STEVE Irwin was only able to leave his children a meagre fortune in his will after spending most of his money helping animals.
The beloved crocodile hunter, 44, is still regarded as one of the world’s most famous zookeepers with his legacy continuing to live on through his beloved family.
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His success made him a household name across the globe through bumper TV deals and roles in Hollywood blockbusters in the years before his tragic death in 2006.
Irwin was filming a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef when he was killed by a stingray whose barb pierced through his heart.
The Australian legend reportedly had a net worth of over £7.5million at the time of his death.
He left behind his wife Terri, now 61, and two children Robert, 21, and Bindi, 27.
Despite the dad-of-two’s huge career earnings he surprisingly left them only a small inheritance.
He left Robert and Bindi – who were both aged just two and eight at the time – with a life insurance policy which sat at just $200,000 (£98,000), according to realestate.com.au.
The reason for this was because Irwin consistently reinvested in animals.
He ran the iconic Queensland conservation facility which included The Australia Zoo and and The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
These saw him help to rescue, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild after they suffered injuries or attacks.
In order to keep the sprawling conservation park operating to the level Irwin wanted he constantly pumped money he had earned into it.
Steve’s widow, Terri, revealed the unexpected will actually left the family in debt due to the lack of money being inherited.
She told Australian Financial Review in 2024: “Everything was reinvested into conservation work.
“I was in debt… and Steve’s life insurance, I think, was the sum total of $200,000, which didn’t even cover half of one week’s payroll.”
But in the 16 years since the zookeeper’s death, Terri, Robert and Bindi have managed to keep Steve’s legacy alive and the zoo open.
Young Robert has gone on to keep the family name firmly in the mind of the public as he has lived a similar life to his dad.
He was first thrust into the public eye when at just one month old, Steve held him in his arm while feeding a saltwater crocodile.
Robert is now best known as an Australian conservationist, television presenter, zookeeper and wildlife photographer.
He has now even been named as the new face of the latest Tourism Australia campaign.
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The adverts will be showcased in the US to try and promote people to head down under – marking how famous Robert and the family remains.
Bindi has also helped to keep the conservation facility thriving as she continues to work in Queensland and campaign for animal welfare.
She was already a famous face on TV alongside her dad in the early 2000s and has continued to be an on screen personality in the years after.
She is also happily married to husband Chandler Powell, and they have a daughter called Grace who was born in 2021.
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Content shared from www.the-sun.com.