David Gest was a famous producer with celebrity pals including Liza Minelli, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor as well as reality TV star Kerry Katona.
Yet after his death in 2016 at 62 years old, one of the biggest dramas for the TV icon unfolded as his family battled to get their hands on his £10million fortune.
Unfortunately for them, David had bequeathed it all to his attorney Mr Edward Bearman, which resulted in an explosive court battle over the late star’s wishes in his will.
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We’ve looked at the late star’s colourful life before his death in 2016, and the drama from his will that saw his family get set to fight a fierce court battle.
David Gest’s wild life before dying at 62
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
David Gest was a well known TV icon and entertainment producer before his death, who became well known by his appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in 2006.
The American TV star also went on to appear in Celebrity Big Brother 17 in the UK in 2016 but pulled out after just 13 days citing “medical reasons” for his explanation of stepping down from the programme.
(Image: Getty Images)
From friendships with kooky pop star Michael Jackson to astar studded wedding to performer Liza Minelli, David Gest was known for his celebrity status and high profile friendships.
However the star reportedly didn’t ever want to be famous, as he revealed in an interview: “I never wanted to be in the public eye. It’s very hard when you wake up each day and there’s press outside your house. I would never want to live that type of life, I live a very simple life.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Despite his iconic status, David Gest also revealed he loved the “simple things” in life whilst living in the UK. He told an interviewer: “To spoil myself I go to Harrods, but I’m not really into material things. I go to Tesco for food, and I love the 99p packages at Iceland. I still go to McDonald’s – give me McDonald’s fries over gourmet chips any day.”
Dying aged just 62, the star suffered a stroke and was found dead in his room at the Four Seasons Hotel in London in 2016.
£10m fortune left to his attorney
(Image: Collect Unknown)
After his death, the star’s “simple life” was revealed to mean the TV legend had amassed a fortune totalling £10million and including a five-bed house in Tennessee and his £1.6million collection of memorabilia.
Yet despite being asset rich, the star had reportedly unstable finances as The Sun reported his company David Gest Limited equated debts of £474,000.
Additionally, they found that he was left with just £57,629 in the bank after blowing his cash on 50p-a-time slot machines in casinos around the UK before his death in 2016.
Whilst still being worth millions, David’s fortune was given to his attorney Mr Edward Bearman, but his family were left furious as they insisted that the star had spoken of leaving friends and relatives a share of his wealth.
Family call for ‘justice’ and prepare to sue
(Image: BEI)
In 2017, just one year after David’s death at just 62 years old, his family made it clear they would be looking to take legal action to get their share of his fortune.
His sister Barbara and mother Eleanor told the Sunday People at the time that they would be going to court.
They said: “Our only concern is ensuring that David’s last wishes are honoured and kept.
“We owe it to David to seek truth and justice on his behalf.”
The pair vowed to get “justice” for the late star in 2016 and in 2017, Barbara confirmed she was suing the will’s executors, who just happened to work at the same US law firm as the star’s attorney Edward Bearman who was given the “majority” share of David’s fortune after his death.
David’s ex-bodyguard and best friend Imad Handi was also reportedly upset at being “snubbed” by his late pal, and in 2016 told The Sun: “I was left £18,000. I am upset and his family are upset. He told me I would be looked after. I’ve no idea why he left Bearman almost everything.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
