George Michael leaves ‘lion’s share’ of his £105m fortune to ‘favourite’ big sister Melanie who travelled the world with him
GEORGE Michael left the bulk of his £105million fortune to his favourite big sister Melanie, The Sun understands.
Friends say hairdresser Melanie, 55, is set to receive up to £50million following the pop star’s death on Christmas Day.
George’s other sister Yioda, 57, is also expected to inherit part of his money and property empire.
Melanie travelled round the world with her younger brother at the height of his pop stardom.
A source said: “George was very close to his sisters, and the understanding is that they’re going to inherit most of his wealth, particularly Melanie who he was incredibly close to.
“She was there at many of the big milestones in his life, and was there by his side until the very end.
“George was very family-orientated and even in his death he’s shown that. He was keen to see them well looked after for the future.”
Melanie, who affectionately referred to his hit Careless Whisper as Tuneless Whisper, is set to receive up to £50million.
She used to cut the star’s hair as she travelled with him — and once caused the Careless Whisper video to go over its £30,000 budget by £17,000.
She trimmed his locks halfway through the shoot, forcing earlier scenes to be scrapped.
Melanie was present at Wham’s farewell party in London in 1986 and was formally employed as a make-up artist by George for a tour of China in the late Eighties.
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The generous star once splashed out £14,000 on a brand-new BMW for her as well as his late mother Lesley, who died in 1997.
In 2001, Melanie held a bedside vigil with Yioda when he was in hospital with pneumonia.
The star was found dead in his bed on Christmas Day by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
It is understood the formal process of dividing up his will is likely to wait until a decision is made on any potential inquest.
The Oxfordshire Coroner’s Office confirmed a post-mortem would be carried out to confirm the cause of death — which has so far been identified as heart failure by his representatives.
Stunned fans have left a sea of flowers outside his countryside property, with one bringing along his pet goat Freddie.
There were similar tributes at George’s townhouse in Highgate, North London.
Stories of the star’s generosity have emerged in the wake of his death, with one woman receiving £15,000 for IVF from him after appearing on Deal or No Deal.
A representative for George declined to comment on the will.