Mystery Surrounds Tony Hsieh’s Alleged Will After His Death

The legal struggle over the fortune of Zappos founder and former CEO Tony Hsieh has intensified due to questions about a purported will. Hsieh passed away at 46 after injuries from a Connecticut house fire in 2020. Initially believed to have died without a will, a mysterious seven-page document, dated March 2015, arrived at a Las Vegas courthouse last year.

The alleged will includes a no-contest clause targeting Hsieh’s family members. It states that if any of them challenge the will, all can be excluded. Richard Hsieh, Tony’s father, has requested a jury trial over this matter.

The origin of this document remains unclear.

The document was also delivered to the office of Las Vegas trust attorney Robert Armstrong, who claimed never to have met Hsieh despite being named a co-executor. A man identifying as Kashif Singh contacted Armstrong’s office, claiming the will was discovered among his grandfather’s belongings. A death certificate from Balochistan, Pakistan, was later received.

Forensic experts are now investigating. A Las Vegas judge appointed Gerry LaPorte, a forensic specialist, to supervise the testing of the document, focusing on ink analysis. This process aims to verify the document’s authenticity and whether it matches the stated 2015 date.

Further tests could include handwriting analysis, fingerprint scanning, and DNA examination to ascertain the genuineness of the will.

Hsieh’s family has recruited forensic expert Larry Stewart, known for his involvement in high-profile cases. The investigation aims to resolve ambiguities regarding the document’s legitimacy and settle the estate matters.

LaPorte is expected to present his findings by July 24, allowing the family’s experts to provide their counter-assessment.