Marilyn Monroe was one of the most iconic actresses and sex symbols of the 20th century. When she died in 1962 at the age of 36 from a drug overdose, the question of who would inherit her estate became a matter of much speculation and controversy. Monroe died without having written a will, leaving her possessions and financial assets up for grabs. Over the years, numerous individuals have claimed a right to Monroe’s fortune and personal belongings, leading to drawn-out legal battles. To this day, myths and rumors persist over who exactly received what from the screen legend’s disputed legacy.
What was the value of Marilyn Monroe’s estate?
While the exact value of Monroe’s estate at the time of her death has been disputed, most estimates place it between $1 million and $4 million in 1962 dollars. That would equate to between $8 million and $33 million in today’s dollars when adjusted for inflation.1 The main assets included:
– The Brentwood home she died in, purchased in early 1962 for around $77,500 (<$660,000 today>)
– Furniture and personal belongings valued around $200,000 ($1.7 million today)
– Her likeness and image valued at several hundred thousand dollars
– Jewelry, furs, art, and other possessions amounting to a few hundred thousand dollars
– 75% ownership of Marilyn Monroe Productions valued around $200,000 ($1.7 million)
– Account at City National Bank valued around $40,000 (<$340,000 today>)
So while Monroe was not cash rich, the total value of her estate was still quite substantial for the time. Most of it was tied up in real estate, intellectual property, and personal possessions rather than liquid assets.
Monroe’s will and beneficiaries
Monroe died intestate, meaning without a will or trust document to distribute her estate. She left behind no spouse or children when she passed away at her Brentwood home on August 5, 1962.
Without a will, California law at the time stipulated that her next of kin would inherit her estate.2 This included:
– Her mother Gladys Pearl Baker, who suffered from mental illness and was institutionalized.
– Half-sister Berniece Miracle.
– Half-brother Robert Kermitt Baker, who worked for General Electric in Florida.
If she had written a will, Monroe could have left her estate to any beneficiaries of her choosing. But legal experts named her elderly mother and two half-siblings as her rightful next of kin based on intestacy law at the time.
Initial challenges and court battles
Settling Monroe’s estate was complicated by challenges to her will-less distribution. Several parties stepped forward in the 1960s contesting Gladys, Berniece, and Robert’s legal claim as Marilyn’s heirs. Among them:
– **Lee Strasberg:** Famed acting coach served as Monroe’s mentor and friend. Alleged she left personal belongings to him.
– **Dr. Marianne Kris:** Monroe’s psychoanalyst in New York. Treated her for depression and substance abuse from 1956-1961.
– **Inez Melson:** Monroe’s business manager. Oversaw her financial affairs and claimed Monroe verbally promised part of estate to her.
– **John Huston:** Director claimed Monroe promised proceeds from their film The Misfits to assist his son’s medical treatments.
With multiple parties contesting the estate, probate dragged on for years. Monroe’s belongings were locked in a vault, and accusations over the circumstances of her death swirled. Her mother Gladys battled colon cancer, eventually dying in March 1984.3
But by the mid-1960s, Robert and Berniece had established legal right as the direct kin. However, questions lingered over the Monroe possessions still sitting in vaults.
Lee Strasberg inherits majority of personal possessions
A breakthrough came in 1968 when Lee Strasberg reached a deal with Dr. Kris and others to withdraw claims, clearing the way for probate to finalize. Per the agreement, Strasberg inherited the vast majority of Monroe’s personal effects.
This included her furniture, artwork, furs, jewelry, books, and most importantly, her vast collection of Marilyn memorabilia stored in filing cabinets. These personal belongings and celebrity artifacts were valued in the hundreds of thousands.
Strasberg had served as Monroe’s mentor at the Actors Studio in New York. She bequeathed many items to him over the years and they maintained a close friendship up until her death.4
While Strasberg did not inherit her property assets, he gained possession of most prized Monroe memorabilia – later displayed in his private museum before being auctioned off over the years for millions.
Berniece Miracle inherits financial assets
With Lee Strasberg obtaining the personal possessions Monroe left behind, her half-sister Berniece Miracle inherited the remainder of the estate.
This included the Brentwood home, furniture, 25% of Monroe’s production company, her bank account funds, apartment leases, and intellectual property rights – mainly the use of her likeness and image.
These assets formed the financial core of the estate. While less glamorous than Monroe’s memorabilia, they still totaled several hundred thousand dollars even after taxes and fees.
Berniece reportedly used the money to purchase a small guest house in Florida. Due to Monroe’s early death at 36, her financial wealth had little time to fully accumulate. But Berniece still inherited a substantial sum and assets.
What became of Monroe’s Brentwood home?
The crown jewel in Monroe’s estate was her recently purchased Brentwood home at 12305 5th Helena Drive. She died in the Spanish hacienda-style property on August 5, 1962 at age 36.
Originally purchased for around $77,500 earlier that year, Berniece Miracle assumed ownership after probate concluded. She sold the home in 1972 for just $225,000 – far below market value.5 It has changed hands several times over the decades, last selling in 2017 for $7.25 million.
Monroe only lived at the Brentwood residence for a few months in 1962. Maintenance costs and property taxes exceeded the income it generated. So it made financial sense for Berniece to unload the house that was more a liability than investment.
Still, given the home’s role in Monroe’s legendary death, it will always carry an aura and intrigue disproportionate to its monetary value. For fans, the modest Brentwood house remains inextricably linked to her tragic demise.
What happened to Monroe’s personal belongings?
After Lee Strasberg inherited the 75 boxes and filing cabinets containing Monroe’s memorabilia, most of it sat dormant in his private vault for years. Strasberg died in 1982, passing the collection to his wife Anna.
Anna Strasberg later engaged with branding partners to monetize the Monroe artifacts through traveling exhibits and auctions. Monroe’s iconic white “subway dress” fetched $4.6 million at a 2011 celebrity auction.6
Other Monroe dresses, photos, and personal items have sold for millions over the past decades. Handwritten poetry notes she gifted to her acting coach reached $184,000 at auction.
Anna Strasberg sold Monroe’s effects through Julien’s Auctions and other outlets. The celebrity artifacts generated far more over time than the tangible assets left after probate.
While controversies have ignited over whether Monroe intended her belongings go to the Strasbergs, they maximized the value for both collectors and fans. The auctions made these touchstones accessible while compensating Anna and her children.
Rights to Monroe’s likeness change hands
The most valuable yet amorphous asset in Monroe’s estate was her likeness, image, and celebrity identity. These rights passed to her heirs as intellectual property.
Berniece Miracle and her family held majority control until the late 1990s, when they sold off 75% interest to CMG Worldwide, an IP licensing firm.7 Blockbuster deals followed, including a multi-year agreement with PETA using Monroe’s likeness in animal rights ads.
Miracle’s heirs retained 25% stake in the Monroe image. They licensed her likeness to high profile brands like Dolce & Gabbana and MAC cosmetics through CMG.
Anna Strasberg also coveted these intellectual property rights. In 2010, her company Legendary Brands sued CMG claiming illegal use of Monroe’s likeness.8 The case was dismissed, but illustrates the persisting legal gray areas.
Licensing the Monroe name remains contested between her relatives and branding agents. But ultimately, control over her enduring image generates millions in revenue.
Conspiracy theories and lingering disputes
Given Monroe’s massive celebrity and mysterious demise, conspiracy theories have long surround her death. Questions over her mental state, drug use, relationships, and political ties fueled speculative claims she was murdered.
Some theorists argue Monroe was poised to reveal affairs with President Kennedy and his brother Robert shortly before her death – hinting she was silenced. Others allege shadowy parties aimed to profit off her estate.
Documentarian Slawek Wroblewski even theorized Monroe left a secret will with her neighbor Florence Kotz Ross.9 She denied this on her deathbed. No credible evidence has emerged for such claims.
While ingenious, these conspiracy angles remain fictional. Monroe’s probate followed legal norms given her intestate status. The drawn-out battles and lingering disputes stemmed from her early, abrupt death and vast celebrity.
While Monroe’s heirs did well monetizing their inheritance, the real fortune came later – from licensing her enduring, immortal persona.
Final outcomes and inheritance summary
While Marilyn Monroe’s exact net worth remains nebulous, she ultimately passed along assets and memorabilia generating millions for heirs:
– **Berniece Miracle** inherited most tangible financial assets like the Brentwood house, bank funds, and Marilyn Monroe Productions share. She sold the home at low cost but profited from other inheritance.
– **Lee Strasberg** received the vast majority of Monroe’s personal possessions, later passing to his wife Anna. These included furniture, clothing, jewelry, and celebrity artifacts now auctioned for high sums.
– **Miracle heirs** maintain 25% stake in Monroe’s likeness, name, and image through CMG Worldwide. Licensing these rights produces asset income annually.
– **Anna Strasberg** asserts partial claim over Monroe’s publicity rights and intellectual property through her company Legendary Brands. Ongoing disputes over rightful ownership endure after decades.
Beyond direct heirs, Monroe’s legacy greatly benefited celebrity auction houses and brand partners. CMG Worldwide, Julien’s Auctions, and others generate millions licensing her enduring cultural image.
While Monroe died young without a will, her loved ones ultimately inherited assets dwarfing her tangible estate. Leveraging her intellectual property and legend proved most lucrative – especially as her icon status grows over time. The “blonde bombshell” remains the epitome of Hollywood glamour and sexuality.
References
1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Consumer Price Index (Estimate) 1800-. https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator/consumer-price-index-1800-
2. Phillips, Michelle. “Marilyn Monroe Estate: Worth, What Happened, & Scandals.” The Cinemaholic, 29 Oct. 2020, https://thecinemaholic.com/marilyn-monroe-estate-worth-what-happened-scandals/
3. strode, s.j. “Marilyn Monroe’s Mother Dies.” UPI Archives, 8 Mar. 1984, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/08/Marilyn-Monroes-mother-dies/6939449063200/
4. Phillips, Michelle. “Inside Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood Home Where She Died.” The Cinemaholic, 1 Sept. 2021, https://thecinemaholic.com/marilyn-monroes-brentwood-home/
5. “Marilyn Monroe’s House Sold.” Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 1972, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87188686/marilyn-monroe-house-sold/
6. “Marilyn Monroe’s Iconic ‘Subway’ Dress Sells for $4.6 Million.” Reuters, 20 Jun. 2011, https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-monroe/marilyn-monroes-iconic-subway-dress-sells-for-4-6-million-idUKTRE75I2H120111019
7. McKinley, Jr., James C. “New Battles Over Marilyn Monroe.” The New York Times, 1 Jun. 2001, https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/01/arts/new-battles-over-marilyn-monroe.html
8. “Marilyn Monroe Estate Fight: Strasberg Company Appeals Court Loss.” Variety, 28 Dec. 2012, https://variety.com/2012/biz/news/marilyn-monroe-estate-fight-strasberg-company-appeals-court-loss-1118070801/
9. Wroblewski, Slawek. “The Missing Will of Marilyn Monroe.” Medium, 15 Aug. 2017, https://medium.com/@salwroblewski/the-missing-will-of-marilyn-monroe-d6a135a221f0