Welcome to Celebrity Estate Interrupted — the special series from Wealth, War & Real Estate where The Oracle and The Architect open the vault on the celebrity estates that changed the law, divided families, and left fortunes in the hands of courtrooms instead of the people they were built for.

He brought his twelve children together. He explained his plan. He had them sign documents waiving any further claim to his estate. He gave each of them $500,000. He thought he had closed every door.

He had not counted on the federal backdoor built into the 1976 Copyright Act.

In Episode 7 of Celebrity Estate Interrupted, The Oracle and The Architect open the case of Ray Charles — the Genius of Soul, twelve children by ten women, and the estate plan that was airtight on paper and completely overridable by federal law. The termination right that cannot be signed away. The foundation that was supposed to receive everything. And the litigation that has run for over twenty years and is still not fully resolved.

What we cover: What Ray Charles actually planned — the $500,000 trusts, the waivers, and the Ray Charles Foundation Section 203 of the 1976 Copyright Act — the federal backdoor that no contract can close How seven of his twelve children filed copyright termination notices on fifty-one of his songs — including Georgia on My Mind What the litigation has looked like for over twenty years — and why it still is not over Why estate planning for artists, creators, and anyone with intellectual property requires specialized copyright counsel — not just a standard trust The one action every woman needs to take this week

The 20-year question:
Do you own any intellectual property — music, creative work, a business you built — and does your estate plan specifically address what happens to it under federal law, not just under your will?

Celebrity Estate Interrupted Volume I — new episodes every Wednesday at 5AM through August 5, 2026.

Hosted by Alexis Nassif, DRE# 00778778, CIPS, Broker Associate at Compass · Dame Natalie Francinne, KM · AN & Associates Luxury Real Estate Group at Compass · Studio City, CA · wealthwarandrealestate.com

For Women. By Women.

What's your 20 year question?

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Presented by Alexis Nassif, DRE# 00778778, CIPS & Dame Natalie Francinne, KM

Wealth, War and Real Estate is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Always consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.