Decades after John Lennon‘s death, questions about his estate and how his two sons were treated continue to fuel debate. His eldest son, Julian Lennon, spent years in a legal dispute with his stepmother, Yoko Ono, over his father’s estate before reaching a settlement in 1996. Now, Sean Lennon is addressing claims about their inheritances and offering his own account of how much each received.
Sean Lennon Clarifies He And Brother Julian Inherited ‘Same Amount’ From John Lennon
On October 10, Sean Lennon shared a photo of himself with his older half-brother, Julian Lennon, captioned, “Had a great bday with my brother…”
One user responded, noting that one brother was “abandoned” by John and “largely cut out,” while the other “inherited most of the estate.”
“That they remain friends (and largely always were) is testimony to the redemptive power of being a chill dude with broad implications for the wider world,” the user added.
Sean replied, clarifying that he and Julian “inherited the same amount” and their trusts were “equal.” “Although his was slightly more, but negligibly so,” he wrote.
Julian Lennon Had A Complicated Relationship With His Father
Julian, John’s son with his first wife, Cynthia Powell, was born in 1963. The couple met in art school in 1957 and married in 1962, but as The Beatles found worldwide success, the band’s manager reportedly asked them to keep the marriage on the down-low to preserve John’s image as a rock star.
“The more successful The Beatles became, the further away from me John seemed to be,” Cynthia wrote, per Interlude. The couple divorced in 1968.
Talking about his relationship with his father, Julian told The Guardian, “When Dad left, when I was between three and five, it was just mum and me, and we had nothing to do with the Beatles or Dad.” He said he saw his father “on the odd occasion” but that he and his mother were “not part of the inner circle.”
Julian Lennon And Yoko Ono Had A 16-Year Legal Dispute
John and Yoko Ono married in 1969, and they welcomed their son Sean in 1975. The bulk of the former’s estate went to Yoko and Sean after his murder in 1980.
Reports say John set up a £100,000 trust fund during his divorce from Cynthia, with about £50,000 going to Julian. However, the singer excluded his eldest son from his final will, which Julian contested in court.
In 1996, after 16 years of litigation, the two parties reached a confidential out-of-court settlement. Reports at the time alleged that Julian received a payout of £20 million to £25 million, substantial but still only a fraction of his late father’s $200 million estate at the time of his death.
Julian Lennon And Yoko Ono Moved Past Their Feud
Happy Birthday Jules! https://t.co/xd4myBw5BB
— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) April 8, 2026
In a 1999 interview, Julian said, “The most ironic thing is with the settlement that I did receive, is that I’ve been buying his stuff back with that, so, I’m buying his stuff back with his money, which is absolutely insane,” he said, per Far Out Magazine.
After the settlement, Yoko, who was managing John’s estate, auctioned items that Julian bid on, including letters and postcards he sent his father, clothing, and other Beatles memorabilia.
The son and stepmother have since moved on from their dispute and gained mutual respect for each other. In 2010, Julian said of the reconciliation, “If I hurt Sean’s mother then I hurt Sean. It’s a roundabout way of thinking about things but because I love Sean so much I just don’t want to hurt him. I can get over it. I have got over it.”
Sean And Julian Lennon Have A Close Relationship
Despite the years-long legal drama between Julian and Yoko, the half-brothers didn’t let it ruin their relationship. Julian has repeatedly said that he always loved his younger brother and is protective of him.
The brothers continue to show up for each other during milestone moments and support one another’s endeavors. In 2021, they embarked on what Julian described as a “magical road trip through California, and their bond has continued to grow over the years, per The Daily Mail. Julian also occasionally shares photos of them on Instagram when they meet.
