In 1979, John Lennon left his $800 million estate to second wife, Yoko Ono, and his younger son, Sean, leaving out oder son, Julian. He refused to ‘let it be’ and fought for 16 years and in 1996, obtained a share of the fortune. How much did he inherit?

John Lennon left more than a legacy to his family. He also left behind a massive $200 million fortune (now amounting to $800 million), which his oldest heir had to fight tooth and nail to have his share of. Sean, his younger son – with his second wife, Yoko Ono – addressed rumours that the Imagine hitmaker left behind the king’s share of his fortune to him while the older brother had to fight a legal battle to ensure he was not deprived of his share. Taking to X, one user named Wesley Yang claimed one of them was deserted by his celebrity father, while the other received his father's affection and constant attention, only to witness his murder during childhood.

Their experiences also differed considerably when it came to inheritance. One received the majority of the family fortune, whereas the other was largely excluded and had to spend decades fighting legal battles to claim a relatively modest portion of the estate.

The situation must have been deeply distressing and infuriating for one, while undoubtedly uncomfortable for the other. Sean responded with a curt that Julian inherited about the same amount as did he.


“Julian and I inherited the same amount from our dad. Our trusts were equal. Julia’s was slightly more but negligibly so,” he wrote. The tweet now appears to have been deleted.

A Look At Julian’s Legal Battle

Julian’s share of the Lennon inheritance was speculated for years. According to Antonelli & Anotonelli law firm, ten years before he was murdered, in 1979, the Beatles member made a last will that appointed his second wife as the executor and trustee of his estate. He left all of his wealth to Yoko and made her and her son the sole beneficiaries of his estate. Julian, the son from his first wife, Cynthia Powell, claimed that Yoko unfairly influenced his father to draft the will. After a gruelling 16 years of litigation in Surrogate’s Court, in 1996, Yoko finally settled with Julian for a sum that is reported to be $25 million, nowhere close to what he would have received had there been no will.

The firm ascertained that if Julian had been able to prove that Yoko had pressurised his late father to draft his will, he would have been entitled to a greater share of the estate – $200 million rather than the comparatively paltry $25 million – about 25 per cent. Yoko would have about half the $800 million, and Sean would have got the remaining 25%.

If that was not disheartening for Julian, Yoko began to auction off John’s possessions after death, and Julian had to buy back the letters he had written to his own father.

Same Dad, Different Relationships

The brothers have long been the subject of speculation about whether their contrasting childhoods affected their relationship. John and Cynthia Lennon separated when Julian was just five years old. Julian has previously spoken about the emotional difficulties he experienced because of his father's limited presence in his life thereafter.

John's bond with Sean, however, was markedly different. After Sean was born to John and Yoko Ono in 1975, the musician took an extended break from his musical career to devote himself to raising his younger son.

Sean had always claimed he and Julian had managed to share a warm relationship. In a chat with Vanity Fair, Sean said he regarded Julian as his “hero.”

“Julian and I have always been close. He was my hero when I was young," he told Vanity Fair.

Julian, too, returned the warmth. In a chat with The Guardian, he said he regarded them to be “best buddies".