The Legal Battle for Whitney Houston’s Fortune: Did Nick Gordon Inherit It?
The untimely death of Whitney Houston in 2012 was a major blow to the music industry and her fans worldwide. However, the legal battle for her fortune has been ongoing ever since, with Nick Gordon being the center of the controversy. Gordon, who was once Houston’s partner, has been fighting for a share of her wealth despite her family opposing him. The question remains: did Nick Gordon inherit the fortune of Whitney Houston?
Who is Nick Gordon and what happened to Bobbi Kristina Brown?
To understand the legal battle, one must first know who Nick Gordon is. Gordon was not related to Houston, but he was taken in by her family when he was young. Over the years, Gordon developed a close relationship with Houston and her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. Brown and Gordon later started dating and even announced their engagement in 2012, only to have their relationship hit the rocks a few months later following Houston’s death.
In 2015, Brown was found unconscious in her bathtub, and she was taken into a coma that lasted for several months. She eventually passed away, leaving a void in the Houston family’s heart. As investigations into Brown’s death progressed, Gordon was named as a suspect. He was accused of providing Brown with drugs, resulting in her death, and physically abusing her in the months leading up to her coma.
The Battle for Whitney Houston’s Fortune
The battle for Houston’s fortune began shortly after her death. Brown’s family accused Gordon of playing a role in Brown’s death and filed a lawsuit against him. The lawsuit claimed that Gordon gave Brown a toxic cocktail of drugs, which caused her to go into a coma, and later die. It also accused him of physically abusing Brown and stealing her money.
The family also claimed that Houston had left behind an estate worth millions of dollars, and that Gordon was not entitled to any of it. Houston’s estate, which was estimated to be worth around $20 million, went to Bobbi Kristina Brown, who was the sole beneficiary. In the event of Brown’s death, the estate would go to her next of kin, who were her closest living relatives, primarily Houston’s siblings.
Gordon’s Claim to Houston’s Fortune
Gordon argued that Houston had considered him as her adopted son and had promised to leave him a share of her fortune. He went as far as showing a printout of Houston’s will, where he was named as the beneficiary, but it was later discovered to be a fake. The Houston family dismissed the claims and argued that Gordon had no legal right to Houston’s wealth.
The case went to the court, where Gordon was ordered to pay $36 million to Brown’s estate for wrongful death. In addition to that, he had no legal right to any of Houston’s fortune. The judge argued that there was no evidence to support Gordon’s claim that Houston had left him anything before she died.
The Emotional Toll on the Houston Family
The legal battle had a significant emotional toll on the Houston family, who had to relive the trauma of both Houston and Brown’s deaths. They have been vocal about their disbelief in Gordon’s claims and have accused him of exploiting their family for his selfish benefit.
Gordon’s claim to Houston’s fortune was not only financially driven but also emotionally charged. He had a close relationship with both Houston and Brown, and his loss of the two must have been traumatic. However, his claims were not supported by any evidence, and his involvement in Brown’s death made him an unreliable beneficiary.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the legal battle for Whitney Houston’s fortune has been ongoing for the last decade, and it seems to have come to a conclusion. Nick Gordon’s claims to Houston’s fortune have been dismissed, and he has been ordered to pay millions to Brown’s estate. The battle has been an emotional rollercoaster for the Houston family and has brought to light the complicated dynamics between family and nonrelatives. While the Houston family’s loss of their loved ones cannot be replaced, their ability to put the legal battle behind them and move forward is a testament to their resilience.