Sinead O’Connor’s Final Wish Regarding Assets: “Milk It for What It’s Worth”
Late Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor left a fortune worth £1.7 million ($2.1 million) to her children, along with a cheeky instruction: “Milk it for all it’s worth.”
O’Connor, known for her powerful voice and iconic hit “Nothing Compares 2 U,” tragically passed away on July 26, 2023, at 56 years old. She died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma. The devastating news came just 18 months after her 17-year-old son, Shane Lunny, tragically took his own life.
The singer, who was married four times, is survived by her three other children: Jake, 36, from her first husband John Reynolds; Roisin, 27, from her relationship with John Waters; and Yeshua, 16, whose father is Frank Bonadio. Shane’s father was musician Donal Lunny.
Dividing the Fortune
According to Irish probate records obtained by The Sun, O’Connor’s estate had £300,000 ($375,000) deducted for debts, funeral costs, and legal fees, leaving £1.4 million ($1.75 million) for her children to split.
In a 2013 will, the Grammy-winning artist outlined her wishes, including a unique directive for her albums: “I direct that after my death, and at the discretion of any of my children who are then over 18, my albums are to be released so as to ‘milk it for what it’s worth.”
Sinead also had deeply personal and spiritual requests for her burial. She asked to be dressed in priest’s clothing, buried with a Hebrew Bible, and accompanied by her album Theology.
Her youngest son, Yeshua, was left her cherished guitars, while her late son Shane was meant to inherit her religious regalia.
O’Connor appointed her ex-husband, John Reynolds, as the executor of her will. The pair were married in 1987 but divorced in 1991. Despite their split, Reynolds remained a significant figure in her life, even formally registering her death.
Mourning a Legend
Sinead’s death rocked the music world, sparking grief from fans and celebrities. Thousands lined the streets during her funeral procession in Herne Hill last summer, while notable figures like Bono and Sir Bob Geldof attended the service.
O’Connor, who converted to Islam in 2018, released her first album, The Lion and the Cobra, in 1987. But it was her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, that cemented her global fame. Her haunting cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U shot to the top of the charts in 1990, staying at number one for weeks and earning her worldwide acclaim.
O’Connor released 10 studio albums, sold over 6.2 million records worldwide, and never shied away from controversy. Her bold personality and refusal to conform established her as a true icon in the music industry.
