Zappos Founder’s Will Is Discovered: What Now?

This new development in the Hsieh estate saga presents two estate planning lessons: make sure your executor and loved ones know where your estate planning documents are located and have a successor executor in case your co-executor cannot act on your behalf.

An article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Shocking twist: Tony Hsieh left a will after all, new filing says,” explains what we know so far.

Tony Hsieh founded Zappos, building the online shoe and clothing website into a unique and highly successful business. In 2009, Hsieh sold Zappos to Amazon for $1.2 billion, remaining as CEO until 2020.

After Hsieh died, his father acted to take over the administration of his estate. Many court filings stated that no will existed. However, lawyers who aren’t connected to the Hsieh family filed court papers with a will and an explanation of how it was found recently.

The new court papers included a will dated March 13, 2015, signed by Hsieh and several witnesses. The document had been given to Pir Muhammad, who subsequently developed Alzheimer’s disease and passed away. The will was found among Muhammad’s personal belongings.

The will says that only Muhammad had a copy of the original will. Hsieh was worried about someone tampering with his will and made a video as an additional layer of precaution. Hsieh’s letter also said no beneficiaries had been told about his plans, so that they wouldn’t know anything until after his passing. He said he wanted them to “experience the ‘WOW’ factor.”

The ‘WOW’ factor was a core value at Zappos, described as creating a memorable, delightful customer experience. While it was great for his customers, it wasn’t so great for his estate plan.

The newly discovered document named an attorney as co-executor with Muhammad and said that if either Muhammad or Armstrong failed to act, another attorney was the contingent executor. Muhammad had signed the will. However, the other two co-executors had not.

Many claims have been made against the estate by people who say they were doing business with Hsieh. Sadly, in his final years, court papers state his behavior was increasingly erratic. There were allegations of people taking advantage of him as his health deteriorated.

According to the family’s legal counsel, the family sought to locate a will. However, they were unsuccessful.

While Hsieh’s precaution was understandable, given the vast wealth, unfortunately, his decision not to tell anyone about the will’s existence has led his family to an equally large amount of legal trouble and stress.

The lessons apply at any level of wealth. Have an estate plan created with an estate planning attorney, share document details with more than one person and plan for the unexpected to protect your loved ones and your legacy.

Tony Hsieh’s story is a powerful reminder that even a well-thought-out estate plan can fail if no one knows it exists or how to access it. Whether you have a modest estate or a multimillion-dollar legacy, the key is making your wishes known—and ensuring they can be carried out. At The Werner Law Firm, our experienced estate planning attorneys are here to help you build a thoughtful, secure plan that protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress and conflict.

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Reference: Last Vegas Review-Journal (April 18, 2025) “Shocking twist: Tony Hsieh left a will after all, new filing says”