French Billionaire Wants To Disinherit His Five Children, Give Entire Fortune To Charity

Key points

• French Billionaire Wants To Disinherit His Five Children, Give Entire Fortune To Charity Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 17:34 IST Pierre-Edouard Sterin urges French lawmakers to relax inheritance laws so he can donate his 1.4 billion euro fortune to charity, sparking debate over heirs rights and philanthropy.
• Pierre-Edouard Sterin urges French lawmakers to relax inheritance laws so he can donate his 1.4 billion euro fortune to charity.
• (Image: AFP) French billionaire entrepreneur Pierre-Edouard Sterin has sparked a debate in France after urging lawmakers to change inheritance laws so he can leave his entire fortune to charitable causes instead of passing most of it on to his five children.
• Sterin, the founder of gift-box company Smartbox and one of France’s wealthiest businessmen, made the appeal during a hearing before French senators, arguing that individuals should have complete freedom to decide how their wealth is distributed after death.