Robert “King of Ming” Ellsworth Leaves $50k to Favorite Servers

Have you ever heard of Donohue’s Steak House in New York?   The Steakhouse’s regular customer Robert “King of Ming” Ellsworth made a memorable goodbye to two of his favorite waitresses when he left them $50k by writing their first names in his will. Would the same gift be valid under Florida probate law? Learn more.

Man Leaves Waitresses Each $50K

• Robert Ellsworth got the name “King of Ming” by becoming one of the most well known Asian Art Moguls in the world.
• He is making news yet again when he left his two favorite waitresses in his will by penciling in their first names.
• Is this valid in Florida, for a West Palm Beach estate plan?
• The man knew his two favorite waitresses by “Maureen at Donohue’s” and “Maureen at Donohue’s Niece Maureen.” Can he put that in his will?
• The two did not learn about the inheritance until after the man’s death, his lawyer contacted them in December about the inheritance.
• Mr. Ellsworth was the world’s wealthiest Asian art dealer and died at the age of 85 last year.
• The man apparently ate at Donohue’s Steak House seven meals a week.
• What do you think will happen to the rest of his $200 million estate?
• Palm Beach probate litigators know that it can be complicated leaving someone in your will without a last name but that if the person is identifiable it usually will not be a problem.
• Although this kind story made news for good reasons, wills like this can lead to will contests about who the true beneficiary was.
• What happens when there was more than one (in fact there were 2 he just gave them both something) “Maureen” claiming a right to that inheritance?
• Delray Beach will contests can get ugly even over a small award, and can eat up the rest of the estate in legal fees.

Want to learn even more check out a newspaper article on this strange inheritance, by clicking here.