Frank Sinatra Left Behind a Fortune So Big, It Made His Family Filthy Rich

When he died in 1998 at age 82, his will revealed exactly how he wanted that fortune split, and who was going to walk away richer than ever.

The biggest winner was Barbara Sinatra, his fourth and final wife. They were married for over two decades, and Sinatra left her the largest share of his estate. That included:

• $3.5 million in cash
• The majority of his homes and real estate (including his Malibu beach house and most of his Palm Springs estate)
• Cars, jewelry, and valuable personal items
• Control of his image and publicity rights — which meant future profits from ads, licensing deals, reissues, and anything tied to the Sinatra brand

Frank's three children from his first marriage — Nancy, Tina, and Frank Jr. — weren't cut out, but their share was noticeably smaller in comparison:

• $200,000 each in cash
• Shared 75% ownership in one of Sinatra's properties
• Exclusive control over most of his music catalog, including royalties and publishing rights

For Nancy and Tina, who stayed involved in managing the Sinatra brand after his death, control of the music rights was arguably more important than the cash. But in terms of assets and real estate, Barbara walked away with far more.

Two of Sinatra's grandchildren received $500,000 each through trust funds. Their names were kept out of public court records, but the move was clearly deliberate — extending his legacy across another generation without overextending the estate.

One surprise: Sinatra left $250,000 to his first wife, Nancy Barbato. They'd divorced decades earlier, but she'd been there from the beginning — when Sinatra was a struggling singer in Hoboken.

He also set aside six-figure sums for close friends, longtime employees, and trusted associates. No public list was released, but the gesture made it clear who had stayed in his good graces until the end.

Behind the scenes, the split sparked quiet tension. There were long-standing rumors of friction between Barbara and Sinatra's children — and whispers that some in the family weren't happy with how much power and property she'd ended up with. Publicly, the family stayed civil. Privately, insiders said the tone was colder.

Sinatra's will was ironclad. There were no ugly court battles or contested claims. But it was obvious who he trusted most with his name, his music, and his money.

And while no one walked away empty-handed, not everyone walked away satisfied.