David Bowie (born David Jones) died of liver cancer on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, The Guardian reported. His death marked an indescribably deep loss for the music world, considering the profound influence he left on rock ‘n’ roll in the decades prior — not just musically but also visually. Beyond his music, Bowie often tried his hand at acting, painting, and even the emerging (at the time) internet industry, according to a companion report in The Guardian. 

He also pioneered a financial situation called “Bowie Bonds,” in which he got some investors to go in on 10-year-bonds banking on future sales of his music catalog that was released before 1993, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. Since many of his songs have stood the test of time and airplay, the investments paid off, earning Bowie a steady stream of income even in the years when he stepped out of the spotlight after his 2003 heart attack.

When he died, Bowie left a staggering amount of money to his heirs. But just how much is a matter of dispute; Celebrity Net Worth and TheRichest estimate that his net worth is in the neighborhood of $230 million, while Forbes offers a much more reasonable (and still staggering) number of about $100 million. And in his will, Bowie provided generously for his wife, two children, and a couple of other people whom he loved dearly.

David Bowie left half of his estate to his wife, Iman

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David Bowie split most of the rest of his estate between his two kids

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David Bowie wanted his ashes scattered in Bali

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David Bowie learned he had liver cancer 18 months before he died, and he kept his illness secret from the public as he underwent treatment, The Guardian reported. In the last months of his life, he kept working and producing his art — an off-Broadway musical called “Lazarus” and his 25th album, “Blackstar,” per BBC. As reported by Rolling Stone, the latter was released two days before he died, and many consider his parting gift to the world, even as Bowie only found out his cancer was terminal three months before he died. Still, he had to have known death from the disease was a possibility.

According to The New York Times, while Bowie left his fortune to his most beloved family and friends, he wanted his body to be cremated in Bali and his ashes scattered there “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals of Bali.” Atlas Obscura described the “Ngaben” as a nearly two-week-long death ritual that combines “celebration with sorrow.” The goal is to help the spirit move on from its earthly form to either reincarnate or rest eternally in what is called “Moksha.” 

The New York Times reported Bowie was cremated in New Jersey, and it’s unclear if the ashes ever made it to Bali. But in 2017, his son Duncan denied rumors that Bowie’s ashes were scattered at a Burning Man Festival and said that the whereabouts of Bowie’s ashes were being kept secret.