Episodes - Having Fun with Death and Taxes

Episode 1 · Jerry Buss

In this episode, our host and Estate Planning Attorney Leslie Marenco sits down with Kristina Wilson, Corporate & Business Attorney, to unpack what happened after Lakers owner Jerry Buss passed away. We break down how his plan tried to keep the team in the family, why trust funding and succession terms still sparked conflict, and how family dynamics can derail even a smart plan. You will learn the difference between control provisions and ownership, why trustee selection matters, and the simple steps that prevent a court fight. See show notes for definitions and the episode toolkit.

Episode 2 · Tom Petty

In this episode, our host and Estate Planning Attorney Leslie Marenco joins Manuel Rodriguez, Fiduciary Litigation Attorney, to examine Tom Petty’s estate. His 80-page trust was built to protect his legacy, yet vague language around “equal participation” triggered disputes. We explain how drafting clarity, roles, and tie-breaker rules avoid gridlock. You will learn how to set decision rights, how to prevent co-trustee deadlock, and how to align the trust with the business and IP. See show notes for key terms and the toolkit.

Episode 3 · Casey Kasem

In this episode, our host and Estate Planning Attorney Leslie Marenco talks with Alex Gonzalez, Estate & Fiduciary Litigation Attorney, about the Casey Kasem estate. An eighty-million-dollar estate with medical directives signed at a shipping store led to guardianship battles, a missing person report, elder isolation claims, and a raw-steak headline. We show how weak incapacity planning and blended family conflict create a probate disaster. You will learn what to put in an Incapacity Protocol, how to pick the right decision-makers, and the documents every family needs. See show notes for definitions and the toolkit.

Episode 4 · Elvis Presley

In this episode, host Leslie Marenco sits down with Estate Planning Attorney Ernie Martinez to explore what went wrong with Elvis Presley’s estate. We break down how a flawed Will and Testamentary Trust left the estate vulnerable, how Priscilla Presley turned things around with a professional team, and why a Revocable Living Trust is essential to protect your wealth from family disputes, predators, and excessive taxes. See show notes for definitions and the episode toolkit.

Episode 5 · Lisa Marie Presley

In this episode, host Leslie Marenco and Estate Planning Attorney Ernie Martinez discuss what happened with Lisa Marie Presley’s trust, the alleged mismanagement lawsuit, and the 2016 amendment that shifted control to Riley Keough. You’ll learn how trustee duties work, why small amendment errors spark big disputes, and how to protect generational wealth and landmarks like Graceland. See show notes for the toolkit.

Episode 6 · Marilyn Monroe

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorneys Leslie Marenco and Alina Nuñez unpack the shocking truth behind Marilyn Monroe’s estate. Her legacy — later valued at over $200 million — was governed by a simple three-page will, leading to public probate, years of legal battles, and an outcome that sent her fortune to someone she never met. A powerful reminder that even iconic legacies can unravel without proper planning. See show notes for the toolkit.

Episode 7 · James Brown

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, estate planning attorney Leslie Marenco and family law attorney Veronica Lopez-Calleja unpack the legal chaos behind James Brown’s estate. After his death in 2006, a legacy valued at approximately $100 million spiraled into 16 years of litigation driven by disputed marriages, contested paternity, trustee battles, and outdated estate planning documents. It’s a powerful reminder that even legendary estates can unravel for decades without clear, modern planning. See show notes for the toolkit.

Episode 8 · Joan Rivers

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, host Leslie Marenco and estate planning & tax attorney Ivan Gomez break down one of the most expensive celebrity estate planning mistakes in history, the $150 million estate of Joan Rivers.

Known for her sharp wit and meticulous planning, Rivers appeared to have everything in place, even provisions for her beloved dogs. But a single contradictory line in her legal documents created a devastating tax vulnerability. This episode reveals what went wrong, why it matters, and how proper estate planning can help prevent the same outcome.

Episode 9 · Joe Robbie

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorneys Leslie Marenco and Saidin Hernandez break down how NFL owner Joe Robbie’s outdated estate plan triggered family warfare, IRS pressure, and a fire sale of a legendary franchise. Joe Robbie built the Miami Dolphins and privately financed their stadium, but his 1980s-era estate plan relied on a basic pour-over will and revocable trust. When he died unexpectedly, his family inherited a liquidity crisis they could not escape.

Episode 10 · Howard Hughes

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorneys Leslie Marenco and Vanessa Vasquez de Lara break down one of the most chaotic probate battles in history, the estate of Howard Hughes. When the billionaire aviator and entrepreneur died in 1976 without a known will, it triggered a massive legal free-for-all with hundreds of claimants stepping forward to stake a claim. This episode explores how secret marriages, alleged common-law relationships, and lack of formal estate planning created decades of litigation and uncertainty, showing how the absence of a clear plan can turn even a legendary fortune into a courtroom battle.

Episode 11 · U-Haul

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorneys Leslie Marenco and Kristina Wilson unpack the multi-generational legal war behind the U-Haul empire. After founder Leonard Shoen gifted shares to his children, what seemed like simple family succession planning escalated into a $1.5 billion corporate conflict involving hostile takeovers, boardroom battles, and fractured family relationships. This episode explores how weak operating agreements, informal transfers of ownership, and lack of governance structures can destabilize even the most successful family businesses and lead to decades of litigation.

Episode 12 · Aretha Franklin

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorney Leslie Marenco and guest Nicole Martins examine the estate of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. After her passing, multiple handwritten wills were discovered in her home, sparking intense legal disputes over her $80 million estate. This episode breaks down how informal estate planning, unclear documentation, and lack of proper execution led to years of probate litigation, revealing how even global icons can leave behind uncertainty that fractures families and complicates legacy planning.

Episode 13 · Heath Ledger

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorney Leslie Marenco and guest Gilberto Matute break down the estate of Heath Ledger and the legal complications that followed his untimely death. His outdated will, drafted years before he passed, failed to account for his daughter Matilda, leaving key inheritance questions unresolved. This episode explores how pretermitted heir laws, outdated documents, and failure to update estate plans after major life changes can unintentionally exclude loved ones and create complex guardianship and probate challenges.

Episode 14 · Michael Jackson

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorney Leslie Marenco and tax lawyer Francois Blanco unpack the decade-long legal and tax battle surrounding Michael Jackson’s estate. At the center of the dispute were conflicting valuations of his image and likeness, with the IRS claiming massive tax liability while the estate argued dramatically lower figures. This episode explores how valuation disputes, the date of death rule, and tax exposure strategies can reshape estate outcomes and turn legacy planning into high-stakes financial litigation.

Episode 15 · Tony Hsieh

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorneys Leslie Marenco and George Alvarez break down the complex and chaotic estate of Zappos founder Tony Hsieh. After his passing, questions around informal agreements, handwritten notes, and unclear intentions collided with massive creditor claims and allegations surrounding capacity and decision-making. This episode explores how lack of formal estate planning, reliance on informal arrangements, and unclear succession structures can lead to prolonged legal battles and financial uncertainty for billion-dollar estates.

Episode 16 · Lisa Marie Presley

In this episode of Having Fun with Death & Taxes, attorney Leslie Marenco and real estate & bankruptcy attorney Cristina Ortiz examine the estate of Lisa Marie Presley and a sophisticated fraud attempt targeting Graceland. Following her death, a fabricated loan and forged documents nearly enabled a real estate scam against one of the most iconic properties in America. This episode reveals how easily property records can be manipulated, why county systems don’t verify ownership validity, and how inadequate protection can expose high-value estates to fraud and probate complications.

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