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Mystery Will Surfaces, Unlocking $500M Estate
15 Mar
Summary
- A surprise will from Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh appeared years after his death.
- Hsieh envisioned a unique 'Country Zero' with a seashell barter economy.
- His $500 million estate was initially set to go to his parents.
A surprise last will and testament from the late Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh emerged last March, arriving at a law firm in Reno, Nevada. Hsieh died in 2020 from injuries sustained in a fire. A forensic psychiatrist concluded he had experienced drug-induced psychosis in his final months, spending his fortune rapidly.
Hsieh harbored extravagant visions, including 'Country Zero,' a planned nation-state on his Utah ranch. This ambitious project envisioned its own time zone and a seashell-based barter economy, aimed at attracting billions and fostering world peace. The project never materialized.
As Hsieh died unmarried and childless without a known will, his $500 million estate was initially slated to pass to his parents, Richard and Judy Hsieh. However, the arrival of this document, described by The Wall Street Journal as a 'surprise will,' has introduced a new dimension to the estate's disposition.
