

Not that we're proud of citing TMZ.com, but the celebrity gossip site has an interesting item about the estate of Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry who died in December.
According to trust documents obtained by the site, Majel Roddenberry made sure her dogs would get to live in one of her multimillion-dollar mansions until they die. There's even a $4 million residential trust set up simply for the upkeep of the house, and domestic employee Reinelda Estupinian, who cares for the dogs, gets $1 million and the right to live in the mansion with them.
The Roddenberrys' son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Jr., did OK, too: He gets the Bel Air, Calif., mansion, $60 million up front and $10 million bonuses when he turns 35, 40 and 45.
By Muldfeld at 9:05 PM ON 04/22/09
She sounds like a pretty amazing woman for caring enough about her housekeeper to pay her that well. If only most of humanity was so generous.
Those cocky, frat people at TMZ who spend all their time looking down at people can go frak themselves. I HATE them.
By IsoTek at 9:47 PM ON 04/22/09
You know, I agree that TMZ is not the outfit to be hanging off of but if SciFi hadn't kicked "SciFi Buzz" to the curb years ago, this could have been a top story for them. Just something to think about SyFy.
Anywho....Mrs. Roddenberry sounds like a wonderful woman in any aspect, this just cements that viewpoint.
By DC Fan at 8:00 AM ON 04/23/09
I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Barrett at last year's Creation Con in Las Vegas. She looked frail and weak, but was as still sharp as a bath'let. I spoke to her in the main dealer hall and was concerned if she'd hear me over the cacophony of the crowd and, as it turned out, she had better hearing than I did. ;-) She was very sweet and gracious. The fire still burned behind those eyes. I was truly heartbroken when I heard of her passing, but I'm not surprised to hear about this.
By LrdBowler at 1:17 PM ON 04/23/09
It is good to hear that (1) she didn't leave all of her money to her dogs and nothing to her children (Leona Helmsley, if I recall rightly) and (2) she saw to it that her pets, employees, estate and children were well cared for after she was gone.
Also, the bonuses seem to be a great idea to ensure that your children do not get too much cash all at once. A built-in savings plan.
DC Fan, why do you refer to Majel Barrett Roddenberry as Ms. Barrett? Just because she has been widowed does not mean she is no longer Mrs. Roddenberry. I may be nit-picking but this seems like a slight against Mr. Roddenberry.
One caveat is if Mrs Roddenberry requested people to refer to her as Ms. Barrett.
Live Long and Prosper!
LrdBowler:
It is good to hear that (1) she didn't leave all of her money to her dogs and nothing to her children (Leona Helmsl...More »