Before John Lennon’s death in 1980, there were some details surrounding his will and how he planned to divide his estate among his children. Lennon had two sons: Julian Lennon, born from his first marriage to Cynthia Powell, and Sean Lennon, born from his second marriage to Yoko Ono.
John Lennon’s will, which was reportedly drafted in 1979, left the majority of his estate to his second wife, Yoko Ono, and their son, Sean. This decision caused some controversy, especially concerning Julian Lennon, his son from his first marriage. While Julian was not completely excluded from the will, it was alleged that his inheritance was significantly smaller than Sean’s.
The division of the estate reflected the state of Lennon’s relationships at the time of his death. Lennon’s relationship with Julian was strained for many years, partially due to his divorce from Cynthia and the intense focus on his new family with Yoko Ono. However, John and Julian had reportedly begun to rebuild their relationship in the years leading up to Lennon’s assassination.
Julian eventually contested the will and reached a settlement with Yoko Ono in the 1990s, although the exact details were kept private. It’s believed that Julian received a portion of his father’s estate, though it was not equal to what was left to Sean.
In terms of shocking revelations, the situation surrounding the will was more of a family matter driven by complex relationships rather than any intentional or startling decision by Lennon. Nonetheless, the unequal inheritance and the tension it caused between Julian and Yoko became a point of public interest, contributing to the narrative around Lennon’s personal life and legacy.
