmsley wrote in her will.

The mausoleum, she ordered, must be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year." She left behind $3 million for the upkeep of her final resting place in Westchester County, where she is buried with her husband, Harry Helmsley.

She also left her chauffeur, Nicholas Celea, $100,000.

She ordered that cash from sales of the Helmsley's residences and belongings, reported to be worth billions, be sold and that the money be given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Her longtime spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, had no comment.

Helmsley died earlier this month at her Connecticut home. She became known as a symbol of 1980s greed and earned the nickname "the Queen of Mean" after her 1988 indictment and subsequent conviction for tax evasion. One employee had quoted her as snarling, "Only the little people pay taxes."

How sick!

I'd like to put a bid in for Trouble's adoption

@Zero

When I worked at this one Animal hosp. we had 5 cats there that the lady had left $50,000 to & the vet was to build a Cattery(sp) on the hosp. for them.

Call ol' Alvin up!!

hmmm... I work at a vet... maybe I should start letting the wealthy owners know that I am a GREAT caregiver!!!

if he's not fixed.. I could couple him with my Molly gal and we could ask for CHILD SUPPORT

times 8

hmmmmmmmmmm now that is mean to leave only to certain grandkids etc....but I guess she had her reasons......and there is no law saying you have to leave your money to everyone in your family....

good idea Zero!

While I'm happy Trouble made out like a bandit... The two children have to visit their dad's grave once a year? Now, how is anyone going to know they have done this? I guess they will have to be chaparoned to and from the site by appointment only. The other two got nothing? Amazing.... The poor chauffeur deserved more than $100K. It would be interesting to know what he was paid. Leona lives up to her reputation even in death... a cold hearted ***** to the very end.

I hope that ***** rots in hell. She was a total ***** when she was a live & now she is even a bigger ***** now. Yes, kids & grandchildren can do things wong but you should not leave them totally out of a will. If the did not hate her when she was a live, they will hate her the rest of their lives. PAY YOUR TAXES NOW *****!!

That would be intresting ZZZ is Molly a big ol' dog??

I'm sure her Grandkids have $$$ from their father..

& 3 mil to wash her box once a year!!!

She probably wanted to make sure the two who got nothing hated the two who did Nasty old goat!!

yuppers catch.. she's a big ol gal.. 120 lbs of lovable poochie

Only the little dogs pay taxes .

Good thind Anna Nicole Smith's gone. That golddigger'd be trying to date that dog for the cash !