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Reason Oliver Tree said his future wife and kids 'won't be getting a penny' from will
Asiya A.
Oliver Tree explained why his future wife and kids "won't be getting a penny" from his will.
The 32-year-old American singer-songwriter was among six people killed when two helicopters collided above Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a beachside suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday morning local time.
Tree, best known for hits including 'Life Goes On', 'Miss You', and 'Alien Boy', had built a global following thanks to his unique bowl haircut, music and internet prankster persona.
Tree's plans for his fortune
In a resurfaced interview from earlier this year, the late musician explained that he wanted his money to continue supporting artists long after his death.
"My will is set up so when I pass, my family, nobody is going to get a penny. If I have a wife or kids or anything, they’re not getting a penny. I’ll get my kids through college, that’s the agreement, but they’re not gonna be a silver spoon," he said.
Instead, Tree hoped his wealth would be directed into his foundation, Dr. Oliver Trees Art Grants for Baby Geniuses, which he said was already receiving the interest generated from his music.
"The idea is that when I die, all the money is going to go back to artists," he added.
The singer shared that the foundation was intended to award funds to artists, with friends and loved ones helping decide recipients through a voting process.
It remains unclear whether the foundation was fully established before his death, as there is currently no public-facing website for the fund.
"There’s also room for other money, because when I die, my art will continue to have residuals and probably be worth more than it is now," he added. "People will finally appreciate my stupid videos and my stupid songs. That’s when people appreciate you, when you’re not there anymore."
The late musician's final post
Just hours before the fatal collision, Tree shared what would become his final Instagram post with his followers.
The video documented his time in Brazil while attending World Cup festivities and featured a montage of moments from his travels, including cooking flank steak in a traditional brick oven, getting his signature bowl-cut bangs trimmed, riding a motorcycle, kicking a soccer ball, and celebrating with fans.
Text displayed throughout the video read: "Gringo 24 Horas No Brasil," which translates to "Foreigner 24 Hours in Brazil."
Tributes flood social media
Tree's representatives have yet to publicly comment on the crash, but tributes quickly appeared beneath his final Instagram post.
"I can’t believe this is real …. You will be truly missed my friend RIP," fellow internet personality The Lil Goofball wrote.
"RIP brotha love u and ur music u will be missed," wrote pop songwriter and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder.
"Rest in heaven my dear friend," travel vlogger Drew Binsky added.
Melanie Martinez, a former partner of Tree, shared a tribute on her Instagram story and remembered him as a "true artist" with a "soft heart".
"Been an absolute wreck today," she said. "It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone. He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply.
"I think everyone who knew him will look back at those moments of laughter and joy he so easily sparked. His laugh was so contagious and warm. His ability to lead creatively and take action while also maintaining a sense of childlike wonder and awe was so inspiring. He had such a soft heart and was a true artist in every way," she added.