So, you want to know who got the cash? Lee Radziwill, the style icon, the socialite, Jackie O’s little sister, died in 2019. And her will? It was a juicy little drama. Forget the tiara—this is about the real family jewels: cold, hard cash.
The Big Reveal: It Wasn't Her Kids
Most people assumed Lee’s two children, Anthony and Tina, would scoop up her fortune. Nope. That’s the first twist. Anthony got a few personal items. Tina? She got a specific, notable painting—but not the millions.
Who got the bulk? A man named Mario Buatta. Wait, who? He was the "Prince of Chintz," a legendary interior designer. Lee adored him. She left him over $500,000 and a stunning portrait of herself.
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It gets weirder. She also left $250,000 to her longtime housekeeper. And another $250,000 to a close friend named Buffy. Buffy. You can’t make this up.
The Real Star of the Show: The Grandchildren
Here’s the juicy part. Lee’s fortune was mostly tied up in a trust. That trust was set up so her grandchildren would get the bulk of it. Her own kids? They were essentially cut out of the main pile.
Why? Because Lee had a long-running feud with her son, Anthony. They were famously estranged. She once called him a "little shit" in a letter. Family drama? Oh, it’s real.
As for her daughter Tina? They were close, but Lee believed in skipping a generation. Smart move for estate taxes, but a brutal one for family harmony.
What About the Jewels? The Art?
Lee had a legendary jewelry collection. Think Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and some pieces from her sister Jackie. She didn’t leave them to a museum. She auctioned them off before she died. The sale netted over $2 million. That cash went into the trust.
Lee Bouvier Radziwill Ross
Then there’s the art. A Warhol? A Rothko? Most of her serious paintings were also sold before her death. She was a practical socialite. She didn’t want anyone fighting over a canvas.
One quirky detail: she left her personal letters from Jackie to a university archive. Not to her family. She wanted them studied, not hidden in a drawer. How very Lee.
The Ultimate Punchline: The "Friend" Who Got Everything Cool
Remember Mario Buatta? He died in 2018, a year before Lee. So that $500,000 and the portrait? It went to his estate. He never even saw a penny. Ouch.
What about Buffy? Buffy Kohan, a Florida socialite, got $250,000. Why? Because she was Lee’s "dear friend and companion." They talked daily. Buffy got the cash; the kids got the awkward inheritance conversation.
And the housekeeper, Maria? She got $250,000 and a lifetime of stories. She was the one who actually lived with Lee. Loyalty pays, folks.
Why This Is So Much Fun to Dig Into
Because Lee Radziwill controlled the narrative until the very end. She wasn’t just Jackie’s little sister. She was a master of social maneuvering. Her will reads like a final, elegant "thank you, but no thank you" to her children.
Who did Lee Radziwill leave her money to? - ABTC
And the quirky part? No one was left a single pair of her famous sunglasses. No Hermès scarf. The will was mostly cold cash and a few sentimental paintings. That’s so very Lee—unapologetically specific.
She also left $50,000 to her dog’s caretaker. Yes, her dog. A Yorkie named Daisy. The dog got nothing; the human got a nice chunk. Priorities.
The Bottom Line: It's About Trusts, Not Tiaras
If you’re looking for a dramatic "someone stole the ruby necklace" story, you won’t find it here. Lee’s estate was a dry, boring trust that quietly passed to her grandchildren. No drama. That’s the real scandal: the boringness of it.
Her son Anthony contested the will, but he lost. The trust was ironclad. Lee had good lawyers. Very good lawyers. She was also rumored to have a secret Swiss account. Did she? We’ll never know.
In the end, Lee Radziwill left her money to loyal friends, a legendary decorator (who was dead), and her grandchildren. She skipped her own kids, gave a chunk to Buffy, and auctioned off her diamonds. Classic Lee: elegant, petty, and perfectly executed.
So next time you see a photo of her in a silk turban, remember: she was probably thinking, "I hope Buffy enjoys that quarter-million." And you know what? We kind of hope she did, too.