Oliver Tree said just weeks before his death that he did not want his family to inherit any of his money. In an April 25 appearance on The Zach Sang Show, he explained that he did not believe the wealth created by his career was truly his, and said he had arranged his will so that, when he died, his family would not receive any of it. He added that if he had a wife or children, they also would not automatically receive a large inheritance, though he said he would still pay for his children’s college education.
Instead of leaving his estate to relatives, Tree said he wanted the money from his work to go back to artists after his death. He said he believed his art would become more valuable over time and that people often appreciate an artist more after the artist is gone. He also described plans for a committee that would decide where the money should go each year once he died.
Tree died at age 32 on the morning of Sunday, June 14, after two helicopters collided in southwest Rio de Janeiro, according to CNN Brasil. The outlet reported that he was among six passengers who died in the crash. Reports said there were no survivors, and the collision also caused additional damage when one of the aircraft hit an electric vehicle yard, igniting more than 20 vehicles.
The singer-songwriter had been in Brazil as part of a world tour and performed in São Paulo on June 6. He was scheduled to appear in Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday, July 13. Just hours before the crash, he posted a lighthearted Instagram video showing time spent in Brazil, including soccer, a haircut to maintain his signature hairstyle, and cooking meat.
Tree was widely known for his hit song “Life Goes On” and for building a large online following, with more than 2 million social media followers drawn to both his music and his comedic internet persona. His death prompted an outpouring of reactions from fans, musicians, influencers, and other public figures.
His remarks about his will, made only seven weeks before his death, now stand out as a striking part of his final public interviews. He spoke openly about rejecting the idea of passing on wealth to family members by default and instead choosing to direct the benefits of his career toward other artists and creative work.
