Tony Hsieh, Late Las Vegas Benefactor, May Have Left a Will
Tony Hsieh, previous CEO of the footwear giant Zappos and a significant philanthropist in the history of downtown Las Vegas, had an estimated net worth of $840 million at the time of his death nearly five years ago. It was believed he had not left a will … until a court document submitted Thursday night asserted the opposite.
The document filed with Clark County District Court by lawyers from McDonald Carano and Greenberg Traurig contains a will dated March 13, 2015. Reportedly endorsed by Hsieh and multiple witnesses, it requests that most of Hsieh’s assets — including millions in real estate acquired in the Fremont Street East District — be assigned to a trust, according to KLAS-TV/Las Vegas, which initially reported the news.
The will directs that funds be contributed to organizations, such as Harvard University and the American Red Cross.
The will was discovered in late February among the personal effects of one Pir Muhammad, who was appointed as its co-executor. Before passing away that month, Muhammad was unaware of Hsieh’s death in 2020 caused by an Alzheimer's diagnosis, as stated in a letter within the filing.
Hsieh passed away at 46 due to injuries sustained in a house fire in Connecticut on November 27, 2020. He had just resigned from Zappos following years of unpredictable behavior noted by his close colleagues.
Since Hsieh believed he didn’t leave a will, the distribution of his estate (administered by Hsieh’s father) has currently been determined through a lengthy probate case in Clark County District Court.
Will It Withstand?
It is uncertain if a court will rule the will as enforceable. Lawyers representing Hsieh’s estate have consistently claimed in court filings that Hsieh, who reportedly struggled with an addiction to inhaling nitrous oxide canisters for several years prior to his death, was not mentally fit to engage in the contracts he signed in the years leading up to his passing.
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