Hilton v. Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Opinion

REESE, J. *

I. Introduction and Statement of Issues on Appeal

Conrad Nicholson Hilton (decedent or testator), multimillionaire hotel magnate and philanthropist, died testate on January 3, 1979. After an unsuccessful contest by his daughter, his will was admitted to probate on May 16, 1980. The present litigation began on November 13, 1980, when William Barron Hilton (Hilton), oldest surviving son of decedent and coexecutor of his estate, filed a petition under former Probate Code section 854 seeking authority, pursuant to an option granted him in decedent’s last will, 1 to purchase all…