Gary Coleman's Estate: How Much Was It Worth?
As his exes battle over estate, some believe they could gain millions.
June 16, 2009— -- Gary Coleman may have died with few assets to his name, but the ultimate beneficiary of his estate could stand to make millions.
With that much money at stake, it's no surprise that a battle has erupted over his estate. Two of Coleman's exes -- his ex-wife Shannon Price and a former girlfriend and manager, Anna Gray -- have both laid claims to his estate.
"It's not just his present assets anybody is fighting over," Gray's attorney Randy Kester told ABCNews.com. "It's a survivor death benefit that Ms. Price has already grabbed, potential book deals and movie rights. His present assets pale significantly in comparison to what may be garnered. It could potentitally be millions."
At stake are Coleman's 4,405-square-foot home outside Salt Lake City, valued at $315,000, a pension, residuals from Coleman's TV and movie work and the right to license his likeness.
With one will naming Gray as a partial beneficiary and an addendum naming Price as the sole beneficiary, it could be a while before the estate is sorted out.
On Monday, a Utah district judge appointed Provo attorney Robert Jeffs as the special administrator of Coleman's estate to oversee his property and the cremation of his remains until the dispute between his exes is settled.
His cremation was delayed until today so that Gray, who lives in Portland, Ore., could travel to Utah to view his body.
The judge also entered a restraining order last Friday to restrict any more property being removed from Coleman's home. Gray has accused Price of "invading" Coleman's home and removing personal papers and other belongings. The judge ordered all of Coleman's property, including his beloved model trains, to be accounted for.
Price's attorney Mitch Maughan told ABCNews.com that the value of Coleman's estate has been greatly exaggerated.
"It doesn't have a lot of value," he said. "There are a lot of creditors out there. Most likely, his property will have to be sold and disposed of, and at the end of the day there will probably be nothing left over."Shannon Price and Gary Coleman.