Jilly Cooper's £8.5M Fortune Left to Family

Dame Jilly Cooper, the acclaimed author known for her "bonkbuster" novels depicting the scandalous lives of the British elite, has bequeathed an estate valued at £8.5 million to her family. Cooper passed away on October 5, 2025, at the age of 88 following a fall.

Her estate's gross value was recorded at £9,070,307, with a net worth of £8,557,118 after liabilities. Her children, Felix and Emily, along with her stepdaughter Laura, will each receive an equal share of the fortune.

Cooper's novel 'Rivals,' which explored tumultuous relationships and power struggles in the Cotswolds, was recently adapted into a successful TV series. Her funeral was attended by notable figures including Queen Camilla, Sir Derek Jacobi, and Dame Joanna Lumley.

Recognized for her literary contributions and charity work, Cooper was made a CBE in 2018 and a Dame in 2024. Her passing has been deeply felt by her family, who described her as a "shining light" in their lives.