Friday, May 27, 2016

Blues legend BB King had 15 children by 15 women and now they are going to war over his estate worth $40 million

King pictured left in the 1950s

  • King's sperm count was so low doctors said he couldn't have kids
  • Nevertheless, he fathered 15 - and never challenged their paternity claims 
  • While alive, he supported their education and visited them between tours
  • He died at 89 last year, leaving manager LaVerne Toney as estate trustee
  • Now some of his kids - fathered while he was on tour - are suing her
  • They say she took control of his cash when he was mentally incompetent
  • But other children are taking Toney's side in the case 
  • The kids say he had $30-40million, but Toney says his estate is $5million 
  • Toney was also accused of murdering him by two of his daughters
  • But police said there was no evidence and the case was thrown out 
The children that blues legend B.B. King managed to father during 71 years on the road are now going to war in court over his estate, which is worth millions of dollars.

Despite having such a low sperm count that doctors said he'd never be able to conceive, King - famous for songs like 'Sweet Sixteen' and 'The Thrill is Gone' - fathered and provided for 15 children during his 71 years as a professional musician.

But after his death at age 89 last year from Alzheimer's Disease and heart failure, many of King's 11 surviving kids say the money has dried up and they're going to court to get it back, The Hollywood Reporter said.

King fathered 15 children with 15 women but never denied their paternity claims and gave them money for education as well as staying in touch with themTrust: Ailing in 2011, King gave his manager of 40 years, LaVerne Toney  power of attorney, and in 2014 rewrote his 2007 will to make her his estate trustee. 

She is now a target for his kids' multiple lawsuits King  had an estate worth millions. Some of his kids say Toney manipulated him to get control of his money. They want the 2007 will recognized, not its 2014 replacement.
They are now divided into multiple groups, around four of which are suing King's longtime business-manager LaVerne Toney, who now controls his estate, while others support her claim. 

Toney claims that King had just $5million when he died - the result of making his career as a black man during a time of racial segregation and exploitation - but his kids believe the estate should be worth $30-40million.

King had always stood by the 15 children who came forward to say he was their father. As well as never disputing their paternity claims, he paid for their education, stayed in touch with them and even - when necessary - visited some of them in jail.

He also advised them to stick together, and was pained by the bickering that emerged between them, according to his grandson, Christopher King.

'It upset him sometimes,' Christopher told The Hollywood Reporter. 'He would say: "It's family, son, period. We gotta take care of the family."'

But now some of that family have decided to take care of themselves, as various groups try to get the money they believe is theirs.

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