Whitney Houston: Her Legacy and the Mystery Surrounding Her Estate
Whitney Houston was an iconic American singer and actress, known for her mesmerizing voice and stunning performances. Her untimely death in 2012 left a lasting impact on the music industry, and fans across the world mourned the loss of one of the greatest divas of all time. Houston’s death also raised questions about the whereabouts of her vast fortune, and whether her adopted son, Nick Gordon, had any claim to it.
The Legal Battle Over Houston’s Estate
Gordon, who died at the age of 30 in January 2020, found himself in the center of a legal battle over the Houston estate following her death. He was informally adopted by Houston when he was twelve years old, and he grew up alongside her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. Gordon and Brown formed a close romantic relationship over the years, and they eventually got married in 2014.
Houston’s estate was estimated to be worth around $20 million at the time of her death, and the question of who would inherit her fortune became a contested matter. Houston’s will, which was created in 1993, left all of her assets to her only child, Bobbi Kristina. However, Brown died in July 2015, six months after being found unconscious in a bathtub at her home in Georgia. Her death was eerily similar to her mother’s, who had also died in a bathtub three years earlier.
Gordon was initially a suspect in Brown’s death, and a civil lawsuit was filed against him by Brown’s conservator alleging that he had beaten her up and stolen money from her. Gordon denied any wrongdoing, and the case remained unresolved until his death. However, the lawsuit did impact Gordon’s claims to the Houston estate, as the court ruled that he was liable for damages of $36 million in the wrongful death suit.
Gordon’s Claims to the Estate
Despite the ruling, Gordon maintained that he was entitled to a share of Houston’s fortune, as he had been informally adopted by her and had grown up as a member of the family. His lawyer, Randall Kessler, argued that Houston had wanted him to have a portion of her estate but had failed to formalize it in her will.
“The truth is that Nick never legally married Bobbi Kristina Brown, nor has he taken anything from her estate, while continuing to grieve for his friend and love,” Kessler told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2018. “Yet he has been publicly portrayed as a villain who stole money from her without any proof.”
However, there is little evidence to support Kessler’s claims. Houston’s will clearly stated that all of her assets were to be left to her daughter, and there is no indication that she intended to include Gordon in her inheritance. Additionally, the fact that Gordon was not legally married to Brown means that he is not entitled to spousal inheritance under Georgia law. Moreover, Gordon’s own dealings with Brown’s estate cast doubts on his intentions.
The Impact of the Wrongful Death Lawsuit and Gordon’s Bankruptcy
In 2016, Gordon was ordered to pay $36 million in damages to Brown’s estate in the wrongful death lawsuit. The amount was based on Brown’s future earnings as an heir to Houston’s fortune, and the court found that Gordon had initiated a violent argument with Brown that ultimately led to her death. Gordon failed to pay the damages and instead filed for bankruptcy the following year, claiming that he had no money to his name.
Gordon’s bankruptcy filing further weakened his claim to the Houston estate, as it demonstrated that he had no assets of his own to bring to the table. Instead, he was reliant on Brown’s potential inheritance from her mother’s estate, a claim that was undermined by the wrongful death lawsuit. Furthermore, Gordon’s own erratic behavior and history of substance abuse contributed to the doubts surrounding his intentions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the question of whether Nick Gordon inherited any portion of Whitney Houston’s fortune remains a mystery. Despite his claims, there is little evidence to suggest that Houston intended to include him in her will or that he had any legitimate claim to the estate. The wrongful death lawsuit against him further weakened his position, and his subsequent bankruptcy filing made it clear that he had no assets of his own. Ultimately, Gordon’s own actions and behavior cast doubts on his intentions and make it unlikely that he inherited any portion of Houston’s vast fortune.