Here's Who Inherited James Dean's Money When He Died

Dean and his mechanic never made it to Salinas. History writes that on September 30, 1955, James Dean's Spyder collided with a Ford sedan at an intersection in Cholame, California. Though the 23-year-old driver of the Ford vehicle and the mechanic survived, Dean died instantly, per Britannica. He was only 24. "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" had yet to be released.

Although Dean had been pulled over for speeding earlier in the day, Exponent reports that it's believed he was only driving 55-60 mph at the time of the crash. Ultimately, the Ford is to blame for the crash as it had tried to make a left turn while the Spyder was heading towards it (via Live About). Per "Good Morning America," Dean received two Oscar nominations after his death; one for "East of Eden" and the other for "Giant."

Wellingborough Wills reports that Dean did not have a will in place. Thus, his estate automatically went to his father, Winton Dean, as Dean's mother had died while he was a child (via Biography). According to Danielle & Andy Mayoras, Dean only had about $100,000 in assets at the time of his death. However, his tragic demise quickly made him into a legend and icon. Simply put, he was going to be wealthier in death than he was while alive (per Keystone Law Firm). As a result, Dean's father created the James Dean Foundation Trust, in order to increase the commercial value of his son's name.