6. Mickey Rooney
Actor Mickey Rooney didn’t have much left at the time of his death in 2014 — only about $80,000. That didn’t stop his family from creating some legal drama about his will. Rooney disinherited his wife of 35 years and all of his biological children, who contested the will and eventually lost.
7. Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini always had a trick up his sleeve, and apparently, he expected to work some magic in the afterlife as well. At the time of his death, he asked that his wife, Bess, hold a seance every year to try to contact his spirit. The two even developed a secret code so that they would know if it was truly his spirit that was present. Ah, romance.
8. Charles Dickens
English author Charles Dickens was really particular about his funeral. In his will, he made sure to write out wardrobe requirements for his memorial service. He requested that “those attending my funeral wear no scarf, cloak, black bow, long hatband, or other such revolting absurdity.”
9. Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was a troubled soul — maybe that’s why she didn’t have the foresight to leave her legacy to her family. Instead, Marilyn left all of her personal effects to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg. Apparently, all of her belongings sat in Lee’s basement until the day he died.
10. William Shakespeare
Playwright William Shakespeare was probably one of the most romantic minds to ever live. Looks like that romance didn’t quite extend to his personal life: Shakespeare left his wife his “second-best bed.” What happened to the first-best bed, Billy?
