Burt’s 92-Year Spite Will

When American lumber baron Wellington R. Burt died in 1919, he refused to leave his massive estate directly to his children. Instead, his will included a spite clause ordering that the money remain locked up until all of his children have died and 21 years have passed since the death of his last surviving grandchild, who was alive when he wrote it. The estate, valued at about $100 million, was finally settled in 2011.

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