Rich, lonely woman leaves $12.5 million estate to neighbour after death

A rich but lonely old lady in Sydney has left her entire estate, worth $12.5 million to her neighbour, who bought her bread and milk and helped her manage her daily chores.

Betty Harris, who died aged 95 in 2009, chose to leave her estate to her neighbour in the millionaires enclave of Point Piper after she felt her niece was trying to force her into a nursing home, the Courier Mail reported.

When Harris died, leaving her estate to neighbour Beatrice Gray, a bitterly fought legal battle ensued with Harris’s niece in the Supreme Court.

Speaking from her Point Piper home Gray told The Telegraph “I’m extremely grateful to Betty Harris.

Property records show Harris’ four-bedroom and six-garage home has been rented out since she died in 2009.

Belle Property Double Bay is leasing the home for $2,800 s a week

Prior to her death Harris said she wanted to leave her money to Gray and her husband Robert because they were not expecting it and she trusted them.

“The Grays would be surprised, (while) my family are waiting for me to die,” Harris said then.

“I am determined that my relatives after what they have put me through will not get one cent,” she said.

The court heard Harris lived alone, and had no close friends after her husband died in 1991. She was not close to any of her relatives and her only interest was horse racing.

In his ruling, Justice Richard White found that Gray - a wealthy Sydney University academic and barrister - was entitled to the estate because Harris’ will, written in April 2005 was valid.