Jimmy Buffett’s $275M Estate Ignites Bitter Inheritance Clash

The late Jimmy Buffett’s $275 million estate has become a battleground, with his widow, Jane Buffett, locked in a fierce legal dispute over the management of a marital trust meant for her benefit. Jane, married to the "Margaritaville" icon since 1977, filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to remove co-trustee Richard Mozenter, accusing him of hostility and mismanagement. She claims Mozenter has stonewalled her requests for financial clarity, leaving her in the dark about her own finances.

Jane’s filing paints a picture of a trustee who’s not just unhelpful but downright dismissive, allegedly belittling her while raking in $1.7 million in fees in 2024 alone. When she asked about the trust’s income a month after Buffett’s 2023 death from cancer, Mozenter reportedly dodged her for 16 months before estimating a measly $2 million annual return—less than 1% of the trust’s value. Worse, he suggested Jane sell her real estate to cover expenses, ignoring the trust’s 20% stake in Margaritaville, which distributed $14 million over 18 months.

Not one to sit quietly, Mozenter fired back with his own petition in Florida, seeking to oust Jane as co-trustee. The dueling lawsuits reveal a deeper struggle over control of Buffett’s empire, built on his music and the Margaritaville brand, which spans resorts, restaurants, and cruises. The outcome will decide who steers this island-inspired legacy—and whether Jane can secure the financial stability she says she’s owed.