Marlon Brando, the legendary Hollywood actor known for his iconic roles in films like The Godfather and A Streetcar Named Desire, found himself entangled in a family drama in his later years.
This saga culminated in Brando making a surprising decision to exclude one of his children from his will.
Even almost two decades after his death, Marlon Brando remains a revered Hollywood icon.
With over 50 films under his belt, he is best remembered for his portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
Throughout his life, Brando had three marriages and fathered 11 children, some of whom were born out of extramarital affairs.
While his relationships and affairs attracted public interest during his lifetime, it was his will that would reveal even more scandal and shock.
At the time of his death in 2004, Brando had approximately $23 million (£19 million) in liquid assets, along with other valuable possessions such as his private island in Tahiti, estimated to be worth $100 million (£82 million).
The substantial inheritance made it inevitable that whoever received it would be thrust into the spotlight.
A significant portion of Brando's assets went into a living trust, which only named a few female friends as beneficiaries who would receive monthly payments from it.
This fact alone sparked vicious rumors and speculation.
The remainder of his will was reportedly highly specific, and Brando made a few changes shortly before his passing that many perceived as heartless.
One of these changes involved cutting his adopted daughter, Petra Brando-Corval, completely out of his will.
Petra's mother, Caroline Barrett, began working as Brando's assistant in 1976 when Petra was just 14 years old.
Due to legal issues involving Petra's biological father, James Clavell, Brando adopted her.
Brando provided financial support to Barrett and Petra, covering Petra's education expenses and even assisting her in purchasing a home and settling in London, per his request.
However, in 2001, Barrett retired as Brando's assistant, which marked the beginning of trouble.
Brando was facing financial difficulties at the time and asked Barrett to repay the loan he had given to Petra.
Barrett argued that it was a gift and not something she expected to repay.
She believed it was Brando's way of punishing her for retiring.
The case went to court and ended in Barrett's favor just a month before Brando's passing.
In his will, Brando explicitly stated, “I intentionally and with full knowledge of the consequences do not provide in my will or in my living trust for Cheyenne's issue or for Petra Brando-Corval, or for any of Petra's issue.”
Cheyenne was Brando's daughter from his third marriage to French Polynesian actress Tarita Terriipaia.
Brando and Tarita divorced when Cheyenne was only two years old, and Brando reportedly did not allow her or her brother to visit him in Tahiti.
While young Cheyenne initially idolized her father, her feelings towards him changed dramatically as she entered her teenage years.
In a 1990 interview, she expressed her disdain, saying, “I have come to despise my father for the way he ignored me when I was a child.
He came to the island maybe once a year but really didn't seem to care whether he saw me or not.
He wanted us but he didn't want us.”
Cheyenne later became a model but suffered a life-altering car accident that derailed her career and led to a downward spiral of depression.
Eventually, she moved into Brando's Mulholland Drive home when she became pregnant with family friend Jacques Drollet.
Marlon Brando's will and the subsequent battle for his millions have shed light on the complex dynamics within his family.
The exclusion of his adopted daughter Petra from his inheritance has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about his intentions and the relationships he had with his children.
The legacy of this Hollywood icon continues to be shrouded in intrigue and controversy.
