Yes, Leona Helmsly is the latest - $12 million to her dog, and she cut out two of her grandchildren. So many other people could benefit from that money. What's a dog going to do with $12 million? No wonder people never had a real high opinion of her.
2007-08-30 06:33:51 · 37 answers · asked by Lady G 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
I was thinking of this the other day, how people in the western world will leave millions to their animals care, or to the humane society, or society for prevention of cruelty to animals and wondering WHY these people arent as kind hearted or generous when it comes to the poor and often hungry children who are living in extreme poverty in NA?
In fact MOST of them are just cruel and nasty when it comes to their complete lack of donations to needy children. Like it would kill them to cough up $100 at xmas for xmas amalgemated or whatever organization is doing it in their area.
A very wealthy business man in BC Canada had a big splash in the newspaper BRAGGING that his many businesses had dontated SEVEN turkeys for xmas amalgemated last year, oh WOW SEVEN whole turkeys ! And he is worth billions.
It would IMO make more sense, and be a much more humane thing to establish scholarships, set up a trust for shelters, give the money to food banks, towards building and maintaining low income housing, for seniors, disabled or poor people, or to a breakfast program in schools - or donate directly to charities that help PEOPLE.
I dont get it, I like animals, dont get me wrong, but I think our priorities are a little screwed up.
2007-08-30 07:18:42 · answer #1 · answered by isotope2007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Leona Helmsly did leave millions to her dog, but the caretaker of the dog will oversee how the money is spent on Fido..um, I mean "Trouble." That will buy a lot of Kibbles & Bits. The two grandchildren wo were left out of the will, were noted in the will & Leona said they knew why they weren't getting a penny. Gee, did they forget Grandma Leona's birthday too many years in a row? The other two grandchildren had money left to them but have to visit their late father's grave once a year, & their visits will be recorded in a book at the cemetery. Good grief! There were also instructions left that the masoleum had to be powerwashed on a regular basis. Wonder what would happen if it didn't get done? 'Twas said on the Today Show recently, that Leona did leave a lot of money to many charities. A bright spot after all huh? Remember what Leona said when she was alive? "Only the little people pay taxes." I believe she went to prison the next day for tax evasion. ~lol~
2007-08-30 07:50:54 · answer #2 · answered by Shortstuff13 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't know who this lady was. But it's hard to understand what goes through the minds of some of these people. Personally, I think it's insane to deny your own family of the pleasure of actually 'blessing' them, so that their lives could be enhanced for the better. Like, having a University Education, doing some travelling before they settle downn being able to buy their first home without a Mortgage. And when they have their own children being able to give them a better education etc.
I honestly think that the Government should pass a law, that this type of Will can be rescinded, and the money given to the closest relatives. In this case her grandchildren.
How long is a dog's live? And where does the money go when the dog dies? Into the Bank coffers, no doubt.
2007-08-30 13:30:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read about that, and the rest of the article clarified it a little, I thought. She cut out the two grandchildren "for reasons known to them," and a stipulation to bequests for the other two grandchildren from an earlier marriage was that they visit their father's grave at least once a year. I think we can read between the lines there.
The dog's bequest wasn't so great, considering her wealth. What REALLY shocked me was her instruction to sell everything and put it into the family's charitable trust.
I never dreamed she was a charitable woman. Everything I'd ever read was that she was the epitome of a selfish, wicked woman.
I guess there's some good in even the worst of us.
2007-08-30 07:12:14 · answer #4 · answered by felines 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Me personally thinks it is ridiculous. Yes take care of your animal for life, leave money to the Humane Society, donat to spaying and neutering etc. But there are so many humans who could benefit, Leona was always a thorn in my side. It is atrocious to not to at least taken of her grandchildrens education. I expect at the end she only had paid help around. No one else could tolerate being around her without it being a paying position.
2007-08-30 08:05:44 · answer #5 · answered by Southern Comfort 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It confirms my theory that huge amounts of money - such as this woman, the Royal Family and others where the count in billions not millions - somehow warps their minds.
Do they not see what we see when we switch on a TV and witness the horrors of Dafur or Somalia or any other wretched country where children are born to die in agony and desperation - never knowing what it was like to smile or laugh or play?
How then could you ensure the future comfort of an animal - no matter how much you loved it in life - when you know that this disgrace goes on?
I love my animals - very much - and I care perhaps a little too much for them to the detriment of my husband at times - so he tells me - but do they come before human life? No.
These people in my opinion have been distanced from real life by money. They are surrounded by yes-men and woman who will never tell them anything that they don't want to hear.
They are a breed apart.
And for that fact - that I shall never be one of them or like them - I give sincere thanks.
2007-08-30 07:13:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If i were one of her grandchildren i would have little chat with her...nobody loves their dog THAT much. Think of the good things that could have come from the grandchildrens' inheritance. What is a dog going to do with that? 12 mil. worth of dog treats?
how did such an idiot become a multi-millionairess in the first place, anyway?
2007-08-30 08:53:35 · answer #7 · answered by Agent 007 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the dog needs to hire a bodyguard, because there are now at least two people wishing to make sure he doesn't see the light come up on another day!
Personally, I think whoever is in charge of such things should send her immediately back as a cockroach trying to survive in a homeless shelter, and have her retain all her faculties. Karma.
2007-08-30 08:51:26 · answer #8 · answered by Susie Q 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my humble opinion. Helmsley was a selfish b---h, totally self-absorbed. I wonder if any of her "charity" money went to Darfur, Katrina victims, or the many innocent victims of the Iraq war? The dog can't spend the money, of course. But whoever is caring for him has probably quit his day job. And I wonder if there's already a contract out on the mutt?
2007-08-30 06:58:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If I were the grandchildren, I'd be furious and try to contest it.
Maybe I'd win, maybe I wouldn't. What's a dog going to
do with money? It certainly doesn't cost $12 million to take
care of it. It should have been donated to charity.
2007-08-30 06:56:08 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋