Trust This. Jimmy Buffetâs Trust War
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- Trust This.
- Posts
- Trust This: Jimmy Buffet's trust war
Trust This: Jimmy Buffet's trust war
and it just got easier for employees to sue their employers
Joseph Seagle
June 13, 2025
In partnership with
Trust This.
By Joseph E. Seagle, Esq.
đ Happy Friday! Sunday is Fatherâsđ§đźââď¸Day. Wishing all the dads out there a relaxing and happy day.
âď¸Situation Awareness: As land trustees, weâre signing more contract extensions and cancellations than we can recall in recent years during the height of the selling season. And, apparently, weâre not the only ones seeing this trend in contract cancellations. The buyersâ market has arrived. Price accordingly.
1 big thing: đ¸ Jimmy Buffettâs Trust War: A $275M Lesson for Entrepreneurs
A high-stakes legal battle has erupted over the late Jimmy Buffettâs $275 million estate. His widow, Jane Buffett, is suing to oust co-trustee Richard Mozenter, her husbandâs longtime business manager, citing mistreatment, lack of transparency, and poor financial returns. Mozenter is countersuing, arguing sheâs interfering with the trustâs operations and violating Jimmyâs wishes.
đ§ Why it matters: Even with detailed planning, wealthy estatesâespecially those tied to business holdingsâcan ignite after death. Entrepreneurs building legacies through brands, partnerships, or family trusts should take note: estate clarity doesnât end with documents. It requires trust, communication, and, most critically, enforceable governance.
Driving the conflict:
The trustâs income: Jane Buffett claims sheâs receiving under $2 million annuallyâa <1% return on a $275 million estate, which includes a 20% stake in Margaritaville Holdings (hotels, restaurants, casinos) valued at $85.3 million.
Fiduciary friction: Mozenter and his firm reportedly earned $1.7M in trustee fees last year. Jane says he withheld basic financial information, belittled her, and mismanaged the trustâs performance .
Counter-allegations: Mozenter argues Jimmy Buffett intentionally limited Janeâs control over the trust, citing concerns about her financial acumen. His lawsuit seeks her removal, too.
The big picture: Buffett, who passed in 2023, had meticulously revised his estate plan twice before his death, transferring assets to a marital trust benefiting Jane and creating smaller trusts for their children. Despite this, discord over control, distribution, and tone has led to Palm Beach courtrooms becoming the estateâs next stage.
The takeaway: If a mega-brand like Margaritaville canât avoid fiduciary warfare, neither can smaller family businesses. This is a cautionary tale for founders: trusts need more than structureâthey need succession diplomacy, alignment, and contingency planning for personality clashes after youâre gone.
2. đď¸ Supreme Court Ruling Widens Door for Employment Discrimination Lawsuits â What It Means for Real Estate Pros
đ§ The big picture: The U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier for employees â even those from majority groups like heterosexual white men or women â to sue for employment discrimination. The unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services throws out a long-standing higher evidentiary hurdle that those employees previously had to clear.
đ Why it matters for your business: Real estate brokerages, title agencies, mortgage firms, and property investment groups â all of which are employers often navigating DEI and hiring complexities â must reexamine their employment practices. This decision broadens the legal risk landscape, particularly around diversity-based hiring and promotion strategies.
đ Catch up quick:
Marlean Ames, a straight white woman, was passed over for a promotion and later demoted while gay colleagues were promoted in her place. She sued under Title VII, alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Lower courts had required Ames to meet an extra standard to prove discrimination, applicable only to majority group members.
The Supreme Court said thatâs unconstitutional and unsupported by Title VII. Justice Jackson, writing for a unanimous court, emphasized that Title VII protects âany individual,â regardless of their group identity.
đĄ Between the lines: Attorneys warn this may lead to a spike in reverse-discrimination lawsuits, especially those targeting DEI programs that appear to favor minorities in hiring or promotion. Title companies and brokerages with formal DEI efforts should tread carefully to ensure policies focus on opportunity â not outcome.
𧊠Yes, but: Employers still win if they can show job decisions were based on legitimate, documented business reasons. But vague hiring processes or poorly documented DEI initiatives could backfire.
đ By the numbers: According to Littlerâs 2025 Employer Survey, 45% of employers now fear lawsuits related to DEIâup from just 22% in 2023 .
đ Whatâs next: Real estate firms should audit DEI policies now, train managers on consistent, nondiscriminatory practices, and document hiring decisions with precision.
In this weekâs Trust This: Tips and Tactics podcast, I geek out with David Buckles about KPIs, data, and reliable news sources for real estate professionals to use to read between the lines while trying to divine approaching headwinds or still waters.
3. Catch up fast
Florida comfortable
Hurricane prep: beyond the sandbags. Legal considerations for Florida businesses. Orlando Business Journal (subscription)
Hurricane Heleneâs unheard warnings ProPublica
Floridaâs insurance rates have risen 40% since 2022, but thereâs a silver lining. Gulf Coast News Now
Two Central Florida men plead guilty in false tax returns scheme. The Legal Description
World Bank Paints a Bleak Picture of the U.S. EconomyâWhat It Means for Homebuyers and Sellers. REALTOR online
Tampa is #2 in highest percentage of price cuts for listings nationwide REALTOR online
Mark Cuban says that running a successful business comes down to one underrated skill Inc.
Are you ârichâ or just âupper middle classâ? The net worth and income it takes to be considered âwealthyâ in the U.S. Yahoo Finance
How much money you need to live âcomfortablyâ in Florida ClickOrlando
Mayâs CPI numbers surprised markets and reset the interest rate cut bets The Street
Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.
In 2 years you will be working for AI
Or an AI will be working for you
Here's how you can future-proof yourself:
Join the Superhuman AI newsletter â read by 1M+ people at top companies
Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day
Become 10X more productive using AI
Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.
4. Closing Thought: Revenue is Vanity; Profit is Sanity
Edward and Rufous are missing the cool Asheville afternoons on the front porch now that theyâve returned to Orlandoâs afternoon thunderstorms.
Itâs easy to get seduced by big revenue numbers â especially in real estate where a single deal might bring in six or even seven figures. But hereâs the uncomfortable truth: revenue doesnât mean much if your profit margins are razor-thin or non-existent. âRevenue is vanity; profit is sanityâ reminds us to focus on what truly builds wealth â not just what looks impressive on paper.
đ Between the lines: Letâs say you gross $5 million flipping houses or managing rentals â sounds impressive. But if your overhead, taxes, debt service, and contractor costs leave you with just $150,000 at the end of the year, youâre running hot but not healthy. Youâre working too hard for too little. Entrepreneurs often get caught chasing more deals, more units, more revenue â without analyzing whether each dollar actually contributes to their bottom line.
đĄ The insight: Real businesses â the ones that scale, survive downturns, and attract investors â are built on profit. Profit gives you options: to reinvest, hire, take time off, or weather a storm. Vanity revenue might win you applause at conferences, but profit will buy your freedom.
â What to do next:
Track margins relentlessly: Donât just know your top-line; live in your P&L.
Cut dead weight: If a property or service line isnât producing strong net returns, consider offloading â even if itâs at a loss â to stop the bleeding.
Focus on operational efficiency: Small tweaks to processes, staffing, or pricing can dramatically improve profits without increasing revenue.
Measure ROI on time: Time is your most limited asset â donât spend 90% of it chasing 10% of your net income.
đ Want to build lasting wealth? Start by falling in love with your profit, not your revenue.
We hope you found this helpful â any feedback is appreciated and can be shared by hitting reply or using the feedback feature below.
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
Have an idea or issue to share? Email us.
Connect with us using your preferred social media and website links for MyLandTrustee and Aspire Legal Solutions.
Our mailing address: PO Box 547945, Orlando, FL 32854-7945
Our physical address: 1901 West Colonial Drive, First Floor, Orlando, FL 32804
Be on the lookout for our next issue! đ
- Trust This.
- Posts
- Trust This: Jimmy Buffet's trust war
Trust This: Jimmy Buffet's trust war
and it just got easier for employees to sue their employers
Joseph Seagle
June 13, 2025
In partnership with
Trust This.
By Joseph E. Seagle, Esq.
đ Happy Friday! Sunday is Fatherâsđ§đźââď¸Day. Wishing all the dads out there a relaxing and happy day.
âď¸Situation Awareness: As land trustees, weâre signing more contract extensions and cancellations than we can recall in recent years during the height of the selling season. And, apparently, weâre not the only ones seeing this trend in contract cancellations. The buyersâ market has arrived. Price accordingly.
1 big thing: đ¸ Jimmy Buffettâs Trust War: A $275M Lesson for Entrepreneurs
A high-stakes legal battle has erupted over the late Jimmy Buffettâs $275 million estate. His widow, Jane Buffett, is suing to oust co-trustee Richard Mozenter, her husbandâs longtime business manager, citing mistreatment, lack of transparency, and poor financial returns. Mozenter is countersuing, arguing sheâs interfering with the trustâs operations and violating Jimmyâs wishes.
đ§ Why it matters: Even with detailed planning, wealthy estatesâespecially those tied to business holdingsâcan ignite after death. Entrepreneurs building legacies through brands, partnerships, or family trusts should take note: estate clarity doesnât end with documents. It requires trust, communication, and, most critically, enforceable governance.
Driving the conflict:
The trustâs income: Jane Buffett claims sheâs receiving under $2 million annuallyâa <1% return on a $275 million estate, which includes a 20% stake in Margaritaville Holdings (hotels, restaurants, casinos) valued at $85.3 million.
Fiduciary friction: Mozenter and his firm reportedly earned $1.7M in trustee fees last year. Jane says he withheld basic financial information, belittled her, and mismanaged the trustâs performance .
Counter-allegations: Mozenter argues Jimmy Buffett intentionally limited Janeâs control over the trust, citing concerns about her financial acumen. His lawsuit seeks her removal, too.
The big picture: Buffett, who passed in 2023, had meticulously revised his estate plan twice before his death, transferring assets to a marital trust benefiting Jane and creating smaller trusts for their children. Despite this, discord over control, distribution, and tone has led to Palm Beach courtrooms becoming the estateâs next stage.
The takeaway: If a mega-brand like Margaritaville canât avoid fiduciary warfare, neither can smaller family businesses. This is a cautionary tale for founders: trusts need more than structureâthey need succession diplomacy, alignment, and contingency planning for personality clashes after youâre gone.
2. đď¸ Supreme Court Ruling Widens Door for Employment Discrimination Lawsuits â What It Means for Real Estate Pros
đ§ The big picture: The U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier for employees â even those from majority groups like heterosexual white men or women â to sue for employment discrimination. The unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services throws out a long-standing higher evidentiary hurdle that those employees previously had to clear.
đ Why it matters for your business: Real estate brokerages, title agencies, mortgage firms, and property investment groups â all of which are employers often navigating DEI and hiring complexities â must reexamine their employment practices. This decision broadens the legal risk landscape, particularly around diversity-based hiring and promotion strategies.
đ Catch up quick:
Marlean Ames, a straight white woman, was passed over for a promotion and later demoted while gay colleagues were promoted in her place. She sued under Title VII, alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Lower courts had required Ames to meet an extra standard to prove discrimination, applicable only to majority group members.
The Supreme Court said thatâs unconstitutional and unsupported by Title VII. Justice Jackson, writing for a unanimous court, emphasized that Title VII protects âany individual,â regardless of their group identity.
đĄ Between the lines: Attorneys warn this may lead to a spike in reverse-discrimination lawsuits, especially those targeting DEI programs that appear to favor minorities in hiring or promotion. Title companies and brokerages with formal DEI efforts should tread carefully to ensure policies focus on opportunity â not outcome.
𧊠Yes, but: Employers still win if they can show job decisions were based on legitimate, documented business reasons. But vague hiring processes or poorly documented DEI initiatives could backfire.
đ By the numbers: According to Littlerâs 2025 Employer Survey, 45% of employers now fear lawsuits related to DEIâup from just 22% in 2023 .
đ Whatâs next: Real estate firms should audit DEI policies now, train managers on consistent, nondiscriminatory practices, and document hiring decisions with precision.
In this weekâs Trust This: Tips and Tactics podcast, I geek out with David Buckles about KPIs, data, and reliable news sources for real estate professionals to use to read between the lines while trying to divine approaching headwinds or still waters.
3. Catch up fast
Florida comfortable
Hurricane prep: beyond the sandbags. Legal considerations for Florida businesses. Orlando Business Journal (subscription)
Hurricane Heleneâs unheard warnings ProPublica
Floridaâs insurance rates have risen 40% since 2022, but thereâs a silver lining. Gulf Coast News Now
Two Central Florida men plead guilty in false tax returns scheme. The Legal Description
World Bank Paints a Bleak Picture of the U.S. EconomyâWhat It Means for Homebuyers and Sellers. REALTOR online
Tampa is #2 in highest percentage of price cuts for listings nationwide REALTOR online
Mark Cuban says that running a successful business comes down to one underrated skill Inc.
Are you ârichâ or just âupper middle classâ? The net worth and income it takes to be considered âwealthyâ in the U.S. Yahoo Finance
How much money you need to live âcomfortablyâ in Florida ClickOrlando
Mayâs CPI numbers surprised markets and reset the interest rate cut bets The Street
Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.
In 2 years you will be working for AI
Or an AI will be working for you
Here's how you can future-proof yourself:
Join the Superhuman AI newsletter â read by 1M+ people at top companies
Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day
Become 10X more productive using AI
Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.
4. Closing Thought: Revenue is Vanity; Profit is Sanity
Edward and Rufous are missing the cool Asheville afternoons on the front porch now that theyâve returned to Orlandoâs afternoon thunderstorms.
Itâs easy to get seduced by big revenue numbers â especially in real estate where a single deal might bring in six or even seven figures. But hereâs the uncomfortable truth: revenue doesnât mean much if your profit margins are razor-thin or non-existent. âRevenue is vanity; profit is sanityâ reminds us to focus on what truly builds wealth â not just what looks impressive on paper.
đ Between the lines: Letâs say you gross $5 million flipping houses or managing rentals â sounds impressive. But if your overhead, taxes, debt service, and contractor costs leave you with just $150,000 at the end of the year, youâre running hot but not healthy. Youâre working too hard for too little. Entrepreneurs often get caught chasing more deals, more units, more revenue â without analyzing whether each dollar actually contributes to their bottom line.
đĄ The insight: Real businesses â the ones that scale, survive downturns, and attract investors â are built on profit. Profit gives you options: to reinvest, hire, take time off, or weather a storm. Vanity revenue might win you applause at conferences, but profit will buy your freedom.
â What to do next:
Track margins relentlessly: Donât just know your top-line; live in your P&L.
Cut dead weight: If a property or service line isnât producing strong net returns, consider offloading â even if itâs at a loss â to stop the bleeding.
Focus on operational efficiency: Small tweaks to processes, staffing, or pricing can dramatically improve profits without increasing revenue.
Measure ROI on time: Time is your most limited asset â donât spend 90% of it chasing 10% of your net income.
đ Want to build lasting wealth? Start by falling in love with your profit, not your revenue.
We hope you found this helpful â any feedback is appreciated and can be shared by hitting reply or using the feedback feature below.
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
Have an idea or issue to share? Email us.
Connect with us using your preferred social media and website links for MyLandTrustee and Aspire Legal Solutions.
Our mailing address: PO Box 547945, Orlando, FL 32854-7945
Our physical address: 1901 West Colonial Drive, First Floor, Orlando, FL 32804
Be on the lookout for our next issue! đ
- Trust This.
- Posts
- Trust This: Jimmy Buffet's trust war
Trust This: Jimmy Buffet's trust war
and it just got easier for employees to sue their employers
Joseph Seagle
June 13, 2025
In partnership with
Trust This.
By Joseph E. Seagle, Esq.
đ Happy Friday! Sunday is Fatherâsđ§đźââď¸Day. Wishing all the dads out there a relaxing and happy day.
âď¸Situation Awareness: As land trustees, weâre signing more contract extensions and cancellations than we can recall in recent years during the height of the selling season. And, apparently, weâre not the only ones seeing this trend in contract cancellations. The buyersâ market has arrived. Price accordingly.
1 big thing: đ¸ Jimmy Buffettâs Trust War: A $275M Lesson for Entrepreneurs
A high-stakes legal battle has erupted over the late Jimmy Buffettâs $275 million estate. His widow, Jane Buffett, is suing to oust co-trustee Richard Mozenter, her husbandâs longtime business manager, citing mistreatment, lack of transparency, and poor financial returns. Mozenter is countersuing, arguing sheâs interfering with the trustâs operations and violating Jimmyâs wishes.
đ§ Why it matters: Even with detailed planning, wealthy estatesâespecially those tied to business holdingsâcan ignite after death. Entrepreneurs building legacies through brands, partnerships, or family trusts should take note: estate clarity doesnât end with documents. It requires trust, communication, and, most critically, enforceable governance.
Driving the conflict:
The trustâs income: Jane Buffett claims sheâs receiving under $2 million annuallyâa <1% return on a $275 million estate, which includes a 20% stake in Margaritaville Holdings (hotels, restaurants, casinos) valued at $85.3 million.
Fiduciary friction: Mozenter and his firm reportedly earned $1.7M in trustee fees last year. Jane says he withheld basic financial information, belittled her, and mismanaged the trustâs performance .
Counter-allegations: Mozenter argues Jimmy Buffett intentionally limited Janeâs control over the trust, citing concerns about her financial acumen. His lawsuit seeks her removal, too.
The big picture: Buffett, who passed in 2023, had meticulously revised his estate plan twice before his death, transferring assets to a marital trust benefiting Jane and creating smaller trusts for their children. Despite this, discord over control, distribution, and tone has led to Palm Beach courtrooms becoming the estateâs next stage.
The takeaway: If a mega-brand like Margaritaville canât avoid fiduciary warfare, neither can smaller family businesses. This is a cautionary tale for founders: trusts need more than structureâthey need succession diplomacy, alignment, and contingency planning for personality clashes after youâre gone.
2. đď¸ Supreme Court Ruling Widens Door for Employment Discrimination Lawsuits â What It Means for Real Estate Pros
đ§ The big picture: The U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier for employees â even those from majority groups like heterosexual white men or women â to sue for employment discrimination. The unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services throws out a long-standing higher evidentiary hurdle that those employees previously had to clear.
đ Why it matters for your business: Real estate brokerages, title agencies, mortgage firms, and property investment groups â all of which are employers often navigating DEI and hiring complexities â must reexamine their employment practices. This decision broadens the legal risk landscape, particularly around diversity-based hiring and promotion strategies.
đ Catch up quick:
Marlean Ames, a straight white woman, was passed over for a promotion and later demoted while gay colleagues were promoted in her place. She sued under Title VII, alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Lower courts had required Ames to meet an extra standard to prove discrimination, applicable only to majority group members.
The Supreme Court said thatâs unconstitutional and unsupported by Title VII. Justice Jackson, writing for a unanimous court, emphasized that Title VII protects âany individual,â regardless of their group identity.
đĄ Between the lines: Attorneys warn this may lead to a spike in reverse-discrimination lawsuits, especially those targeting DEI programs that appear to favor minorities in hiring or promotion. Title companies and brokerages with formal DEI efforts should tread carefully to ensure policies focus on opportunity â not outcome.
𧊠Yes, but: Employers still win if they can show job decisions were based on legitimate, documented business reasons. But vague hiring processes or poorly documented DEI initiatives could backfire.
đ By the numbers: According to Littlerâs 2025 Employer Survey, 45% of employers now fear lawsuits related to DEIâup from just 22% in 2023 .
đ Whatâs next: Real estate firms should audit DEI policies now, train managers on consistent, nondiscriminatory practices, and document hiring decisions with precision.
In this weekâs Trust This: Tips and Tactics podcast, I geek out with David Buckles about KPIs, data, and reliable news sources for real estate professionals to use to read between the lines while trying to divine approaching headwinds or still waters.
3. Catch up fast
Florida comfortable
Hurricane prep: beyond the sandbags. Legal considerations for Florida businesses. Orlando Business Journal (subscription)
Hurricane Heleneâs unheard warnings ProPublica
Floridaâs insurance rates have risen 40% since 2022, but thereâs a silver lining. Gulf Coast News Now
Two Central Florida men plead guilty in false tax returns scheme. The Legal Description
World Bank Paints a Bleak Picture of the U.S. EconomyâWhat It Means for Homebuyers and Sellers. REALTOR online
Tampa is #2 in highest percentage of price cuts for listings nationwide REALTOR online
Mark Cuban says that running a successful business comes down to one underrated skill Inc.
Are you ârichâ or just âupper middle classâ? The net worth and income it takes to be considered âwealthyâ in the U.S. Yahoo Finance
How much money you need to live âcomfortablyâ in Florida ClickOrlando
Mayâs CPI numbers surprised markets and reset the interest rate cut bets The Street
Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.
In 2 years you will be working for AI
Or an AI will be working for you
Here's how you can future-proof yourself:
Join the Superhuman AI newsletter â read by 1M+ people at top companies
Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day
Become 10X more productive using AI
Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.
4. Closing Thought: Revenue is Vanity; Profit is Sanity
Edward and Rufous are missing the cool Asheville afternoons on the front porch now that theyâve returned to Orlandoâs afternoon thunderstorms.
Itâs easy to get seduced by big revenue numbers â especially in real estate where a single deal might bring in six or even seven figures. But hereâs the uncomfortable truth: revenue doesnât mean much if your profit margins are razor-thin or non-existent. âRevenue is vanity; profit is sanityâ reminds us to focus on what truly builds wealth â not just what looks impressive on paper.
đ Between the lines: Letâs say you gross $5 million flipping houses or managing rentals â sounds impressive. But if your overhead, taxes, debt service, and contractor costs leave you with just $150,000 at the end of the year, youâre running hot but not healthy. Youâre working too hard for too little. Entrepreneurs often get caught chasing more deals, more units, more revenue â without analyzing whether each dollar actually contributes to their bottom line.
đĄ The insight: Real businesses â the ones that scale, survive downturns, and attract investors â are built on profit. Profit gives you options: to reinvest, hire, take time off, or weather a storm. Vanity revenue might win you applause at conferences, but profit will buy your freedom.
â What to do next:
Track margins relentlessly: Donât just know your top-line; live in your P&L.
Cut dead weight: If a property or service line isnât producing strong net returns, consider offloading â even if itâs at a loss â to stop the bleeding.
Focus on operational efficiency: Small tweaks to processes, staffing, or pricing can dramatically improve profits without increasing revenue.
Measure ROI on time: Time is your most limited asset â donât spend 90% of it chasing 10% of your net income.
đ Want to build lasting wealth? Start by falling in love with your profit, not your revenue.
We hope you found this helpful â any feedback is appreciated and can be shared by hitting reply or using the feedback feature below.
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
Have an idea or issue to share? Email us.
Connect with us using your preferred social media and website links for MyLandTrustee and Aspire Legal Solutions.
Our mailing address: PO Box 547945, Orlando, FL 32854-7945
Our physical address: 1901 West Colonial Drive, First Floor, Orlando, FL 32804
Be on the lookout for our next issue! đ