The Legitimacy of Nick Gordon’s Claim to Whitney Houston’s Estate: Unraveling the Controversy
On February 11, 2012, the world mourned the loss of music icon Whitney Houston. She left behind an immense legacy, an inspiring career, and a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars. However, her passing was soon followed by controversy when her ex-partner, Nick Gordon, claimed that he was the sole heir to her estate. The legitimacy of such claims is still unclear, but let’s look at some of the facts and allegations surrounding this controversial inheritance case.
Who is Nick Gordon?
Nick Gordon was a man brought into the Houston family as a young teenager. He was unofficially adopted by Whitney Houston and became close to her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, whom he later went on to have a romantic relationship with. However, their relationship was not without problems, and there were accusations of abuse and manipulation.
Alarmingly, Brown was found unconscious in a bathtub in January 2015, in circumstances eerily similar to the death of her mother, Whitney Houston. She was in a coma for several months before passing away in July of that year.
The Question of Inheritance
After Brown’s death, there was a will drawn up for her mother’s estate, which stipulated that her assets be distributed among specific family members, including her mother, sister-in-law, and daughter. However, Gordon’s claim was that he was the sole heir to Whitney Houston’s estate and had been promised so by Houston herself years before her passing.
The crux of Gordon’s argument is that Houston raised him like a son and left him with nothing when she died. Because of this, he believes he is entitled to her estate, stating in an interview with the Daily Mail, “I deserve to inherit because I’m her husband, I’m the father of her child, I’m the only person she has ever referred to as her husband, and I’m the only man she’s ever loved.”
Despite his claims, there are several reasons why Gordon is unlikely to inherit Whitney Houston’s estate. The first is that they were never legally married, even though they referred to each other as husband and wife, and have no official documentation to support such a claim. The second reason is that his relationship with Houston’s daughter was rocky, with Bobby Brown once referring to him as a “bad guy.”
The third reason is that there are no other documents that mention Gordon as the heir to Whitney Houston’s estate, and if he were in fact her sole heir as he claims, it’s unclear why he did not inherit any of her assets that were passed on to her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.
Furthermore, Gordon has been at the center of several controversies, including allegations of physical abuse towards Brown, which would likely make it difficult for him to inherit any portion of her estate.
What Happened to Whitney Houston’s Estate?
Whitney Houston’s estate was initially valued at around $20 million, with the majority of the assets comprising the royalties from her music and films. After her death, her estate administrators made several lucrative deals, including the sale of her music catalog to Sony for a reported $7 million.
Her family’s feud over the inheritance went public when Nick Gordon filed a lawsuit against her estate, claiming that he was owed a share of the proceeds from her music royalties. However, his claim was later dismissed by a judge, highlighting that he had failed to serve notice on the estate in line with the law.
The legal battle over Whitney Houston’s estate could continue for many years, with several people continuing to make claims against it. As of now, it appears that her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was the sole heir to her estate.
What’s Next for Nick Gordon?
Nick Gordon has had his fair share of legal troubles, including being found legally responsible for the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown in 2019. He lost the wrongful death lawsuit filed against him by her estate and was ordered to pay $36 million in damages. However, he cannot afford to pay the damages, and the case went into a stalemate.
In 2020, he was found dead after being discovered unresponsive in his apartment. An autopsy report later revealed that he died from a heroin overdose, and it’s unlikely he would have been able to inherit any part of Whitney Houston’s estate even if his previous claim had held any merit.
Conclusion
The question of whether Nick Gordon inherited Whitney Houston’s fortune remains a subject of debate, but the evidence is scant. There are no legal documents or wills that support his claims, and his behavior towards Houston’s daughter and the ongoing controversies surrounding his conduct make it unlikely he will be able to inherit any part of her estate.
The tale highlights the complexities surrounding the inheritance of estates, especially when there are no direct heirs or clear legal arrangements in place. It is essential to draw up such documents early and avoid leaving it to family members and friends to fight over later.