Ol' Dirty Bastard died without a will; his widow sued the Wu-Tang Clan for royalties while his children said they had received nothing

Russell Jones, known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, died of an accidental drug overdose two days before his 36th birthday. He had no will, so New York law decided who inherited. His widow, Icelene Jones, became administrator and was to receive half. The other half was to be split among his seven recognized children. Reports say he may have had as many as 13. His former manager, Jarred Weisfeld, told the New York Post: "You can't tell somebody who's 35 to get a will." In 2020 Krishana Rucker, mother of his daughter Ashana, received a $500,000 settlement for unpaid child support, backdated to his death. The final payment arrived in February 2022. In February 2022 Icelene Jones sued Wu-Tang Productions in New York Supreme Court for at least $1 million. She cited a 1992 contract and alleged that no royalties were paid from 2011 until a $130,000 check in July 2021. RZA, ODB's cousin and owner of the company, called the suit "unfortunate" and said ODB's share was small and payable after costs were recouped. In July 2022 Ashana Jones said she and her half-siblings had not received anything from the estate. No ruling or settlement in the royalty suit was found^†. The state of the estate in 2026 was not confirmed^†.