When Freddie Mercury passed away on a cold November Sunday in 1991, the world lost more than just a rock star. They lost a force of nature. But while the public mourned the voice behind "Bohemian Rhapsody," a much more private drama was unfolding behind the high brick walls of Garden Lodge, his Kensington sanctuary. People have spent decades asking who did Freddie Mercury leave his money to, often assuming it all went to his partner or his family.
The reality? It's a bit more complicated—and a lot more touching—than a simple bank transfer. Freddie wasn't just wealthy; he was "rock star wealthy," leaving behind an estate that has only ballooned in value since his death.
The Woman Who Got the Lion's Share
If you’re looking for the person who truly "won" the inheritance lottery, it’s Mary Austin. Freddie famously called her the "love of his life," and he meant it. Even after they broke up in the mid-70s when Freddie came out to her, they stayed inseparable. He was the godfather to her eldest son. She was the one he trusted to bury his ashes in a location that, to this day, remains a total secret.
In his will, Freddie left Mary:
- 50% of his entire fortune at the time (which was estimated around £37.5 million).
- 50% of his future royalties from Queen’s massive catalog.
- Garden Lodge, his 28-bedroom Georgian mansion in London, along with every single piece of art, furniture, and Louis XV kitsch inside it.
Honestly, many people were shocked he didn't leave the house to his long-term partner, Jim Hutton. But Freddie was old-school in a way. He told Mary, "If things had been different, you would have been my wife and this would have been yours anyway." For Mary, though, the inheritance was "a curse" for a long time. She faced resentment from the band and legal battles that dragged on for eight years before she actually saw the bulk of the money.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With the Brittany Snow Divorce
What About Jim Hutton and the Inner Circle?
There’s a lot of talk about Jim Hutton getting "snubbed." Jim was Freddie’s partner for the last seven years of his life. He was there at the end, holding his hand. While Jim didn't get the house or the royalties, he wasn't left out in the cold.
Freddie left £500,000 each to three of the most important men in his daily life:
- Jim Hutton: His partner. Jim used the money to move back to Ireland and build a home.
- Joe Fanelli: His personal chef (and former lover) who lived at Garden Lodge and cared for Freddie during his final days.
- Peter Freestone: His personal assistant and "chief cook and bottle washer."
He also left £100,000 to Terry Giddings, his chauffeur and bodyguard. While half a million pounds might seem "small" compared to Mary’s millions, in 1991, that was a life-changing sum. It’s basically the equivalent of over £1.2 million today.
The Bulsara Family Share
Freddie didn't forget his roots. He left the remaining 50% of his wealth (and the other half of his future royalties) to his parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, and his sister, Kashmira.
🔗 Read more: Danny DeVito Wife Height: What Most People Get Wrong
The split was roughly 25% to his parents and 25% to Kashmira. However, the will had a specific clause. After his parents passed away—Bomi in 2003 and Jer in 2016—their share didn't stay with the Bulsara family. It actually reverted back to Mary Austin.
Today, that means Mary Austin controls 75% of Freddie Mercury’s estate and royalties. When the Bohemian Rhapsody movie became a global juggernaut in 2018, Mary reportedly earned about £40 million in royalties alone.
The 2023 and 2024 Shakeups
If you haven't been keeping up with the news, things at Garden Lodge have changed recently. For thirty years, Mary Austin kept the house exactly as Freddie left it. She didn't move a chair. She didn't paint a wall. But in 2023, she decided it was time to let go.
She auctioned off over 1,400 of Freddie’s personal items at Sotheby’s. We’re talking about his baby grand piano (which sold for over £1.7 million), his stage costumes, and even his handwritten lyrics. The auction pulled in a staggering $50 million. She donated a large chunk of that to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, but a lot of it remains with her.
💡 You might also like: Mara Wilson and Ben Shapiro: The Family Feud Most People Get Wrong
And the house? As of early 2026, Garden Lodge is officially on the market for offers over £30 million. It’s the end of an era for fans who used to leave letters and graffiti on the green garden door.
Why This Matters Today
Understanding who did Freddie Mercury leave his money to gives you a glimpse into who he really was. He was a man of intense, almost singular loyalty. He didn't care about traditional family structures or what the press thought about his "common-law wife" inheriting everything.
If you're thinking about your own legacy—hopefully on a slightly smaller scale—here are a few things to take away from Freddie's estate:
- Specify Future Earnings: Freddie was smart. He knew Queen would be big forever. By leaving percentages of "future royalties," he ensured Mary and his family would be wealthy for generations, not just for a few years.
- The Power of a Trust: He used his longtime manager, Jim Beach, as the executor to handle the business side. This kept the band’s business moving even while the heirs dealt with the grief.
- Loyalty over Convention: Freddie’s will reflected his heart. He took care of the people who saw him without the yellow jacket and the mustache.
If you’re a fan, don’t expect a Freddie Mercury museum at Garden Lodge anytime soon. Mary is looking for a private buyer who will treat it as a home, not a tourist trap. For now, the best way to honor that legacy is through the music that keeps those royalty checks rolling in.
Actionable Insight: If you have assets that generate ongoing income (like intellectual property or a business), ensure your will specifically addresses "future earnings" and not just the cash currently in your bank account. It’s the difference between leaving a gift and leaving a legacy.