When most people think about Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne, they probably envision iconic moments from the wrestling ring or heavy metal stage, not wills, trusts, or estate planning. But these two late celebrities, who both passed away in July 2025, each had unique family dynamics and high-profile personal lives. Their deaths offer surprising lessons in estate planning from which everyday Californians can benefit.
1. Staying Out of Court Matters, Especially When Things Get Messy
During his life, Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, went through two very cringy court proceedings: a highly publicized divorce, with accusations of infidelity, in which he was ordered to give his ex-wife 70% of their property (no pre-nuptial agreement!!); and a lawsuit he filed against Gawker Media for invasion of privacy, when it published a secretly recorded sex tape featuring Hogan with the owner of Gawker Media’s wife. On this one, Hogan prevailed, winning a jury verdict of around $140 million. But being in the public forum that is our justice system could not have been enjoyable for him or his family.
Estate Planning Lesson:
You may not be a celebrity, and we hope you have no salacious secrets that would embarrass your family after you pass away. But privacy is important to most people, even those with nothing to hide. If you die without a written estate plan, chances are there will be a court proceeding called probate. This is a public process in which all of your assets and all of your debts are detailed in filed documents that are available to anyone who wants to read them. Your legal heirs are notified and listed in court documents, which, for most of us doesn’t seem terrible. However, we know a number of families, clients and otherwise, who discovered unknown family members by way of Ancestry or 23andMe. These discoveries can be very hard on family members and having to discuss them in public court proceedings compounds the pain.
On the contrary, establishing a revocable living trust allows you to avoid the probate process and keep your family’s financial and other affairs private. Probate proceedings usually cost a lot of money, as most of us know, but the public nature of the process is an added cost that might be just too high for your family. If you value privacy, a trust is essential. It seems that both Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne figured that out. To date there has not been a probate filed for either estate.
2. Blended Families Require Clear Planning
Both Hogan and Osbourne have children from different relationships. Osbourne, in particular, has a blended family with three children from his marriage to Sharon Osbourne and three additional children from a previous marriage. Blended families are increasingly common and a large part of modern society. We have seen numerous clients come in with families that include step-parents, step-children, or half-siblings. Whether it’s because of divorce, remarriage, or long-term partnerships, these family structures are incredibly familiar now.
Estate Planning Lesson:
The estate planning takeaway here is that blended families are quite common in California, and they come with unique planning challenges. If you want to provide for a current spouse and children from a previous relationship, a generic will is not enough. When you’re putting together an estate plan, it’s important to discuss with your attorney the specific tools you can use to provide for children from a previous marriage or other blended family-type situations. For example, we have seen clients take advantage of an “AB Trust” or a “Clayton Trust” (also known as a Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Trust) when they are on their second or third marriages and have children from a previous relationship. At this point, the estate planning process can become increasingly layered; people aren’t just thinking about “who gets what,” but now they are thinking how to provide for a surviving spouse, biological children, and stepchildren, without creating unnecessary drama or conflict.
3. Don’t Overlook Your Intellectual Property and Public Image
Both celebrities had significant value tied up in their name, image, likeness, and intellectual property. Licensing deals, merchandise, music royalties, and branding agreements can continue long after death. While most of the clients who walk in our door aren’t global celebrities like Hogan or Osbourne, the same core concept applies to many people, especially those who own businesses, have creative work, or are building a personal brand. Small business owners, authors, artists, online content creators, or anyone with other intellectual property rights (think a patent) can own similar assets that may hold long-lasting value and continue to generate income well into the future after they pass away.
If your side hustle, rental properties, or even your popular Etsy shop creating holiday cards aren’t clearly addressed in your estate plan, it can create confusion, delays, or even disputes among heirs.
Estate Planning Lesson:
If you own a business, brand, or creative work (like art, music, or digital content), an estate plan is a sure way to protect and manage these assets after you pass away. In California in particular, your name, image, and likeness (or your right of publicity) survives your death and can be transferred via your estate plan. A well-crafted trust can ensure that your legacy generates value for your heirs and isn’t mismanaged or exploited. We have seen, firsthand, what happens when there is an asset with no clear plan in place. Ambiguity breeds conflict; which can only be resolved through mediation-style measures, or going to court and asking a judge to weigh in. Taking the time to not only put an estate plan in place but to also properly identify and plan for each asset will ensure that your beneficiaries and heirs have clear guidance on how to handle your estate. Make sure your attorney knows about all of your assets, including the more unconventional assets.
4. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Both Hogan and Osbourne have experienced significant life events that have exemplified that no matter how rich or famous you are, you should ensure that your assets and your loved ones are protected.
Too many people wait until tragedy strikes to think about estate planning. The best time to plan is now, when you are healthy and capable of making clear, thoughtful decisions. An outdated plan, or a plan that does not take into account your individualist scenario, can be just as harmful as no plan at all.
Conclusion
You don’t need to be a celebrity to benefit from smart estate planning. Whether your estate is modest or multimillion-dollar, the principles are the same: protect your assets, provide for your loved ones, and maintain control over your legacy.
If you’re considering whether your estate plan is as strong as it should be, please reach out to us at Absolute Trust Counsel. Not only are we accepting of new clients, but we would be happy to look at your current situation and make any updates as needed. As Hulk Hogan might say, “Whatcha gonna do when probate runs wild on you?”
[AD] Estate planning addresses many important factors about your future and legacy. Where do you get started if you don’t have an estate plan in place? If you do, how have new laws and life transitions changed? Will your plan still protect you? Regardless, you deserve to have control over your wants, needs, goals, and hopes for the future. We can help you understand your options and, legally, how you will best be protected at all touchpoints. Get started today by scheduling a free discovery call so we can discuss your needs. Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call us at (925) 943-2740.
