Helmsley Heirs on a Short Leash

Even as an animal lover, I was horrified that the Queen of Mean left $12 million to Trouble, a white Maltese who lives up to his name.

But do the math --Mrs. Helmsley's estate is worth from $4 billion to $8 billion. Her gift to Trouble is at most .003% of her estate. That's 1/3 of one percent. If I left my little A. that percentage of my net worth, she would be begging for Kibble on a New York street corner. And Helmsley left all but $50 million to charity.

See? Its all relative.

Speaking of, Ms. Helmsley's human relatives fare worse. Two of four grandchildren get nothing, and "they know why", Helmsley states smugly in her will. The other two get less than Trouble, but the gift has sticky strings. They must visit their father's grave every year or be cut off immediately.

Shouldn't Helmsley want the grandkids to visit because they care? A forced visit is tainted. Even if they would have paid annual respects without prodding, each visit will reported by the New York Post, positioned as a homage to greed.

They remain under her thumb.

Was Helmsley afraid to stipulate they visit her own grave instead of her son's? Since Harry, Leona and son are all housed in the same mausoleum, a visit to the son equals a visit to Leona.

Ah, but even if the grandkids hit financial skids, they can always move in with Trouble.