Hugh Hefner was vocal about his dislike of drugs and alcohol, as well as his concerns about substance abuse. It appears that the Playboy founder, who died in September 2017 at age 91, drafted his will to reflect those views.
Hefner’s trust includes a clause that blocks his heirs from accessing their inheritance if they are found to have engaged in substance abuse. It says that if any of his four children or his widow become “physically or psychologically” dependent on drugs or alcohol, they will not be able to obtain any money. The rule also applies to clinical dependence on alcohol consumption or use of chemical substances that are not prescribed by a psychiatrist or doctor.
According to the will, the inheritance’s trustees will be responsible for determining whether the heirs have violated Hefner’s terms. The trustees can ask them to submit to drug testing at any time if substance abuse is suspected. Payments may restart once the individual in question has remained sober for 12 months or is “able to care for himself or herself again.”
Placing restrictions on an inheritance is not uncommon. Individuals may choose to include drug and alcohol testing requirements out of concern for a beneficiary’s wellbeing, especially if they have an addiction problem. Such clauses are usually intended to protect beneficiaries and ensure the inheritance is distributed according to one’s wishes.