$275 Million Estate Battle: Jimmy Buffett’s Widow Seeks to Remove Co-Trustee Over Hostility & Shocking Financial Projections
The battle over legendary singer Jimmy Buffett’s $275 million estate is heating up — and it’s his widow, Jane Buffett, who is leading the charge.
In a new legal filing reported by Variety, Jane Buffett is asking the court to remove co-trustee Richard A. Mozenter, claiming he has failed to act in her best interests and has obstructed her access to critical financial information.
Since Jimmy Buffett’s passing in September 2023, Jane has tried for more than a year to get an accurate projection of the estate’s income — only to face what she describes as “stonewalling,” excuses, and openly “hostile and adversarial” behavior from Mozenter, a managing director at Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman LLC.
When Mozenter finally did provide an estimate — a full 16 months after her initial request — he claimed the $275 million estate would generate less than $2 million per year for Jane. That figure stunned her and her legal team, especially given that the estate holds a 20% stake in Buffett’s highly profitable Margaritaville brand, which distributed $14 million over just the last 18 months.
Jane’s attorneys argue that Mozenter is either “not competent to administer the trust” or is “unwilling to act in [her] best interests.” They also cite “unprofessional and combative” communications with Jane, noting that Mozenter billed the trust an eye-popping $1.75 million for services last year alone — without providing basic transparency.
Further adding fuel to the fire: when Jane followed up with a 13-page letter requesting more detailed financial projections — including future Margaritaville earnings — Mozenter refused to provide them and instead directed her to her late husband’s estate tax return.
Now, Jane is petitioning the court to remove Mozenter and replace him with Daniel Neidich, CEO of Dune Real Estate Partners, in hopes of finally gaining transparency and proper stewardship of the trust.
This headline-making dispute serves as a powerful reminder: even the wealthiest estates can face serious challenges without the right plan — and the right people — in place.
Is your estate plan strong enough to protect your loved ones — and your legacy — no matter what? Now is the time to review it.
Call my office today at (480) 719-7333 to schedule your estate planning review, or visit our website at https://kiermanlaw.com/