February 11, 2009 4:19 PM

Leona Helmsley Leaves $12M To Her Dog

(AP)  Leona Helmsley's dog will continue to live an opulent life, and then be buried alongside her in a mausoleum. But two of Helmsley's grandchildren got nothing from the late luxury hotelier and real estate billionaire's estate.

Helmsley left her beloved white Maltese, named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund, according to her will, which was made public Tuesday in surrogate court.

She also left millions for her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was named to care for Trouble in her absence, as well as two of four grandchildren from her late son Jay Panzirer - so long as they visit their father's grave site once each calendar year.

Otherwise, she wrote, neither will get a penny of the $5 million she left for each.

Helmsley left nothing to two of Jay Panzirer's other children - Craig and Meegan Panzirer - for "reasons that are known to them," she wrote.

But no one made out better than Trouble, who once appeared in ads for the Helmsley Hotels, and lived up to her name by biting a housekeeper.

"I direct that when my dog, Trouble, dies, her remains shall be buried next to my remains in the Helmsley mausoleum," Helmsley wrote in her will.

The mausoleum, she ordered, must be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year." She left behind $3 million for the upkeep of her final resting place in Westchester County, where she is buried with her husband, Harry Helmsley.

She also left her chauffeur, Nicholas Celea, $100,000.

She ordered that cash from sales of the Helmsley's residences and belongings, reported to be worth billions, be sold and that the money be given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Her longtime spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, had no comment.

Helmsley died earlier this month at her Connecticut home. She became known as a symbol of 1980s greed and earned the nickname "the Queen of Mean" after her 1988 indictment and subsequent conviction for tax evasion. One employee had quoted her as snarling, "Only the little people pay taxes."

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 63 Comments
by asor1-2009 August 30, 2007 3:13 PM EDT
Ugly is as ugly does.
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by carlylaine August 30, 2007 10:16 AM EDT
ALL OF YOU WHO WROTE IN THIS BLOG ARE JEALOUS, immature, neanderthals. Class envy and jealousy. You''re doing real well for yourselves.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I don''t care if she was a meany. So what? She did take better care of her dog than Vick did his. But instead of saying anything decent---like you all knew her personally---you say nasty things about Jews, rich and oopsy your true colors are showing...you vulgar little people.

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by thisandthat1 August 30, 2007 2:36 AM EDT
The real life Cruella DeVille .... I hope they put a stake through her heart before they buried the B-I-T-C-H!
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by pontiacmrc1 August 30, 2007 1:02 AM EDT
Why can''t somebody rich leave me a good chunk of money?
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by mommajommah August 29, 2007 11:35 PM EDT
...... lucky dog........
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by Krazcarl August 29, 2007 11:33 PM EDT
Her dog her cash period.sounds foolish but she had the right as we all do if we ever become rich to do the same. We have all learned through supposedly chairitable organizatitions pocket way more than they give. This was her way of saying won''t be screwed to look good.
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by keithle1 August 29, 2007 11:25 PM EDT
Stupid old broads & their hideous little dogs.
They should force-feed it caviar. Then bury it alive in the mausoleum.
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by heyitsme_76 August 29, 2007 10:06 PM EDT
Hmmm.. lets see.. I think the dog needs a new house with appliances made of solid gold, a diamond studded feeding bowl, and a pound of the most expensive caviar as dog food every single day for the rest of its life.. Boy, thats a dog''s life, huhh..!! I wonder what Michael Vick would do if he could lay his hands on this mutt..
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by jacksteen1 August 29, 2007 9:50 PM EDT
Silly, ditzy Jew *** reaches beyond the grave to screw her step-children.

How like the Chosen People.

Ugly as an old piece of matzoh, too.
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by jetranger7 August 29, 2007 9:39 PM EDT
OK,OK,, HERES THE DEAL, 12 MILLION TO THAT LITTLE OL'' DOGGY, WELL I NEVER THOUGHT I''D SAY THIS, BUT I''LL MARRY THAT DOG, YIP, I''LL MARRY THAT DOG, FOR LIFE !! AT LEAST ITS GOT A SHORT LIFE SPAN, AND THEN I CAN GO OUT AND MARRY A REALLY HOTT LOOKING CHICK,, WHERE ARE YOU DENISE RICHARDS, OR JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, OR JENNIFER ESPOSITO, I''M HIGHLY AVAILABLE AND SINGLE AND SOON TO BE FILTHY RICH TOO !!!! LETS PARTY BABY !!!!!!
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