Eight months after the sudden death of former Friends star Matthew Perry, his unexpected wealth has been revealed. Perry’s personal fortune has been valued at over $1.5 million (A$2.25 million), with the money directed into a trust already worth more than $120 million (A$180 million).
The actor, who passed away last year due to the acute effects of ketamine, left behind a will with numerous beneficiaries, according to court documents. Perry, 54, had previously established the “Alvy Singer Living Trust,” named after Woody Allen’s character in Annie Hall, as reported by The Sun.
Perry designated his father John Perry, mother Suzanne Morrison, half-sister Caitlin Morrison, and former girlfriend Rachel Dunn as beneficiaries. Little is known about Dunn, a former fashion student whom Perry dated from 2003 to 2004 when she was just 19.
New court filings from June, seen by The U.S. Sun, show Perry’s personal property exceeded expectations. Lisa Ferguson, the trustee of Perry’s estate, filed an inventory and appraisal document revealing a balance of $1,596,914.47. This sum is in addition to what his executors had previously placed in the living trust.
Documents confirm that Perry owned no real property in California at the time of his death. His $6 million (A$9 million) Pacific Palisades home, where he died, remains in Ferguson’s name and is not yet on the market.
Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades property. An assistant pulled him out of the water and called 911, but he could not be saved. At the time of his death, renovation work was ongoing at the home.
Another property in the Hollywood Hills, purchased under his Alvy Singer, LLC, was recently listed for $5,195,000 (A$7.8 million). Perry had also been renting a three-bedroom home overlooking Beverly Hills for $49,000 (A$73,400) a month during the renovations of his Pacific Palisades property.
The actor, who earned millions from his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, created his trust in 2009. Legal documents indicate he did not want any children he might have had to be entitled to his fortune. “I have intentionally omitted from this Will and the Trust any provision for any of my heirs, issue, relatives, or other persons who are not named,” Perry noted. He also excluded any stepchildren or foster children he had or might later acquire.
At the time of his death, Perry was believed to be single, unmarried, and without children. The L.A. County Medical Examiner determined his death was accidental, citing the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors of drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder. The medical examiner’s report indicated Perry had been clean for 19 months but was receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, with his last treatment occurring about a week before his death.
Perry’s autopsy showed ketamine levels consistent with those used in general anesthesia. The coroner noted it was unclear why the drug remained in his system, as it usually metabolizes within hours. The Los Angeles Police Department, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Service, is investigating his death. An LAPD spokesman confirmed the ongoing investigation to The U.S. Sun, stating, “There is no further information at this time.”
Multiple individuals are expected to be charged in connection with Perry’s death. The investigation is nearing its conclusion, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide whether to press charges. Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife Brooke Mueller was reportedly questioned multiple times after police executed a search warrant at her sober living facility in May. Officers seized an iPhone and laptop belonging to Mueller, who has since hired legal representation. It was reported that Perry and Mueller met in rehab and formed a friendship. Perry’s former assistant and ex-lover Kayti Edwards claimed Perry was “romantically involved” with Mueller nearly 20 years ago after meeting in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Mueller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Perry had been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, documenting his health issues in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
