On May 11, 1981, reggae icon Bob Marley died after battling cancer for years. Most celebrities who amass a fortune prepare a last will and testament in the event of their death. Marley, however, didn’t write a will as doing so displayed great concern for earthly possessions, which was against his Rastafarian beliefs. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Marley’s estate was worth $11.5 million at the time of his death, which is equivalent to roughly $34 million in today’s money.

The decision regarding how Marley’s estate would be divided rested on Jamaican laws in the absence of a will. Per Jamaican regulations, 10% of the deceased’s estate goes to the widow immediately, gaining access to another 45% in their lifetime, while the remaining amount must be shared equally among the children. Bob was married to Rita Marley, and he had 11 children from seven different women (via Face 2 Face Africa). The distribution of assets would have been easy enough, but some family members deemed the law unfair and a legal battle over Bob Marley’s estate ensued.

Legal battles over Bob Marley's estate

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