Even though John Wayne valued family during his tough illness, his widow didn’t get any of his $6.8 million money after he passed away. This surprising choice made a lot of people wonder what would happen to the famous actor’s money.
John Wayne is remembered as an American hero and Hollywood star in movies. He was famous for his cowboy roles and worked hard at acting until he died. He always appreciated his fans and even wrote back to every letter he got from them.
Even when John Wayne got sick, he gave an amazing performance in “The Shootist” in 1976, where his character also dealt with illness. In 1979, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which was sad because it was similar to his role in the movie. But Wayne stayed determined and continued to love acting.
In April 1979, at the Oscars, they honored John Wayne for his amazing career in movies. Even though he was facing health problems, he still made inspiring films like “El Dorado” and “True Grit.”
After John Wayne died, his $6.8 million money didn’t go to his widow, Pilar, which surprised a lot of people. Instead, he left $30,000 to his secretary and close friend, Pat Stacy. This showed how much he appreciated her support during his last years and his fight against cancer.
In the early 1970s, when John Wayne got sick, his third wife, Pilar, decided to leave him. This meant he had to face his problems by himself. What’s surprising is that even though they separated, they were still legally married until he died.
Even though she didn’t get anything from him when he passed away, Pilar, who is now 94 years old, still wore the 15-carat diamond engagement ring that John Wayne gave her. She remembered him with love for being strong, generous, kind, and funny.
John Wayne made sure his seven children were taken care of in his will. Each child got $5,000 multiplied by the difference between their age and 21 when he died.
John Wayne was a loving father to his seven children, and their bond went beyond the movies. Even though he had a busy career, he always made time to be there for his kids and support them. He had three sons named Patrick, Ethan, and Michael, and four daughters named Aissa, Marisa, Melinda, and Mary.
There was a touching moment when five of John Wayne’s children got together for a Q&A session, remembering their dad. They talked about their favorite family trips on the Wild Goose, a boat that meant a lot to them.
Patrick, Marisa, and Ethan decided to become actors, following in their father’s footsteps. Patrick especially did well in the acting world. Melinda cherished her father’s hard work ethic and the valuable lessons he taught her.
Ethan held dear memories of his father’s affection and love, remembering hugs, kisses, and how he expressed his love. His children say that John Wayne cared deeply for people and was understanding even when he had to discipline them.
When John Wayne got sick, he made spending time with his family a top priority. He even brought Ethan along to movie sets so they could be together more. Now, Ethan, who heads John Wayne Enterprises and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, sees his dad as a strong role model for overcoming challenges and achieving success, even when things are tough.
“He looked so confident and full of life. You wouldn’t have known he had only one lung and a bad knee, and had been falling off horses for sixty years. Even when he was sick, he still seemed like John Wayne. But it was tough for him,” said Ethan, John Wayne’s youngest son. He was only 17 when his father passed away from cancer.
Melinda remembered that even though they were living with their mother while their father was sick, they stayed close to him. She remembered, “As he was getting closer to the end, he said to my late brother, Michael, ‘Whatever you do, use my name to help people. Without the public, I wouldn’t be here, and neither would you. We wouldn’t have had the life we had.'”
In John Wayne’s last moments, his children stayed with him, giving him comfort and love. As his struggle with cancer became harder, the strong presence of the famous actor started to weaken. On June 11, 1979, with his loved ones around him, John Wayne passed away. “Goodbye, Dad,” said his son Patrick.
Aissa, John Wayne’s daughter, held her father’s hand. Just before he died, she asked if he knew who she was. He replied with his last words: “Of course, I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
After John Wayne passed away, his children decided to keep his memory alive and carry on his charitable work. In 1985, they came together to create the John Wayne Cancer Foundation as a way to honor their father, who had courageously battled cancer himself.
The foundation served as a perfect tribute to their dear father’s strong character and lifelong dedication to helping others and making the world a better place.
