Trouble was one of the richest dogs in the world, the pet of late Leona Helmsley, also known as The Queen of Mean. Helmsley was famous for her very demanding personality and when she died she left a humongous fortune of $12 million to her beloved dog, Trouble.
The lovely female Maltese dog passed away in December and now someone needs to answer the question “Who will get the $12 million?”. A very small part of that fortune was actually spent on the dog, as a judge decided that $2 million would be enough to ensure all the comfort and pampering a dog Trouble’s size would need.
After her owner’s death in 2007, Trouble spent her life in Florida, where the general manager of the Helmsley Sandcastle hotel, Carl Lekic, looked after her. A personal bodyguard for the pet was also needed, as little Trouble received threats of kidnapping ($12 million is a very tempting sum!). The bodyguard received a generous payment of $100,000 a year. Grooming the dog cost $8,000 per year.
Before Leona Helmsley passed away, she mentioned that she wanted her adored dog to be buried next to her in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York. This specific wish was not granted though, as the dog was cremated and her ashes are now privately owned.
Trouble was 12 years old when she died and there is no word on what will happen with her fortune, but you can expect Helmsley’s relatives to fight for it. If they won’t win, all the money will go to charity.
