She Wasn’t Mean To Her Dog

New York’s Queen of Mean, who died last week, has left her dog twelve really big ones in her will!

Mrs Helmsley was known for her tough management style

New York hotelier and real estate billionaire Leona Helmsley has left US$12m to her pet dog, Trouble.The pampered pooch received the largest bequest from Mrs Helmsley’s will.

Mrs Helmsley, who died last week, was dubbed the “Queen of Mean” by the US media, and was known for her tough approach to business. She and her late husband built a company which managed some of New York’s most prestigious addresses, including the Empire State Building, as well as hotels across the country.

The will also stipulates that when Trouble dies, she is to be buried alongside Mrs Helmsley and her late husband, Harry, in their mausoleum.
But some human members of Mrs Helmsley’s family fared less well, with two of her four grandchildren cut out of the will entirely.
The money for Trouble’s upkeep was left in the hands of her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who himself inherited $10m. Two grandchildren, David and Walter Panzirer, were left $5m each on condition that they visit their father’s grave at least once a year. Their father, Mrs Helmsley’s son Jay Panzirer, died in 1982.
But grandchildren Craig and Meegan Panzirer received nothing – “for reasons which are known to them”, according to Mrs Helmsley’s will.
Mrs Helmsley left her chauffeur $100,000 and she also set aside $3m for the upkeep of her and her husband’s final resting place. Proceeds from the sale of Mrs Helmsley’s residences and belongings will go to a charitable trust.