Tragic billionaire Thomas H. Lee, who died by suicide in his Midtown East office last month, listed a relatively modest $25 million worth of assets in his estate, court papers reveal.
The funds likely represent just a fraction of the financier’s worth, which Forbes has estimated to be $2 billion.
Lee named his wife of nearly 30 years, Ann Tenenbaum, as executor of his estate and left $10 million each to sons Stephen Lee, 52, and Robert S. Lee, 42, in his will, which was written in 2015.
The sons are due nothing else, he specified in the document, “not for any lack of love or affection for each of them but because they are otherwise well provided for.”
His other three children are listed as the beneficiaries of trusts, the details of which weren’t spelled out.
Tenenbaum will inherit Lee’s residences, which include a Sutton Place apartment and an East Hampton estate, as well as personal “tangible” property such as furniture, pictures, artwork, silver, china, books and automobiles.
His wife’s three siblings will also inherit $5 million each, according to the will.
Lee, 78, was found with a gunshot wound to the head.
No suicide note was found.
He was mourned by the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton — who often stayed at his East Dune Lane estate in East Hampton — at a Feb. 27 funeral at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.
The married father of five and grandfather of two was known for buying middle-sized firms that he later flipped for tremendous profits, such as his famous 1992 deal to buy Snapple for $135 million.
Lee later sold the company to Quaker Oats for $1.7 billion — 32 times the price.
The assets listed in recently filed Manhattan Surrogate Court documents likely don’t reflect the true value of the tycoon’s holdings, sources said.
“There’s no way that was all he had,” one source told The Post. “He had one of the nicest homes in the Hamptons — it’s got to be worth at least $100 million. He had a lot of assets.”
Manhattan Surrogate Court document listed only assets of $5 million in cash, bonds and securities; $5 million in business assets; $10 million in “tangible personal property”; and $5 million in real estate, the legal filing shows.”
This $25 million is stuff he owned in the name of Thomas H. Lee,” said the trusts and estates lawyer who isn’t connected to the case.
Billionaires typically use trusts while planning their massive estates, and the financial and legal vehicles aren’t usually included in the Surrogate’s court records, an expert noted.
A lawyer for Lee’s estate didn’t return messages.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
