- Bee Gee Robin Gibb’s will revealed a complicated personal history
- He had two wives and a mistress and at least one child with each of them
By Natalie Clarke for MailOnline
Published: | Updated:
A person's will lays bare, in cold legal language, the story of their life.
What relationships meant the most to them, who they loved and — by omission — who they disdained.
Bee Gee Robin Gibb’s will, made public last week, reveals a complicated personal history.
Two wives, one mistress and four children by these three women.
Close: Robin Gibb with wife Dwina Gibb and son RJ at their home in Oxfordshire
The reading of a will is always emotional for those left behind, but the Last Will And Testament of Robin Hugh Gibb — in essence his voice from the grave — appears to have provoked anguish among his family.
The musician, who died in May last year, aged 62, from colon cancer, leaves the bulk of his £25.8 million estate to his second wife, Dwina, 60.
The two children from his first marriage, Spencer, 40, and Melissa, 38, receive cash gifts of £500,000. There is nothing for his first wife, Molly Hullis, whom he divorced in 1980.
His 38-year-old mistress, Claire Yang — mother of his four-year-old daughter, Snow — gets an £800,000 house.
And the will, drawn up in August 2011, nine months before his death, states that the Bee Gee was in the process of ‘making reasonable provision for Snow’. This suggestion of uncertainty led to reports this week that Snow had been ‘cut out of the will’.
'Provided for': Claire Yang with her baby daughter Snow Evelyn Robin Juliet Gibb
In fact, a friend of Dwina’s confirmed to the Mail that such ‘reasonable provision’ was put in place before Gibb’s death — a figure reported to be £4 million.
And what of Gibb’s son with Dwina, 30-year-old musician Robin-John? What is his share in the estate?
Upon his mother Dwina’s death, Robin-John (known as RJ), Spencer and Melissa will share what’s left of their father’s estate. But in the meantime, RJ gets nothing from the will. No cash gift like his half-siblings, no personal items such as a watch or artwork — not even a Bee Gees album.
Of course, it’s very possible that before Robin died, he transferred a sum of money to RJ, possibly as a way of avoiding inheritance tax. Indeed, Isle of Man-born Gibb’s fortune has been estimated previously at around £90 million, and may be tied up in assets held overseas.
But isn’t it somehow odd that there is nothing immediate in the will — not even a symbolic gesture? Especially while his father’s mistress has a nice house and his love-child reportedly has £4 million in the bank.
The money is for Snow’s education and upbringing — but there’s sure to be plenty left over for clothes and holidays.
How, one wonders, does RJ feel?
Well, a clue could be found this week in a posting on his Facebook page, following newspaper reports about the contents of the will.
The subject of the posting is Claire Yang, Gibb’s former lover, who used to work as housekeeper at his and Dwina’s mansions in Thame, Oxfordshire, and Miami, Florida.
It is believed the affair began in 2001, and Snow was born in November 2008. (Where her name came from is a mystery.)
Gibb never denied fathering her, and if there was ever a question mark over her parentage, it should have been erased by now — for Gibb’s name is on her birth certificate, and a section in his will is devoted to ‘my daughter Snow Evelyn Robin Juliet Gibb’.
But shockingly, RJ is now asserting that Gibb is not Snow’s father at all.
Family trouble: RJ, pictured with parents Robin and Dwina, claims that Snow is not in fact Robin's daughter
More misinformation,’ he writes on a Facebook post. ‘There is no evidence behind this housekeeper rumour that got out of hand.
‘She never slept with my father. He didn’t sleep around, but if he had he would have had better taste than that!’
RJ goes on, by way of explanation: ‘This woman had boyfriends in town.’
He is even angry at the reports mentioning his mother being a ‘druid priestess’. ‘A family friend is a Druid, and his group made her an honorary member,’ he writes.
‘Suddenly a paper said she is a high priestess lol. This is the same old regurgitated c**p that’s been peddled before without a shred of veracity in what is written.’
He adds at the end: ‘It was insulting at first, then it was funny, but now it’s just old.’ Whether this is a reference to Claire Yang’s affair with Gibb, or to his mother being referred to as a Druid high priestess, isn’t clear.
Whatever, it’s strange, because Dwina’s involvement in Druidism is just as real and documented as Snow’s parentage. She even once gave an interview in which she said she’d had the tennis court at the family home — which dates back to the 12th century — taken up and replaced with a mini Stonehenge.
She is certainly eccentric, and tells visitors to the house about the gardener ‘John’, who did the weeding 500 years ago and still potters around the grounds, planting and pruning.
Family portrait: Robin and Dwina with baby RJ in 1983
Goodness knows how RJ would have reacted if the reports this week had brought up the fact that in the Seventies, his mother starred in a number of porn movies and posed for sex magazines.
Regardless, it’s all rather out of character. Usually, RJ is fairly mild-mannered, which makes his outburst all the more surprising.
He is a personable, dark-haired young man, who resembles his mother rather than his father. He was raised at the family home in Thame and spent a lot of time at his parents’ property in Miami.
After attending Ashfold School in Buckinghamshire, he went on to New College, Oxford, then the Gulliver Academy in Miami, to study drama. He has since followed his father into the music business, though is yet to enjoy his success.
Some children of eccentric parents react by being utterly conventional, but friends say RJ is rather ‘off the wall’, like his mother and father.
Is RJ hurt because Yang, the woman he appears to despise, has been provided with millions for her daughter’s upbringing while he has to wait many years for his bequest?
He had always been very close to his father — they jointly wrote the score for The Titanic Requiem, recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the ship. Indeed, after Dwina’s death, RJ will be appointed manager of Robin’s music rights.
Early death: Robin Gibb died in May last year at 62 from colon cancer
Yet friends say dealing with Robin’s affair with Claire, the arrival of Snow in 2008, then Gibb’s diagnosis with colon cancer in 2010, devastated RJ and his mother.
Gibb’s relationship with Dwina, whom he wed in 1985, was famously — notoriously, even — unconventional. There were many reports about their ‘open marriage’, talk of Robin’s ‘threesomes’ and his going ‘cruising’ for sex.
Dwina, by all accounts, was perfectly happy for Robin to have affairs, and he in turn was relaxed — approving even — of her affairs with women.
According to one associate, the couple would happily discuss the details of their unconventional arrangement to anyone prepared to listen.
‘They didn’t feel the need to keep it to themselves,’ explains the friend. ‘They were very open about what went on. It could get rather embarrassing — it was too much information, too much of the time.’
Dwina reportedly once said to an interviewer: ‘We have an open relationship. Robin has had flings with friends of mine, and he talks to me about them.’
But despite their ‘anything goes’ attitude, Dwina did not anticipate that Gibb would father another child with one of his women. That, it seems, was the only rule imposed by Dwina on the marriage — and Robin broke it.
Dwina had reportedly been accepting of Robin’s relationship with the housekeeper, but when she discovered Miss Yang was pregnant, she is said to have told her to pack her bags and leave. Yang moved into a nearby property, a converted barn.
Friends say Robin himself had been none too pleased that she was expecting.
One of them says: ‘He could be quite difficult and self-obsessed, and Claire pandered completely to him. She nurtured him and soothed his ego. Having a baby together wasn’t part of the deal.’
After Snow’s birth at the private Portland Hospital in West London, however, Gibb fell in love with his baby daughter and would regularly visit her and her mother. Asked about his youngest child, he replied: ‘New life is heaven-sent and is a blessing.’
The affair between Robin and Claire became public knowledge three months after Snow was born. Soon afterwards, a photograph emerged of the pair that had been taken by a fan in September 2004, in which they are standing together in the lobby of the five-star Westin Bellevue Hotel in Dresden, Germany.
Height of fame: Robin, left, with Maurice and Barry Gibb in The Bee Gees in 1978
Friends say Claire, who was born in Braintree, Essex, was besotted with Gibb, and nurtured a hope that one day he would leave Dwina for her.
But Gibb had no intention of doing so. Not long after the story of his ‘love-child’ broke, he said about his marriage to Dwina: ‘Our relationship is rock-solid, and that’s the most important thing to me.’
Miss Yang moved into the £800,000 property in Amersham, Buckinghamshire — left to her in Gibb’s will — in 2010.
Her relationship with Gibb suffered during this time, and reports suggest they drifted apart towards the end of his life.
The legal to-ings and fro-ings organising financial provision for Snow, while Gibb was undergoing cancer treatment, reportedly caused further strain between them.
Miss Yang and her daughter did not attend Gibb’s funeral, but his surviving brother, Barry, spoke about Robin’s love for his children: Spencer, Melissa and RJ. Then he added: ‘And little Snow.’
This week, a woman who answered the door of Claire’s modern five-bedroom detached house said she was out, but would not wish to talk about Snow and the provision made for her by Gibb.
Sources say both Claire and Dwina have signed an agreement not to talk publicly about the financial arrangements for the little girl.
And what about RJ? Well, he became a father himself last week. He and his girlfriend, Megan Golub, are celebrating the arrival of a son, Maxwell-Robin John Gibb — who would have been Robin’s first grandchild.
RJ’s tirade on Facebook against Miss Yang is followed by a tribute to the joys of fatherhood — rather contrasting in style.
‘All the best to everyone,’ he writes (excepting Miss Yang, presumably). ‘PS. Max, my baby boy, is doing well and he’s such a good boy. He hardly cries. The little angel. I can sit and watch him sleeping for hours.
‘I am an extremely proud father, nothing to beat the feeling. Lots of love, Sincerely RJ.’
Experiencing that first, powerful rush of paternal love for his newborn son, one can only imagine how greatly RJ misses his own late father. It seems such a shame that the Gibb family appears still to be mired in acrimony over what Robin has left behind.
FAQs
How much money did Robin Gibb leave his children? ›
Spencer and Melissa, Gibb's two children from his first wife Molly Hullis who Gibb left in 1980, each received £500,000. Gibb's mistress Clair Yang, and mother of his four year old daughter received an £800,000 house and £4 million in the bank for his daughter's future education.
Which Bee Gee had an open marriage? ›Dwina Gibb, 61, an artist, writer and bisexual self-styled druid priestess, said she and the singer had a “certain kind of freedom” in their marriage, but loved each other deeply. More than one women: Robin Gibb performs in Dubai in 2008, four years before his death, aged 62.
Who was the richest Bee Gee? ›According to Celebrity Net Worth, Maurice Gibb had a net worth of around $90 million.
Who did Robin Gibbs marry? ›Robin Gibb
Why did Robin Gibb put hand to ear? ›In order to center his tone, he often cupped his ear when he sang. In the mid'70s, under the tutelage of producer Arif Marden, the Bee Gees began to explore soul and disco music.
Why did Robin Gibb wear blue glasses? ›It was in this latter period of the late 90s and early noughties that Robin began wearing his now iconic blue sunglasses, which have since become an inseparable association with his overall image and memory. Robin always wanted to create a line of sunglasses and now the dream is a reality.
Why was Andy not a Bee Gee? ›Why wasn't Andy Gibb in the Bee Gees? Sadly, Andy was just too young to join the Bee Gees, as they were already performing and writing songs when he was just an infant. However, in early 1988, Barry, Robin, and Maurice announced that Andy would be joining the Bee Gees which would have made them a four-member group.
How rich is Barry Gibb? ›Introduction. As of September 2022, Barry Gibb's net worth is roughly $140 Million. Barry Gibb is a British-American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the group the Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful groups in the history of popular music.
Is Andy Gibbs still alive? › How many of the Bee Gees have passed away? ›Andy Gibb died in 1988 at the age of 30 from the heart condition myocarditis. Maurice Gibb died in 2003 at age 53 due to complications of a twisted intestine, and his twin, Robin Gibb, died in 2012 at age 62 from liver and kidney failure after battling cancer.
What is Ed Sheeran net worth? ›
Thanks to hits like “Shape of You,” “Bad Habits,” “Castle on the Hill” and “Perfect,” Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has an estimated net worth of $200 million dollars, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com.
How much is Mick Jagger worth right now? ›Net Worth: $360 Million
He has been the lead vocalist for his group The Rolling Stones since they were formed in the early 1960s. What is this? As of September 2022, Mick Jagger's net worth is $360 million, making him the 8th richest rock star on the list.
After one tragedy and two failed marriages, Gibbs was still hopeful that he could make it to the end with someone. He married a woman named Stephanie Flynn, and the couple spent a lot of time in Moscow while Gibbs worked.
Does Gibbs have a son with Rose? ›In "Deliverance", Rose's now-adult son Tomas is introduced as a person of interest in a case. Gibbs' team suspected that he was the boy's father, but Gibbs later reveals to Tomas that Rose was already pregnant when Gibbs came to their village.
How much did Robin Gibb leave his wife? ›Late Bee Gee Robin Gibb left his entire £26m fortune to his widow Dwina and three of his children. The singer passed away in May 2012 after a long battle with liver and colon cancer.
Why do singers pull out their earpieces? ›Why Do Musicians Take Out Their Earpieces on Stage? Musicians often take out their earpieces out because they simply want to hear the crowd and take in the atmosphere. DJs and producers sometimes take out their in-ear monitors while mixing so they can hear a clearer sound of the room.
Why are the Bee Gees voices so high? ›That's because their thinner, more flexible vocal cords give them greater, natural control over their voices as they rise into the highest registers. So while untrained male voices “break” into falsetto as they rise, women's voices slide into it. Whether the term can apply to women at all has long been debated.
Why do singers block one ear? ›By covering one ear, singers can hear the resonance of their voice being made inside their head while using the other ear to properly hear the music. Sometimes singers aren't able to pick and choose the situations they find themselves in when they sing and perform.
Why didn't Barry and Robin Gibb get along? ›Barry also revealed that there were several periods during their 5 decades in music when he, Robin and Maurice didn't get along, most notably after their initial rise to fame in the late 1960s fuled by hits like “To Love Somebody.” Robin and Barry in particular began to fight over who deserved to be the group's ...
What brand glasses did Robin Gibb wear? ›Robin Gibb's Blue Glass Mews by KTT is proud to present to you The Official Robin Hugh Gibb CBE Sunglasses aka Bodding's Legacy Blüz. Each pair comes beautifully printed with Robin's signature & the Robin Gibb Blue Glass Mews by KTT emblem.
Which Bee Gee was tone deaf? ›
Stop anyone in the street and ask them to sing the chorus of “Stayin' Alive” and nine times out of ten you will get a...
How old is Lulu now? ›Lulu, or Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, was born on November 3, 1948, in Lennoxtown, Scotland, near Glasgow. She is presently 73 years old. She is a well-known singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment industry since the 1960s.
What is Lulu real name? › How much money is Lulu worth? ›Lulu net worth: Lulu is a Scottish singer, actress, television personality, and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $30 million dollars.
Was there a 4th Bee Gee brother? ›Which Bee Gees were twins? Robin and Maurice Gibb were twins. Barry Gibb is three years older. The trio had a younger brother, singer Andy Gibb, who they announced would become the fourth Bee Gee in 1988.
Is Barry the only Bee Gee alive? ›Sadly, Barry Gibb is now the only surviving member of the Bee Gees. His younger brothers, fraternal twins Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb died in 2012 and 2003, respectively. The eldest Gibb is now 75 and has continued to make music following the passing of his siblings and bandmates.
What was Andy Gibb's net worth at death? ›Andy Gibb Net Worth: Andy Gibb was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his passing in 1988.
Who is Andy Gibbs wife? › What does Victoria Principal say about Andy Gibb? ›After Gibb's death in 1988, Principal explained to People, "Our breakup was preceded and precipitated by Andy's use of drugs," she clarified, "I did everything I could to help him, but then I told him he would have to choose between me and his problem."
How many Bee Gee brothers were there? ›The Bee Gees were a music group formed in 1958, featuring brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful as a popular music act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers of the disco music era in the mid- to late 1970s.
How much is Rufus net worth? ›
...
Rufus Sewell Net Worth 2022: Biography Career Income Car.
The record for richest musician in the world 2022 is held by Kanye West who has accumulated his huge wealth through music, real estate and brand endorsement. He is one of the richest singers in the world. His music records have alone sold over 160 million copies and he is the winner of 24 Grammy Awards.
How much is Rufus worth? ›...
Rufus Wainwright Net Worth.
| Net Worth: | $10 Million |
|---|---|
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.803 m) |
| Profession: | Singer, Actor, Musician, Songwriter, Artist, Composer, Film Producer, Music artist |
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb was born at Jane Crookall Maternity Home in Douglas, Isle of Man, on 1 September 1946, to Hugh Gibb (15 January 1916 – 6 March 1992), a drummer, and Barbara Gibb (17 November 1920 – 12 August 2016) (née Pass).
How old is Maurice Gibbs? › What does Andy Gibbs daughter do? › Who is the only Bee Gee left alive? ›The only surviving member of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb, says he sometimes "hears and sees" his late brothers. Robin died in 2012 aged 62, nine years after his twin Maurice. The youngest Gibb brother - Andy - died of a heart attack aged 30 in 1988.
Did any of the Bee Gees have affairs? ›Aged 50, Robin Gibb began an affair with his 25-year-old housekeeper, Claire Yang. Eight years later, the affair resulted in the birth of his fourth child, Snow Evelyn Robin Juliet Gibb, born 2008. Meanwhile, the Bee Gees are set to be the subject of a new musical biopic, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.
What did the Bee Gees father do? ›...
| Hugh Gibb | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Big band |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, delivery man, photographer |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Pass (married 27 May 1944) |
...
| Net Worth: | $200 Million |
|---|---|
| Source of Wealth: | Professional Singer/Songwriter |
| Last Updated: | August 2, 2022 |
Who is the richest paid singer? ›
Taylor Swift is the female artist with the highest-earning ever in a year (first with $170 million in 2016, and $185 million in 2019), breaking previous record-holders Madonna ($125 million in 2013) and Katy Perry ($135 million in 2015).
Who is the richest entertainer net worth? ›George Lucas. George Lucas is the richest celebrity of 2020 with a net worth $6.5 billion.
Who is richer Mick Jagger or Keith Richards? ›Mick Jagger is one the richest The Rolling Stones member and shares the title with Keith Richards. As of 2022, the net worth of Mick Jagger is $520 million.
Who is the richest band in the world 2022? ›As of 2022, The Beatles' net worth is $2.2 Billion. According to sources, The Beatles are the richest music band in history.
Is Phil Collins still rich? ›While he is yet to reach the billionaire mark, Phil Collins' net worth is now at $300 million, as Celebrity Net Worth estimated. His whopping earnings came from the salaries and pays as a soloist.
How much is the remaining Bee Gee worth? ›Introduction. As of September 2022, Barry Gibb's net worth is roughly $140 Million.
What was Andy Gibb's net worth at death? ›Andy Gibb Net Worth: Andy Gibb was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his passing in 1988.
How many of the Bee Gees have passed away? ›Andy Gibb died in 1988 at the age of 30 from the heart condition myocarditis. Maurice Gibb died in 2003 at age 53 due to complications of a twisted intestine, and his twin, Robin Gibb, died in 2012 at age 62 from liver and kidney failure after battling cancer.
How many Bee Gees are still alive? ›The pop group the Bee Gees featured brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb. The group became an international sensation in the 1970s. Of the five Gibb children, Barry Gibb and sister Lesley are the only remaining siblings. Barry Gibb is the last surviving member of the Bee Gees.
Is Barry the only Bee Gee alive? ›Sadly, Barry Gibb is now the only surviving member of the Bee Gees. His younger brothers, fraternal twins Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb died in 2012 and 2003, respectively. The eldest Gibb is now 75 and has continued to make music following the passing of his siblings and bandmates.
What happened to the 4th Bee Gee? ›
Musical career
Gibb would later have issues with drug addiction and depression. He died on 10 March 1988, five days after his 30th birthday.
Barry Gibb was born on September 1, 1946. He celebrated his 74th birthday in 2020. His full name is Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, and he was born in Jane Crookall Maternity Home in Douglas, Isle of Man.
How much is Rufus net worth? ›...
Rufus Sewell Net Worth 2022: Biography Career Income Car.
...
Rufus Wainwright Net Worth.
| Net Worth: | $10 Million |
|---|---|
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.803 m) |
| Profession: | Singer, Actor, Musician, Songwriter, Artist, Composer, Film Producer, Music artist |
The only surviving member of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb, says he sometimes "hears and sees" his late brothers. Robin died in 2012 aged 62, nine years after his twin Maurice. The youngest Gibb brother - Andy - died of a heart attack aged 30 in 1988.
Did any of the Bee Gees have affairs? ›Aged 50, Robin Gibb began an affair with his 25-year-old housekeeper, Claire Yang. Eight years later, the affair resulted in the birth of his fourth child, Snow Evelyn Robin Juliet Gibb, born 2008. Meanwhile, the Bee Gees are set to be the subject of a new musical biopic, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.
What did the Bee Gees father do? ›...
| Hugh Gibb | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Big band |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, delivery man, photographer |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Pass (married 27 May 1944) |
Gibb was the second Bee Gee and third Gibb brother to die.
Is Andy Gibbs still alive? › Is Barry Gibb's wife still alive? ›Barry Alan Crompton Gibb was born at Jane Crookall Maternity Home in Douglas, Isle of Man, on 1 September 1946, to Hugh Gibb (15 January 1916 – 6 March 1992), a drummer, and Barbara Gibb (17 November 1920 – 12 August 2016) (née Pass).
Are the Bee Gees English or Australian? ›
Bee Gee brothers Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb were born on the Isle of Man to English parents, and lived in Chorlton, Manchester until the late 1950s. The family moved to Redcliffe, in Queensland, Australia. After achieving their first chart success in Australia, they returned to the UK in 1967.