Aretha Franklin entered the final days of her battle against cancer without having prepared a will, and now her family is geared up to fight for her massive $80 million estate — with the man who has been by her side for more than 30 years! Aretha and former Detroit firefighter Willie Wilkerson(right)were pictured on the cover of Jet magazine in 1987 with the caption: “Aretha Franklin Finds Happiness with New Love in Her Life!” They were engaged to be married in 2012. But Aretha, who died at 76 on Aug. 16, abruptly called it off after a troubling report in The National ENQUIRER. Read on for details of the coming battle for Aretha’s bucks, and click here for more family feuds….
1 of 5
Family insiders had revealed to The ENQUIRER that her four grown sons —
Clarence,
Edward,
Ted White Jr. and
Kecalf Cunningham (right) — were afraid Willie would steal their inheritance! A source dished: “After The ENQUIRER report, Aretha finally listened to her boys."
Photo credit: Getty Images
2 of 5
But they remained a couple, and sources close to Willie believe it’s only fair he receives a portion of her estate. Now family insiders are reporting Aretha’s kids are preparing to wage war for their mother’s fortune.
Photo credit: Getty Images
3 of 5
“Her sons have all been involved in her career,” snitched a family insider, who added — as Aretha's golden coffin was wheeled into the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on on Aug. 31 for her funeral — they’ll fight tooth and nail to keep their mother’s money in the family!
Photo credit: Mega
4 of 5
“I was after her for a number of years to do a trust,” said Aretha’s longtime attorney
Don Wilson. But showbiz insiders told The ENQUIRER that they wouldn’t be surprised if the
famously volatile singer showed disdain for her survivors.
Photo credit: Getty Images
5 of 5
“Aretha loved everything that fame let her afford,” said one former employee, “but she hated money and everything it did to her family!”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Family insiders had revealed to The ENQUIRER that her four grown sons —
Clarence,
Edward,
Ted White Jr. and
Kecalf Cunningham (right) — were afraid Willie would steal their inheritance! A source dished: “After The ENQUIRER report, Aretha finally listened to her boys."
Photo credit: Getty Images
But they remained a couple, and sources close to Willie believe it’s only fair he receives a portion of her estate. Now family insiders are reporting Aretha’s kids are preparing to wage war for their mother’s fortune.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“Her sons have all been involved in her career,” snitched a family insider, who added — as Aretha's golden coffin was wheeled into the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on on Aug. 31 for her funeral — they’ll fight tooth and nail to keep their mother’s money in the family!
“I was after her for a number of years to do a trust,” said Aretha’s longtime attorney
Don Wilson. But showbiz insiders told The ENQUIRER that they wouldn’t be surprised if the
famously volatile singer showed disdain for her survivors.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“Aretha loved everything that fame let her afford,” said one former employee, “but she hated money and everything it did to her family!”
Photo credit: Getty Images
