Jane Buffett, the widow of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court to remove Richard Mozenter as co-trustee of her late husband’s $275 million estate. The legal action comes after Buffett’s death at age 76 following a battle with cancer. In the filing, Jane Buffett alleges that Mozenter has been “openly hostile and adversarial” toward her and has failed to provide necessary financial details about the estate despite repeated requests.
The lawsuit states, “Mr. Mozenter has belittled, disrespected, and condescended to Mrs. Buffett in response to her reasonable requests for information she undoubtedly was entitled to receive.”
Mozenter, who manages the marital trust alongside Jane Buffett, has also filed his own petition in Florida seeking to have her removed as co-trustee.
This move has intensified the legal battle over the estate. Jane Buffett asserts that Mozenter’s mismanagement and lack of transparency have left her in the dark about her finances.
Legal battle over Buffett estate
The filing highlights specific grievances, including a lack of clarity on her expected income from the trust and Mozenter’s decision to exclude future distributions from “Margaritaville”—a business in which the trust owns a significant stake—in his analysis of the trust’s future income. The widow argues that her financial stability is compromised, as Mozenter advised her to consider selling her real estate to cover expenses, reflecting either incompetence or unwillingness to act in her best interests. The filing also notes that Mozenter and his firm received substantial fees exceeding $1.7 million in 2024, despite his unsatisfactory performance and treatment.
Jimmy Buffett, known for his “Margaritaville” island escapism brand, appeared on the Forbes billionaires list in 2023. His empire included music, resorts, restaurants, casinos, cruises, and merchandise. Jane Buffett, who married the singer in 1977, and their three children now face uncertainty as the estate’s future remains in legal limbo.
Mozenter has not publicly commented on the allegations, and the outcome of these legal proceedings could significantly impact the administration of the Buffett estate. The complex dispute adds a somber chapter to the legacy of the beloved musician, whose work left a lasting mark on pop culture in the 1970s and 1980s.