After Martin Melcher, Doris’ third husband, died unexpectedly in 1968, Day discovered that he had mismanaged or embezzled $20 million of her money in league with a crooked lawyer.
Doris said during the marriage, Melcher would not even let her buy a painting for their home-—or redo some of the rooms. He put her into projects w/out her knowledge and took the money paid to her. She did not know Melcher was hoarding all her money w/ the lawyer.
In her auto/bio, Doris devotes pages and pages to the ordeal....and the judge’s decision vindicating her......she was not able to recoup all the money, but the oily lawyer’s malpractice insurance company paid her some $10 million.
Ironically, Dorsi tried to warn Kirk Douglas who had the same lawyer working w/ a crooked accountant. Kirk dismissed the warning.
Later on. Kirks’ astute new wife asked him where all his holdings and earnings as a major star were.
Anne Douglas hired an accounting firm w/out Kirk’s knowledge-—the firm told her there was nothing in Kirk’s name.....the accountant/lawyer crooks stole it all.
Isn’t it amazing that so many women super stars married crooks like Melcher?
One that comes to mind is Debbie Reynold’s marriage to colossal crook, Harry Karl, who gambled away both his fortune and hers.
I’d read about Kirk being cheated, too.
Amazing how many stars were swindled out of their fortunes by lawyers, accountants, spouses etc.