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7 year oldWHEN it came to his money, Hugh Hefner had a hard and fast rule.
The Playboy founder had a clause in his trust blocking any beneficiaries — widow Crystal, daughter Christie and sons David, Marston and Cooper — from access to his cash if they abuse drugs or alcohol, documents obtained by Entertainment Tonightreveal.
Any beneficiary would be blocked “if the trustees reasonably believe that … [the beneficiary] routinely or frequently uses or consumes any illegal substance so as to be physically or psychologically dependent upon that substance, or is clinically dependent upon the use or consumption of alcohol or any other legal drug or chemical substance that is not prescribed by a board certified medical doctor or psychiatrist in a current program of treatment supervised by such doctor or psychiatrist.”
Trustees can also request drug testing and treatment if they suspect substance abuse.
That said, the issue might not necessarily be a death sentence to their inheritance: The trust also states that funds may be distributed once “examinations indicate no such use for 12 months” and when the “trustee[s] in their discretion determine that the beneficiary is able to care for himself or herself.”
Hefner passed away in late September at 91 after suffering cardiac arrest and respiratory failure after battling blood poisoning and E. coli.
It’s understood he left his wife Crystal, 31, $12 million — including $5 million in cash and a four-bedroom home in Los Angeles, worth $7 million.
The rest of his $43 million fortune was split between his four children, along with the University of Southern California and charities.
His son Cooper remembered the pioneer as a “leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time”.
“My father lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer,” he said.
“He defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand.”
This story originally appeared in NY Post and is republished with permission.
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