Heath Worth a Helluva Lot More Than $145K

Posted Mar 25th 2008 4:05PM by TMZ Staff

There have been news reports that Heath Ledger left a grand total of $145,000 in his estate, and, as a result, his daughter might not be taken care of properly -- BOGUS!

True, we know the will lists $145,000 in assets. But here's the deal. The will was drafted in 2003. Since then, sources say, Heath accumulated lots of jack, from movies like "Lords of Dogtown," "The Brothers Grimm," "Brokeback Mountain," "Casanova," "Candy," "I'm Not There" and "The Dark Knight."

We're told Heath has considerably more assets than the $145k. On top of that, sources say he lived all over the world and was smart enough to know all of his money shouldn't sit in the U.S., where taxes are a bitch.

On the other hand, one of Heath's uncles has said the late actor's estate is valued at $60 mil. We're told that's absurd as well (on the high side), and the uncle doesn't know jack since he's been estranged from the family as well.

Bottom line -- Matilda will be fine, and there's a lot of $$$ on the line.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies, Heath Ledger

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16. How in the hell do you equate Michelle Williams with Gold Digger, #12? Heath, although a very fine actor never reached the top of the food chain (so to speak) in Hollywood's pecking order of big paychecks until he took on the role of The Joker.
While many of his other roles were starring roles...they were considered to be flops in consideration of how much money was made. Even Brokeback Mountain did not make money at the box office. Heath seemed to have chosen his roles based on the character he would be playing rather than how much money he would make. I think when you consider in his age and the types of roles he has played and the movies not reaching box office expectations...his estate in proabably worth about 20 million.
Michelle Williams met Heath during Brokeback Mountain (in which she was also starring) and they had broke up before he took the role in The Dark Knight. She is a fine actress in her own right and I am pretty sure she did not hook up with Heath and have a baby hoping that he would hit it big (monetary-wise) and then die at a very young age.

Posted at 4:43PM on Mar 25th 2008 by tickles

17. His father is trying to steal it from the daughter just like he did with his fathers until the courts stopped him. Greedy a$$

Posted at 4:43PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Reddesires

18. All American Girl, did you READ the article? How is Michelle Williams a gold digger when she is the only one that hasn't been talking about his money?

Posted at 4:44PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Shannon

19. TMZ .....GET OUT OF THE DEAD MAN'S WALLET! HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE DOES AND DOES NOT HAVE??!

Posted at 4:45PM on Mar 25th 2008 by The Banker

20. Dallas-- I would but I just have too much integrity to work for TMZ. They're like looking at the tabloids while in the check out line at the store. You wanna look but you hope no one catches you. Thanks for the support though!

Posted at 4:51PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Nor Cal Reader

21. oh who god damn cares boo hoo

Posted at 4:52PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Toni

22. This is such old news. A couple of weeks after Heath passed away media outlets were reporting about his will and how it hadn't been updated since the birth of Matilda. Smart people would know that the $145K was an old figure, being that it was from his will dated in '03. Jeesh. Anything to conjur up an old story.

Posted at 4:53PM on Mar 25th 2008 by kssmiles

23. Usually a will does not give the the value of the estate, but the purpose of the will is to distribute the monies in a percentage amount or even dollars amount to those you want to have the estate. So whoever drew up the will was not real smart.

Posted at 4:59PM on Mar 25th 2008 by butch

24. In the Financial circles, it is well known that Heath Ledger did not keep, or invest any monies in the U.S., he only kept what he thought he might need for necessities, and emergencies, as health care and other unforseeable incidents. It is also well known that he had a Swiss bank account, and Offshore/ tax exemt investments. These are very hard to be claimed by family after a death. Other than the miniscule amounts spent on futilities, he had no gambling or other high-dollar problems. He was an up and coming commodity Hollywood investors were counting on. And it is basically no one elses buisness.

Posted at 4:59PM on Mar 25th 2008 by GhuKika Mortinka

25. Toni - You might want to damn someone you know!

Posted at 5:00PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Dallas

26. Why are people acting like Michelle Williams is destitute? She is a working actress that has her own money. Michelle wasn't dependent on Heath. They haven't even been together in about a year.

Posted at 5:09PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Hannah

27.

Matilda is next of kin -- -- Shame on this greedy sounding dad. Makes one wonder what he did to Heath , doesn' it ?

Posted at 5:19PM on Mar 25th 2008 by ?

28. Mainstream Media reported Heath's world-wide Estate was worth about $40 million, shortly after his death.

TMZ has simply created a silly story and then vaingloriously shot their own bogus story down.

Posted at 5:28PM on Mar 25th 2008 by Reality Check

29. Frankly, it is nobody's business but the family's. They should be left alone, after all they are still grieving!

Posted at 5:34PM on Mar 25th 2008 by AF

30. I have two actor children (adults) One was actually in The Ten Things I Hate About You with Heath.
You would be surprised how little actors' take home pay ends up. They have to pay their agent (10%) their manager (15%) their publicist (5%) Then there are security people and income tax preparers.
Also out of your earnings are payments to the Screen Actor's Guild, AFTRA, Actor's Equity, Federal tax, state tax, medicare and social security tax.
Add it up yourself.
Heath took roles not for how much money he would be paid but for how great the parts were.
$145,000 would be on the low side but sixty million? I really doubt that.
Did he pay cash for the Brooklyn loft, for instance? That would take a chunk out of your savings.

Posted at 5:51PM on Mar 25th 2008 by B Ling

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