Many people love their pets. They provide them with food, water, toys, and pay for the best veterinary care. Some even take their pets to beauty salons regularly. But many wealthy people love their pets so much that they leave them enormous inheritances, sometimes amounting to several million dollars. Interested? Then here's the Forbes list of animals.
German Shepherd Gunther the Fourth
The top spot on the list of richest animals goes to a dog named Gunther IV. In the 1990s, Countess Carlotta of Liebenstein left her entire enormous inheritance to a German Shepherd named Gunther III. A few years later, the $100 million fortune passed to the shepherd's son, Gunther IV. Thanks to the stewardship and wise investments of his guardians, the dog's fortune is estimated at $375 million.
In 1999, the German oligarch began making real estate deals through his trusted confidants. He initially decided to purchase a mansion formerly owned by Sylvester Stallone for $25 million. However, for unknown reasons, the deal fell through. Günther chose Madonna's villa as his next residence, purchasing it for $7.5 million. The millionaire didn't stop there. Over the next few years, he acquired mansions in Germany, Italy, and the Bahamas.
The dog's guardians truly care for both Gunther and his financial situation. His wealth hasn't diminished, but has even more than tripled. He lives a life of luxury: he drives a luxury BMW with a personal driver, eats caviar, marbled beef, and millions of dollars' worth of truffles prepared by his personal chef, and also travels and runs a website.
Maltese Trouble
Leona Helmsley, the owner of the Empire State Building, surprised her relatives by bequeathing almost her entire life savings to her beloved dog. In 2007, Trouble, a white Maltese, inherited $12 million. Leona's relatives sued Trouble and won a $6 million settlement.
The lapdog's wealth attracted attention. She also attracted ill-wishers, who issued around 30 death and health threats. Consequently, a significant portion of her inheritance was spent on security.
Trouble's care cost over $100,000 annually. The lapdog lives in a luxury hotel in New York City. Besides the expensive furnishings, haircuts and styling cost $8,000, and quality food cost $1,000-2,000.
The money that the rich dog did not have time to spend was donated to the Leona and Harry Helmsley Charitable Foundation.
Chimpanzee Kalu
In the 2000s, Patricia O'Neill, the Countess of Canmore's daughter, left all her money and property in Cape Town to the chimpanzee Kalu. Kalu's estate is estimated at £53 million. Her husband was left out of the will because he disliked Kalu and also decided to stay in Sydney for six months.
Patricia rescued Kala in the Congo after she was tied to a tree and left for dead. From Congo, Kala moved with her rescuer to Cape Town. Since then, the chimpanzee has lived in a large mansion. Patricia buys her juices, tea, and cakes, and buys her chips and other junk food, the chimpanzee's favorite. Pat treated Kala as if she were her granddaughter.
Tinker the Cat
An extraordinary story unfolded around an ordinary alley cat. Tinker regularly visited Margaret Lane, who lived in the London Borough of Harrow. At the age of 89, Margaret died, leaving a trust fund of £586,000 and part of her house to Tinker. Part of the house belonged to the cat, and the other part belonged to Anne and Eugene Wheatley, who were chosen by Margaret to act as guardians for her elegant and faithful companion. Their duties as guardians included caring for the cat and providing him with milk, fish, and meat. According to the will, the house was to remain open for 21 years or until Tinker died or left it.
Like many other Forbes animal millionaires, Tinker's sudden wealth brought numerous threats to his life and health. To protect him, his guardians decided to relocate him to a safer home in Mid-Wales. He moved into his new home with two furry friends, Lucy and Stardust.
