Graspberry beret: Prince’s family fight over his £200m legacy as sister storms out of court hearing
Stormed out ... Tyka Nelson, Prince's only full sibling, stormed out of a Minnesota court hearing after she was made special administrator of his estate
PRINCE’S family are already at war over his £200million fortune less than two weeks after his death.
The Raspberry Beret singer, 57, left no will so his sister Tyka Nelson and five half-siblings are battling for control of his estate.
Meanwhile more people claiming to be Prince’s lovechild have surfaced, with heir Hunters International saying they have found one which is credible.
The Grammy award-winner’s estate includes 11 homes worth a staggering £10million – plus millions in royalties, back catalogues and unreleased songs.
Family members appeared at a showdown in court today as a judge attempted to sort out who is entitled to a slice of Prince’s cash.
Last night one family friend told The Sun: “Things haven’t got off to the best of starts.
“Everyone is holding their breath hoping it does not get worse.
“Prince’s finances seem to have been left in a chaotic state, with no will or plans in place.
“His close family stand to gain a lot of money.
“Of course Prince would have wanted them to be looked after well, but everyone is just hoping it runs smoothly and no-one falls out permanently.”
Ex-crack addict and prostitute Tyka has already been made special administrator of his estate by a judge at a court in their home US state of Minnesota.
Bremer Trust bank has also been appointed administrator to divide up assets to Tyka and Prince’s five half-siblings – Omarr Baker, John Nelson, Norrine Nelson, Sharon Nelson and Alfred Jackson.
The courtroom was filled with 11 lawyers today as a judge confirmed the bank as special administrator over the estate.
This includes Prince’s 11 homes – most notably the £7million Paisley Park mansion and recording studio in Chanhassen, on the outskirts of Minneapolis, where he was found dead.
Other properties owned by the singer include the houses lived in by Tyka – worth just £62,000 – and his half-brother Omar’s £300,000 pad.
His property empire – which stretches across the small community of Chanhassen – also includes a luxury £900,000 home just one mile from his mansion.
And he even held onto a £420,000 home, also in Chanhassen, that used to be owned by his ex-wife Manuela Testolini, who he divorced in 2006.
A source claimed this evening that Prince’s property in Minnesota could be worth closer to £18million.
But after her appointment as administrator by a court, Tyka stormed out of a family meeting, held with her five half-siblings, last Thursday.
A source claimed she believes she is entitled to a bigger chunk of Prince's estate - but under Minnesota law assets may be divided up equally.
Responding to the row, Frank Wheaton, lawyer of Tyka’s half-brother Alfred Jackson, said: "Some people have to control everything.”
He added that Alfred had felt “excluded” from the family in the past.
Frank added: “Alfred and I went with an olive branch, prepared to sit at the table like everyone else invited”.
Yesterday Alfred attended a probate hearing at a court in Minnesota along with Tyka, Omarr and Sharon, to try and sort out their differences.
Ancestry group Heir Hunters has claimed that Prince’s grand-niece, Victoria Nelson, who is under 18, may be the seventh family member also in line for a pay-out from the singer’s estate.
And the investigators have also found a man with a credible claim to be the singer’s lovechild.
John Hilbert told ABC News: “He was born in the 80s, and his mother crossed paths with Prince a couple of times.”
The group are currently verifying the man’s claims.
Cops are still investigating how Prince – hooked on powerful painkillers - died alone in a lift at his US mansion on April 21 aged 57.
The stricken singer was revealed to be addicted to opioid Percocet before his death and suffered an overdose of the drug on his private plane six day before he died.
It is believed he was taking the prescription drug to combat chronic hip pain – as a result of leaping around on stage in heels for years.
Police are probing whether a doctor was prescribing Prince with the painkillers.
One music insider last week also claimed the sex-mad Purple Rain star had also been battling AIDS.
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