- 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
Published:
17:41 GMT, 26 May 2016
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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