When music legend Jimmy Buffett died in September 2023, he left behind more than a catalogue of hit songs and a business empire built around the Margaritaville brand. As reported by PEOPLE, his reported $275 million trust was intended to provide for his wife of 46 years, Jane Slagsvol, and their three children. But nearly three years after his death, the arrangements he made have become the subject of a bitter legal dispute. Jane is seeking to remove longtime financial adviser Richard Mozenter as co-trustee, while Buffett’s children have taken differing positions on who should manage their father’s fortune.
Legal battle over managing Jimmy Buffett’s wealth after his death
Buffett, best known for songs such as Margaritaville, built a career that extended well beyond music. His business interests included restaurants, hotels, merchandise and other ventures associated with the Margaritaville brand. By the time of his death at 76 in September 2023, his financial interests had grown into a substantial estate.Before his death, Buffett appointed his wife of 46 years, Jane Slagsvol, and longtime adviser Richard Mozenter to serve as co-trustees of his trust. Their responsibilities included overseeing its assets and ensuring that distributions were handled according to the arrangements he had established.
Why Savannah Buffett wants her father’s wishes honoured in estate battle
Savannah Buffett, the eldest of the singer’s three children, has taken a position that differs from her mother’s. She opposes Jane’s attempt to remove Mozenter and wants him to remain involved in managing the trust.Reportedly, at a February 12, 2026, hearing in Palm Beach, Savannah’s lawyer, Jared Gelles, told the court that his client wanted her father’s original decision to be respected. He argued that Mozenter was not someone brought into the family’s financial affairs shortly before Buffett’s death, but an adviser with years of experience and a detailed understanding of the singer’s business and personal arrangements.Gelles described Mozenter as one of the people who had been deeply involved in Buffett’s world for a long time. His argument centred on the value of that institutional knowledge, particularly when dealing with a complicated collection of assets.
Savannah Buffett’s $75 million inheritance dispute
Savannah’s disagreement with her mother has also been linked to an earlier controversy involving the possibility of disinheritance.The issue surfaced in legal filings in August 2025, when lawyers representing Mozenter submitted screenshots of alleged text exchanges between Jane and Savannah. The messages appeared to suggest that Jane had threatened to remove her eldest daughter from the trust.In one exchange presented to the court, Jane allegedly referred to the $75 million that Savannah could potentially lose, suggesting that her financial interest should be a reason for her to behave more like her siblings. Another message reportedly included the words, “Say good bye to that 75mil”.During an August 18, 2025, hearing, Jane’s legal representatives rejected the suggestion that she had taken steps to disinherit her children. They also said she had no intention of doing so, while acknowledging that the trust’s terms gave her the legal authority to make such a decision.
Cameron and Delaney focus on protecting the trust’s assets
Buffett’s other two children, Cameron and Delaney, have approached the dispute from a different angle. Rather than openly supporting either Jane or Mozenter in the disagreement over the co-trustee position, they have concentrated on the financial condition of the trust and its ability to meet obligations over time.The siblings have retained separate legal representation from Savannah. Their lawyer, Peter Sachs, told the court in February that his clients wanted to ensure their mother received the financial support their father had intended. At the same time, they were concerned about preserving enough of the trust’s value for the other beneficiaries.Sachs also raised a point about the nature of the estate. Although its reported value is around $275 million, he explained that the trust should not be treated as if the entire amount were readily available in cash.Their lawyer made clear that they were not taking sides in the personal and legal conflict between the two co-trustees. Their position is centred on the long-term administration of the estate rather than backing one individual over the other.
Legal proceedings continue over control of Buffett’s legacy
The dispute has continued through several court proceedings since 2025. In a more recent development, Jane appealed an order connected to the February 12 hearing that allows Mozenter to use trust funds for reasonable legal fees and related expenses arising from the litigation.The decision is significant because it concerns the use of the very assets both sides are seeking to protect. As the legal disagreement continues, the costs of resolving it also become part of the financial questions surrounding the estate.For now, his three children have not presented a united position on how the trust should be administered. Savannah wants Mozenter to retain his role, while Cameron and Delaney are concentrating on financial stability without endorsing either side. All three, however, have expressed a desire to see their mother receive the support their father intended.Disclaimer: This article is based on information publicly available. The Times of India has not independently verified the claims, allegations or financial details mentioned in the report.
