Anna Nicole Smith married billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall in 1994, despite a 63 year age difference. Marshall passed away the following year, without designating any of his estate to Smith in his will or in any other documentation. Smith claimed Marshall had promised her $300 million and took her claim to the courts.
Anna Nicole Smith’s Court Battle Begins
After an initial lengthy battle between Smith and E. Pierce Marshall, J. Howard Marshall’s son, a California bankruptcy court awarded Smith $475 million from the Marshall estate. However, the legal battles continued with E. Pierce Marshall fighting to prevent Smith from inheriting so much from his father’s estate.
Anna Nicole Smith’s Death
Unfortunately, E. Pierce Marshall died in 2006 at 67 years old, followed eight months later by the shocking death of Anna Nicole Smith due to a drug overdose. She passed away tragically on February 8, 2007 as a result of an accidental drug overdose.
Five years after their deaths, and sixteen years after the death of J. Howard Marshall, the case has finally been decided through the U.S. Supreme Court. A narrowly-divided court decided 5-4 that the bankruptcy court did not have jurisdiction to essentially try a probate case. Smith’s estate lost its claim to any portion of the Marshall estate, leaving all the funds to the Marshall family.
We will never know the true wishes of J. Howard Marshall in regards to Anna Nicole Smith. Perhaps he did intend for her to have a portion of his estate. It serves as a reminder to plan properly and keep your documents current with the changes in your life.
Dannielynn Birkhead’s Inheritance
Anna Nicole Smith was Playmate of the Year and prior to her passing, she had a daughter with Larry Birkhead. Her life was plagued with problems related to prescription drugs and Smith met her untimely demise at a young age. She met J. Howard Marshall at a strip club, but ended up being a widow who was embroiled in a legal battle with his son. After it was all said and done, her daughter inherited the remainder of what was left of her estate. Dannielynn Birkhead’s net worth is said to be $3 million. She and her father Daniel regularly attend events together and she resembles her famous mother a great deal. Her family tree was troubled with estate planning issues that could have been resolved with a well-designed estate plan that protected their family.
Dannielynn Birkhead is now 16-years-old and has lived with her father since 2007. She inherited $3 million as Anna Nicole Smith’s only child and sole heir to her estate. Dannielynn Birkhead lives in Louisville, Kentucky and currently attends high school. Anna Nicole Smith gave birth to Dannielynn on September 7, 2006 and following that was a battle over paternity between Smith’s boyfriend Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead. While both claimed to be Dannielynn’s father, it was later proven that Larry Birkhead was her actual biological father.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about Anna Nicole Smith, her net worth in 2007, her daughter Dannielynn Birkhead’s net worth, and answers regarding her battle over her late husband’s estate.
At the time of her death, Anna Nicole Smith’s net worth was approximately $1 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Anna Nicole Smith died as the result of an accidental overdose, according to the coroner’s report.
J. Howard Marshall was a billionaire business man who married Anna Nicole Smith despite their 26-year age difference.
E. Pierce Marshall was the son of J. Howard Marshall and beneficiary of the bulk of his father’s estate. He successfully battled Anna Nicole over his inheritance and father’s estate.
Howard K. Stern dated Anna Nicole Smith while she was pregnant and was presumed to be her baby’s father.
Larry Birkhead is an entertainment photographer who came forward to claim and prove paternity over Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn.
Contact Our Office
It is our hope that the lesson of the importance of estate planning is heard – especially when it comes to matters such as these. If you need assistance with creating an estate plan, contact our offices at (888) 222-1328 or reach us through the contact page on our website.
