Famous Last Will and Testament Author F. Scott Fitzgerald

About the last will and testament of famous American author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY FITZGERALD, U.S. author, died 1940

Last Will: Optimistic about his prospects as a Hollywood screenwriter in 1937, Fitzgerald's priority was "to provide for a funeral and burial in keeping with my station in life." As his high hopes faded, he amended "for a funeral" to read "the cheapest funeral"-then added as a penciled postscript:"The same to be without undue ostentation or unnecessary expense." Cash on hand at his death amounted to $706, of which $613.25 went for funeral expenses. The will remained in probate for almost four years. By California law, half of all property went to his institutionalized wife, Zelda, who ultimately received $15,000 from his literary estate.