The teenage heirs of the late tobacco billionaire and Manhattan philanthropist Doris Duke might wind up being poor little rich kids.
In papers filed in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court, JPMorgan Chase says so many people are after money from twin 15-year-olds Georgia and Patterson Inman’s $28million trust funds that there might not be much left.
The bank says among those hitting it up for the twins’ cash is their mom Daisha Inman, who demanded $50,000 to buy them Christmas presents and $5,000 to throw them a haunted-house party.
The bank gave Daisha half the haunted-house money, but “only” $5,000 for Christmas, finding the $45,000 she wanted for a horse, a trip around the world and a snowmobile a bit much.
“If the trustee simply funded all requests it received, the children’s trusts could be drained of assets long before the children ever reach the age of 21 years,” the bank said in court filings.
Georgia and Patterson are the great-grandchildren of Nanaline Duke, whose husband was James “Buck” Duke, the founder of American Tobacco. Their great aunt was billionaire Doris Duke.
Nanaline left the twins trusts that are now estimated to be worth $14 million each. They gain control at age 21.
But since Georgia’s and Patterson’s father, Walker Inman, died of a methadone overdose in February 2010, there’s been a scramble for their cash.
The kids’ stepmom, Daralee Inman, asked for $1.9 million to take care of them a month after her husband’s death. The bank turned her down when she didn’t give them information on her expenses.
Daisha Inman asked for $430,500 soon after, but that was turned down because she didn’t have custody then.
A trustee of another Inman trust, John Bowers, asked for “unlimited funding” from the trust, in part to hire his wife. He, too, was rejected.
Court filings show the bank pays over $15,000 a month in expenses for the teens.
The bank says it is seeking a judge’s advice on how it should proceed with distributions. Daisha Inman did not return a call for comment. Chase declined to comment.