You have to feel bad for Daniel Philbin. The only son of Regis Philbin, one of the most recognizable faces on television, Daniel, a 43-year-old double amputee (he was born with a spinal defect), is reduced to begging for handouts from his friends. Daniel wants to be a millionaire, but Papa Reeg is offering no lifelines. Oh, what a world.
If you like seeing rich people screw each other over, you should know that Philbin isn't the first kid to be snubbed by his celebrity progenitor. Below, five of the most infamous disinheritance stories to ever play out in the tabloids.
Aaron versus Tori Spelling
Her daddy might have made her a star, but Aaron Spelling wasn't about to spoon-feed his daughter success. Despite the two's close relationship, Tori Spelling was left with only $800,000 of her dad's $656 million estate. Tori's mom, Candy, may have been at the heart of the snub: mother and daughter had never gotten along, and her hand prints were all over Aaron's will, including $50,000 left to the Spelling's home decorator and $25,000 to Candy's manicurist. Don't worry about little Tori, though. She made a sizable chunk of change from her tell-all memoir, Tori Telling, and her first child Liam is set to receive a $10 million inheritance from grandma Candy.
James Brown versus James Brown Junior
Mean old James Brown decided to play Abraham when he figuratively sent his last wife girlfriend and their child out to the desert for not being one of the chosen people. Five-year-old James Brown Jr. and his mother, Tomi Rae Hynie Brown, were not included in the soul singer's will. Perhaps because the money was used instead for Brown's solid gold coffin?
Conrad Hilton versus Paris Hilton
This is one time where we unequivocally side with the person writing the will: Conrad Hilton expressed his disapproval with his granddaughter Paris' slutty behavior by writing the heiress out of his $2.4 billion will. Sure, Conrad's still alive and well, so Paris has time to return to Pop-Pop's good graces and retrieve her $58 million share of his estate, but the Hilton patriarch has already announced that 97% of his moneys will be going to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. So the rest of the family is screwed, too. But Paris is the only Hilton we actually care about.
Leona Helmsley versus grandkids
How apropos for the billionaire real estate magnate and "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley to leave her post-life funds to her dog, Trouble. The pooch received a $12 million inheritance, which was coincidentally the dog's age (12, not 12 million), meaning that on average that dog had about three good years left to spend in a solid gold kennel in Dubai. Meanwhile, Helmsley's grandkids, Craig Panzirer and Meegan Panzirer Wesolko, received zip, zilch, nada from their Nana. That is, until they sued her estate and walked away with $4 million and $2 million respectively. Wonder how Meegan felt when she ended up with 1/6th of an old dog's trust fund.
Richard Meier versus Joseph Meier
While most of you have never heard of celebrity architect (oxymoron?) Richard Meier, his battle with son Joseph Meier was spread all over the tabloid lawn of the New York Post back in September, and it remains one of the more nutty allegations of disinheritance in history. 28-year-old Fulbright Scholar Joseph claims that his 73-year-old father threw him in a mental institution and cut him out of the will when he found out that Richard was gay. That's right: Having your son call you "gay" is enough reason to have him committed these days, although friends of the Meiers claim that Joe's involuntary treatment was the result of paranoid delusions, not because he tried to out his dad. As for the will issue? Guess we won't know until Meier Senior kicks the bucket.
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We have never "begged" for anything. Our friends are our friends. My wife and I will be fine. I never even think about wills or inheritances, I figure I'll get screwed anyway and there is NOTHING I can do about that; I was born of the first marriage - a pox upon me.
Well, you seem to be in the same situation as Cindy McCain's half sister; her father's from his previous marriage. These parents are shits and they deserve to be ignored. Good for you for not needing him- he doesn't deserve the power that comes from needing him.
There are genuinely some cases where people have reasons for disinheriting their family. Take the case of Anna Nicole Smith for example, her billionaire husband who was in his 90's executed estate planning documents that specifically omitted her from his will. She was only to keep the gifts he gave her during his lifetime and receive no part of his estate. That is a logical course of action when you're an elderly billionaire and you marry a stripper. However, a lot of disinheritances are a little more shameful, like Christopher Buckley not taking care of his 8 year old son after his father died and left him an incredible fortune. But in the end it is up to the individual as to how their property is to be distributed and the survivors have to accept their wishes and not bog down the courts with bogus claims to the estate.
Aaron Spelling intended to leave his inheritance to his daughter and son but his wife Candy manipulated him when he was ill to cut them off. He must be spinning in his grave.
From what I heard Harry Helmsley would have also wanted his grandkids to benefit more fully from his estate.
Candy Spelling is a miserable plastic surgery freak and Leona was more of the same. Money can't buy you happiness. Just a frozen face.
Buffet also cut off one of his grandkids. Hah!
http://www.wealthylovematch.com
@Daniel Philbin:
Your father should be ashamed of himself for that.Once you have a child it doesen't matter what happens with the wife or girlfriend that is still your kid your blood and he or she should be the most important thing in your life.God will punish your father.
@Daniel Philbin:
I was surprised a few months ago when a celebrity asked him how many children he had. He hesitated only for a moment, saying "2". I was shocked! I think that Daniel also has a sister, Linda, although I am not 100% sure about that.
For a man who is personable and loves to talk about his daughters & grandson as well as his wife, Joy, it's hard to believe he can be so cruel.
Seems that when he divorced his first wife, he divorced his children as well. Wonder if Joy has an influence or if the relationship with the children has been strained over the years.
I did hear him mention Daniel when the on 9/11 a plane hit the Pentagon where Daniel works. Saying on his show that he hadn't heard if his son was hurt or was safe. But no mention since.
Perhaps since Disney owns the show they don't want to mention a prior marriage? Who knows. No one would judge him for it if he mentioned something.
I was not believing of the stories I had heard about Regis. Now finding out that they are indeed true, I feel so diferently about him. He only talks of his two daughters he had with Joy. Shame on you Regis. What goes around comes around, better watch out!
I have followed Regis Philbin since the beginning of time.
So very sad that the complete story is seldom told. I admire
Regis that he keeps with the positive. He is the victim
not the two first children and wife. God has blessed his life
in spite of the first family. Joy knows the truth that maybe why
she is supportive to him.
He not only has provided thousands of dollars of cash to his first family even when Regis was struggling himself, but he also purchased his crippled son a home in Cathedral City, California, helped his son getting an education and many other things too numerous to mention. This first family loves to play the victim, helpless role and in a sense tries to black mail Regis for more money by using these sad, sad, stories. This first family really disgust me .
Well i have to say i busted my back sids since i was 13 started as a car hop and worked my way up I make 6 figures a year and i have a child that has no intrest in working and thinks getting up at 2 in the afternoon is cool at age 38 video games and pizza every day. I will not help him nor will i give anything to him when i pass why bust my back for some one who cant even get a fast food job! my othey children are doin well and work hard they earn every thing i will to them