

Episode 06: Marilyn Monroe’s 3-Page Will: The High Cost of a “Simple” Estate Plan
Having Fun with Death & Taxes by Having Fun with Death & Taxes
S1 · E6
Dec 23, 2025
01:13:08
Episode notes
In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorney Leslie Marenco and estate planning attorney Alina Nuñez unpack the shocking reality behind Marilyn Monroe’s estate. Her entire legacy, later valued at more than $200 million, was governed by a three-page “simple” will. They explore how inadequate estate planning led to public probate, years of legal complications, and a surprising outcome that ultimately directed Monroe’s fortune to someone she never even met. This episode is a powerful reminder of how poor planning can derail even the most iconic legacy.
Keywords
Estate Planning
Trust
Will
Inheritance
Celebrity Estate
Probate
Trust Litigation
Taxes
IRS
Icon
Pop Culture
Marilyn Monroe