Benjamin Franklin was the first American celebrity to die in 1790. His last will and testament included some conditions on what people could do with their inheritances. He gave his wife Sally a portrait of King Louis the 16th ring by diamonds, but told her not to take them off or fashion them into jewelry because that would be wasteful. And he also left Benny's printing press to him for 30 years when Napoleon came to power.
If you want someone to manage your money then you better pay them. That’s just one lesson from Ben Franklin’s complicated financial life. Robert Brokamp talks with Michael Meyer, author of “Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet: The Favorite Founder's Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Blueprint for American Prosperity” about: - Franklin's mistakes in estate planning - The power of small, anonymous donations - Other fun facts about America's first celebrity Host: Robert Brokamp Guest: Michael Meyer Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineer: Rick Engdahl
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