Estranged sons inherit fortune

Dudley Moore left an estimated £5million fortune, the bulk of it to the two sons he hadn't seen for three years.

Patrick, 26, and Nicholas, six, are the biggest beneficiaries of his will, to be published this week.

Nicholas's mother - Dudley's fourth wife Nicole Rothschild - will also be left a small fortune, even though she was asked to stay away from his funeral.

The size of his will is surprising, since Moore was alleged to have frittered away much of his fortune on cocaine and prostitutes at the height of his Hollywood fame. And medical bills ate into his remaining funds as he battled with the degenerative brain disorder progressive supranuclear palsy, which eventually led to his death last month at the age of 66.

But the will is seen as a snub to Rena Fruchter, the friend who nursed Dudley through his illness, as she - and Dudley's other wives - is left a smaller sum than Rothschild.

Dudley's money will be held in trust and paid out for specific needs, the Sunday Mirror reports today.

Published: 14 Apr 2002