Steve Irwin’s Shocking Will: The Small Inheritance That Left His Family in Unexpected Debt

If you ever assumed that wrangling crocodiles for a living would guarantee your family a golden ticket for life, think again . Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter himself, left behind something far more valuable than a robust bank account—he left a roaring, wild legacy that’s still echoing across the world decades later . Isn’t it wild to think someone so well-known, a TV icon who could make wrestling a reptile seem like an afternoon stroll, didn’t stow away a fortune for his kids? Turns out, this wasn’t some financial fumble—Steve made a conscious choice to have his millions serve creatures great and small rather than pad anyone’s wallet . The heart-tugging paradox? His net worth may have soared, but he put nearly every penny into rescuing animals, building sanctuaries, and keeping the spirit of conservation alive . Even as news emerged that his life insurance barely covered a week’s payroll and his family faced debt, the beauty and irony of it all is unmistakable . Steve Irwin’s greatest inheritance to his kids is wilder than any trust fund: a world teeming with second-chance animals, and a lasting inspiration to protect the planet—one irrepressible croc grin at a time . Curious how the Irwin name continues to resonate far beyond dollar signs? LEARN MORE.

Conservationist and zookeeper Steve Irwin didn’t leave his family with much money, for one very good reason.

The late Australian animal expert passed away in September 2006 at the age of 44, but his legacy has lived on.

Whether it be through his son Robert, who is also a conservationist, zookeeper, and TV presenter, or simply through his ambitious old programmes, the world won’t forget Steve Irwin.

The man was known for being a wildlife enthusiast, to the point where he even lost his life to a stingray that pierced his chest while filming by the Great Barrier Reef.

He remains one of the world’s most famous zookeepers, decades after landing a number of appearances in TV and films due to his stature in the animal world.

Robert Irwin is carrying on the family’s legacy (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

However, it was previously revealed that Irwin didn’t leave much behind after he passed away, despite his mainstream success.

Reportedly worth over £7.5 million at the time of his death, Irwin was survived by his wife, Terri, and children Robert and Bindi.

He left a small inheritance for his children, who were just two and eight at the time, which stood at $200,000 (£98,000), say realestate.com.au.

You would think such a celebrity figure, worth millions, would have left a little more behind, but there actually is a veryt touching reason behind the relatively small amount.

This was due to his reinvestment in animals, which involved ‘the Crocodile Hunter’ running the Queensland conservation facility, the site of both The Australia Zoo and The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

Here, Irwin would help rehabilitate animals in need before releasing them back into the wild after any injuries or attacks.

This is where the majority of the conservationist’s earnings went, as Terri had recalled the family being in debt following Irwin’s passing.

Irwin reinvested the majority of his earnings into his animal work (SGranitz/WireImage)

“Everything was reinvested into conservation work,” she said to Australian Financial Review last year.

The 61-year-old went on: “I was in debt… and Steve’s life insurance, I think, was the sum total of $200,000, which didn’t even cover half of one week’s payroll.”

In the near 20 years since, Terri and her children have managed to keep the Irwin spirit going, with the zoo staying open.

Robert Irwin, just 21, is now walking in his father’s footsteps – which seems fitting as his dad held him in one arm at just one-month-old while feeding a saltwater crocodile.

The Irwin prodigy is also a wildlife photographer, and has been made the face of Tourism Australia’s newest campaign.

It looks like the Irwin name truly lives on.

LADbible has reached out to Steve Irwin’s representatives for a comment.