Amy Winehouse en haar testament: wie ontving het geld na haar dood?

Amy Winehouse and her will: a story with more twists than one of her songs

Amy's will: surprising but smart

Let's be clear: at 27, you don't immediately think about making a will. But Amy Winehouse certainly did. In her will, she named her parents as beneficiaries, and not – thank goodness – her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil. A smart move, because anyone who has seen her documentary knows: Blake was certainly not a good influence.

How much money did Amy Winehouse leave behind?

One might think: millions. But no. Despite her worldwide fame, after taxes and legal battles, only “three million pounds” remained. And even from there, some went away. In the end, according to her father, her parents were left with about 140,000 euros. Not enough for a jet-set life, but hey: better a little than nothing.

And what happened to Amy's music?

After her death, her parents and the record label released an album with unreleased tracks. You know, those songs that were “left in the drawer” that suddenly you hear everywhere. The earnings? Mostly to the record label and the parents. Commercial strategy or a bit cynical? You decide.

Not a penny to Blake: Amy's will was clear

The best part of Amy's will? Blake Fielder-Civil received nothing. Nada. Zero. The man who introduced her to heroin and crack (really, why do certain people exist?) didn’t see a dime of her inheritance. Just this makes the will legendary.

Amy Winehouse and money: a love that never blossomed

Another interesting thing: Amy was not at all interested in money. As one of her friends said: “You could have burned a pile of money in front of her, and she would have lit her cigarette with it.” A rock-‘n-roll attitude, sure – but not very wise from a financial perspective.

Amy's clothing line: funds for a good cause

Did you know that Amy had a clothing line? Neither did I. But the profits, after her death, went to a foundation for needy children. A nice thing, right? Even after her passing, she continued to help others.

Conclusion: a somewhat rock-’n-roll will

Amy's will may not have been worth much in economic terms, but it had great symbolic value. No money to the ex, yes to the parents and good causes. And this perfectly reflects who Amy was: a woman who did not follow the rules, but her heart.

5 facts about Amy Winehouse that you might not know:

She had a huge pin-up tattoo on her arm.
Her iconic beehive could reach 15 cm in height.
Her favorite drink? Rickstasy (vodka, Southern Comfort, banana liqueur, and Baileys).
Her debut album Frank was nominated for the Mercury Prize.
She was a big fan of the Shangri-Las and the Ronettes.
Read more about Amy Winehouse on The Guardian.