Tiger Lily Only Inherited $1000 of Her Father Michael Hutchence‘s $16 Million Estate
When INXS frontman Michael Hutchence tragically took his own life in 1997, he left behind a daughter, Tiger Lily, and a sizable estate worth around $16 million. However, when Tiger Lily turned 21 in 2019, it was revealed she had shockingly inherited only $1000 of her late father‘s fortune. So what happened to Hutchence‘s millions meant for his only daughter?
A Difficult Early Life
Tiger Lily experienced great loss at a tender age. Born in 1996 to Michael Hutchence and TV presenter Paula Yates, she was just a one-year-old toddler when her father died aged 37. Tragedy struck again when Yates died of a heroin overdose in 2000, leaving four-year-old Tiger Lily an orphan.
Ex-stepfather Bob Geldof took her in, raising Tiger Lily alongside his three daughters from marriage to Paula Yates – Fifi, Peaches and Pixie. They became Tiger Lily‘s stepsisters. While Geldof provided as stable a home as possible, Tiger Lily‘s early life was one of great upheaval and grief.
Hutchence‘s Estate and Will
In the year before his tragic suicide, Hutchence drew up a will outlining distribution of his sizable estate.
The initial $500,000 was left to Greenpeace and Amnesty International. The remainder was to be split:
- 50% to Tiger Lily when she turned 25
- 50% divided between Hutchence‘s mother, father, sister and half-sister
The executors named were Hutchence‘s Hong Kong accountant and a London lawyer.
At the time of his death in 1997, Hutchence‘s total net worth was estimated to be around $16 million. This included:
- Properties in London, Sydney, Hong Kong and the South of France
- Luxury cars including a $300,000 Ferrari F512M
- Share of INXS royalties and album sales
Given half these assets were meant to go to Tiger Lily, she stood to inherit approximately $8 million upon turning 25.
So Where Did the Money Go?
In 2019 when Tiger Lily turned 21, it was revealed she had inherited only $1000 of her father‘s estate. By 2005, Hutchence‘s fortune had dwindled to virtually nothing. So what happened to the "missing millions"?
There were tangled legal battles over the estate between the will‘s executors, Hutchence‘s family and Paula Yates‘ family.
Yates disputed the will, claiming Hutchence had left everything to her. Hutchence‘s mother and sister challenged Yates‘ claim. After Yates died in 2000, her ex-husband Geldof won custody of Tiger Lily and control of her inheritance.
The court fights drained the estate‘s funds. Hutchence‘s lavish properties and cars were sold off. His remaining fortune was swallowed up in legal fees over the years.
Tiger Lily was too young to fight for the money owed to her. In the end, almost nothing was left.
Tiger Lily‘s Net Worth Over Time
| Year | Age | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 (Father‘s death) | 1 | $8 million inheritance (not received yet) |
| 2000 (Mother‘s death) | 4 | $8 million inheritance (not received yet) |
| 2005 | 9 | $0 |
| 2019 (turned 21) | 21 | $1000 inheritance received |
| Current | 25 | Unknown |
The Aftermath and Lessons
While Tiger Lily was failed by lawyers appointed to protect her interests, she has shown great resilience. Now in her mid-20s, she is focused on the future.
Tiger Lily recently left the Geldof household to pursue music in Fremantle, Australia. Hutchence‘s musical legacy lives on through his daughter.
"She‘s a bright, happy 21-year-old student with her whole life ahead of her," said a friend of the family.
Though deprived of the millions meant for her, Tiger Lily appears to have found solace and passion in music. It is a poignant echo of her father‘s career.
For other musicians and artists, Hutchence‘s case highlights the importance of carefully structuring your estate to provide for loved ones. Having a rock-solid will with the right executors in place could have prevented the legal chaos that swallowed Hutchence‘s fortune.
What Happened to INXS‘ Earnings?
While Hutchence‘s personal estate was depleted, the musical rights and royalties of INXS have only grown over time.
INXS has sold over 50 million records worldwide. Hutchence penned many of their hits, which still earn lucrative licensing and royalty income.
According to Pollstar, INXS was Australia‘s top-earning touring band in 2019, grossing over $5 million from concerts. Their staying power is testament to Hutchence‘s songwriting prowess.
The rights to INXS‘ catalogue are owned by Universal Music Publishing Group. UMPG likely controls and collects a significant ongoing income from the band‘s songs and recordings.
INXS themselves fired replacement singer JD Fortune in 2011 in a controversial sacking. Fortune admitted the fame had driven him to drug abuse, echoing Hutchence‘s struggles.
While INXS has had fractious relationships with singers after Hutchence, their musical legacy remains intact. Hutchence‘s work continues to earn through publishing rights.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Tiger Lily overcame adversity and loss at a young age. Despite being denied the inheritance meant for her, she has stepped out of Hutchence‘s shadow. Hutchence would undoubtedly be proud of her resilience and creativity.
For other artists, Hutchence‘s story underscores the need for clear estate planning to avoid legal pitfalls. His enduring musical impact also shows the lasting value of songwriting IP.
Though the "missing millions" remains a mystery, Tiger Lily grew up to be a well-adjusted young woman with a passion for music. That is the real inheritance.