Whitney Houston’s Estate and the Controversy Surrounding Nick Gordon’s Alleged Inheritance

Whitney Houston’s tragic death in 2012 left behind a legacy of timeless music, but also a substantial fortune that has been the subject of legal battles and controversies. The ongoing legal feud over her estate has garnered much attention and speculation, with the latest controversy centering around her former partner, Nick Gordon, and whether he received any money from Houston’s estate.

Background

Nick Gordon was the former partner of Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. After Houston’s death, Bobbi Kristina inherited a significant portion of the estate, including a trust fund estimated to be worth $20 million. However, Bobbi Kristina was found unconscious in a bathtub in January 2015, and tragically, she passed away six months later, in July 2015, at the age of 22.

Bobbi Kristina’s death was investigated as a possible homicide, and it was suspected that Gordon was involved. He was accused of administering a toxic cocktail of drugs and alcohol to Bobbi Kristina, resulting in her death. Gordon denied these allegations and was never criminally charged, but a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against him by Bobbi Kristina’s estate.

Legal Battle over Whitney Houston’s Estate

After Bobbi Kristina’s death, the battle for her estate began. In 2016, a judge ordered Gordon to pay $36 million to Bobbi Kristina’s estate in a wrongful death lawsuit. The estate argued that Gordon had given Bobbi Kristina a “toxic cocktail” and placed her facedown in the bathtub where she was found. Gordon did not appear in court and did not contest the allegations.

The legal battle over Houston’s estate has been complex and prolonged, involving multiple parties with competing interests. Whitney Houston had named her mother, Cissy Houston, as the executor of her estate, but after Cissy’s death in 2018, the responsibility fell to her sister-in-law, Pat Houston.

In 2019, the court approved a settlement, ending the legal feud between Houston’s estate and Bobbi Kristina’s estate. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but it allowed for the proceeds from Houston’s music and other assets to be distributed among her heirs.

Did Nick Gordon Receive Any Money from Whitney Houston’s Estate?

Despite the settlement, speculation has persisted that Gordon may have received some of Houston’s fortune. In March 2021, Gordon’s attorney, Joe Habachy, claimed that his client was owed money from Houston’s estate. He alleged that Houston had promised to provide financial support for Gordon, just as she had done for her daughter. According to Habachy, Gordon had been cut off from the Houston family after Bobbi Kristina’s death and was struggling to make ends meet.

However, Pat Houston has denied these claims, stating that Gordon did not receive any money from Whitney Houston’s estate. “There is no money that’s owed to him,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “There is no money that’s been paid to him from Whitney Houston or Cissy Houston or any of the family members that I know of.”

Furthermore, reports suggest that Gordon had been estranged from the Houston family and had no legal claim to any of their assets. Whitney Houston did not leave a will, which meant that her estate was distributed according to state law, with her daughter as the primary beneficiary.

Conclusion

The legal battle over Whitney Houston’s estate has been protracted and fraught with controversy, with various parties vying for a share of her fortune. The latest speculation about Nick Gordon’s involvement in the estate has been denied by Houston’s family members, who insist that he did not receive any money. The settlement reached in 2019 allowed for the proceeds from Houston’s music and other assets to be distributed among her heirs and put an end to the legal feud between the Houston and Bobbi Kristina’s estates. While Gordon’s involvement in the legal battle has been contentious, it appears that he had no legal claim to any of the family’s assets. Ultimately, the legacy of Whitney Houston’s music and her charitable foundation will continue to support causes close to her heart and keep her memory alive for generations to come.