The death of Heath Ledger rocked the showbiz world in 2008 – but it turns out the actor didn’t leave his reported £18m fortune to his daughter.
The actor was best known for roles in The Dark Knight Rises and Brokeback Mountain. He died 17 years ago today – on January 22, 2008 – of an accidental drug overdose, aged just 28.
At the time, Heath’s daughter Matilda – who he shares with actress Michelle Williams – was two years old.
Shortly after his death, details of Heath’s Will were reported – and it turns out he made a ‘mistake’.
Heath Ledger didn’t leave daughter his money
When Heath died in 2008, it was reported he left a fortune of £18m.
According to MailOnline, Heath left everything to his three sisters, Kate and Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell. Once debts had been paid, the rest of his fortune was to go to Heath’s father and mother Sally Bell.
Notably, his daughter Matilda was missing from the will. This was due to Heath’s ‘mistake’ by not updating his will.
Heath signed the will on April 12, 2003 – two years before Matilda was born.
Heath Ledger’s family ‘gifted everything’ to his daughter
In 2008, it was reported that Matilda’s mum and Heath’s former fiancée, actress Michelle Williams, would lodge a claim on the will for their daughter.
Our family has gifted everything to Matilda.
However, Heath’s dad Kim went on to reveal that the family decided to give everything to their granddaughter.
“Our family has gifted everything to Matilda,” he told Australia’s Herald Sun.
How much did Heath’s daughter inherit?
He also told PEOPLE, that giving Matilda everything was the plan “from the moment my boy passed away”.
He said: “There was never any question about the fact that Heath’s estate would go to Matilda. Never a question. We are very close to Michelle and Matilda.”
As for how much Matilda – who is now 19 – would inherit, Mark Dyson, an executor of the Ledger estate, estimated it to be in the millions.
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