Robert De Niro's plans to leave 1-year-old daughter Gia massive fortune sparks tension in family
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert De Niro, 81, is reportedly at the center of a family dispute after revealing plans to leave a larger portion of his $500 million fortune to his youngest child, daughter Gia, whom he welcomed with his current girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, 45, in April 2023.
However, his decision has caused tension with his six other children from previous relationships. De Niro's eldest children–Drena, 53, and Raphael, 48–are from his first marriage to Diahnne Abbott, 79.
He also shares 29-year-old twins Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick with ex-partner, Toukie Smith, 72, and has two more children, Elliot, 26, and Helen, 13, with his ex-wife, Grace Hightower, 69.
Robert De Niro is determined to safeguard his youngest child Gia's future
Sources close to the actor revealed that Robert De Niro, who acknowledges the likelihood he may not be around by the time Gia graduates from high school, wants to make sure she is financially secure for life.
One insider explained, "Bob knows it's not likely he'll still be around when Gia graduates from high school, so the best he feels he can do for her is make sure she never wants for anything in her life."
De Niro is said to feel that "Gia didn't ask to be born to an elderly father," as per GB News.
However, his plan has stirred tensions within the family. A source claimed, "Bob's comments that he wants to make Gia a rich little girl has stirred up a hornet's nest with the rest of the family."
His older children believe they should be equally represented in the will, adding to the growing family discord.
The 'Taxi Driver' star, who has had more time to financially establish his older children, plans to provide for them "as he sees fit," but intends to leave larger portions to his younger children, including his 13-year-old daughter Helen and his 26-year-old son Elliot, who is on the autism spectrum.
Robert De Niro reveals how he spends his mornings with toddler Gia
In a January interview with The Sunday Times, Robert De Niro opened up about his mornings spent with his daughter, Gia. He shared, "I’m an early riser. I spend my mornings watching Ms. Rachel with her, and I give her her bottle."
When asked if he changed his daughter's diapers, De Niro laughed and admitted, "No, no, but I used to."
When asked how his children would describe him, the 'Zero Day' star responded, "Oh God, they would all have a different answer." He added, "Family is so complex... I try my best, that’s all. I hope they’ll be happy."
Prior to this, De Niro described Gia to People as "so sweet" and said, "[When I] look at her, everything else goes away. So it’s a great joy and relief to just be with her in the moment."
In an interview on 'Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?' in September 2024, the Oscar winner also reflected on fatherhood, telling former CNN anchor Chris Wallace, "I'm trying my best. I'm going to put on my gravestone, 'I tried my best.'"
