Few celebrity lives ended with as many unresolved threads as Anna Nicole Smith’s. When she died in February 2007 at age 39, her infant daughter Dannielynn was barely five months old, and a legal battle over a billionaire’s fortune was still far from over. This article traces the key events—the paternity case, the inheritance fight, and the tragic losses—that defined her final years.
Date of death: February 8, 2007 · Age at death: 39 years · Surviving child: Dannielynn Birkhead (born 2006) · Estate dispute: $1.6 billion (part of J. Howard Marshall’s estate) · Paternity case: Resolved in 2007 in favor of Larry Birkhead · Son’s death: Daniel Smith, 2006 (age 20)
Quick snapshot
- Precise inheritance amount Dannielynn received remains undisclosed
- Nature of Anna’s relationships with Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead debated
- Dannielynn Birkhead (now 16) living under Larry Birkhead’s care
- Estate litigation legacy continues to shape celebrity inheritance law
One stark pattern emerges from the official records: a life compressed into just 39 years, with legal battles that stretched more than a decade beyond it.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Vickie Lynn Marshall (née Hogan) |
| Born | November 28, 1967, Houston, Texas |
| Died | February 8, 2007, Hollywood, Florida |
| Age | 39 years |
| Children | Dannielynn Birkhead (b. 2006), Daniel Smith (1986–2006) |
| Spouse | Billy Smith (divorced), J. Howard Marshall (deceased) |
| Known for | Playboy Playmate, reality TV, estate litigation |
What happened with Anna Nicole Smith?
Circumstances of her death at age 39
- Anna Nicole Smith was found unresponsive in her room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on February 8, 2007 (CBS News (news archive)).
- An autopsy performed by the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death an accidental overdose from a combination of prescription drugs including chloral hydrate, benzodiazepines, and opiates.
Intersection of substance abuse and legal stress
- Smith had been in the middle of an intense inheritance dispute with the family of J. Howard Marshall (Forbes (financial analysis)).
- Just five months earlier, her 20-year-old son Daniel Smith had died in her hospital room while visiting her and newborn Dannielynn. The double loss was widely reported as a factor in her declining health.
Anna Nicole Smith’s death came just as her legal team had won a $474 million judgment—a judge later threw it out. The stress of the fight, combined with personal tragedy, may have accelerated the fatal overdose.
The implication: the same legal and personal pressures that drove the headlines also likely contributed to the physical collapse that ended her story.
How old was Anna Nicole Smith’s baby when she died?
Dannielynn Birkhead age at the time of mother’s death
- Dannielynn Birkhead was born on September 7, 2006, at Doctors Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas (People (celebrity family coverage)).
- When Anna Nicole Smith died on February 8, 2007, Dannielynn was exactly 5 months and 1 day old (People).
- The paternity case that followed—between Larry Birkhead and Howard K. Stern—was resolved in April 2007, when DNA testing confirmed Larry Birkhead as the biological father (CNN (court ruling coverage)).
Current age and 2023 documentary
- As of 2023, Dannielynn Birkhead is 16 years old and lives with her father Larry Birkhead in Kentucky.
- Larry Birkhead has spoken publicly about shielding her from the tabloid glare. In a 2023 interview, he noted that she is aware of her mother’s fame but leads a relatively normal teenage life.
At five months old, Dannielynn became the sole heir to both a public fascination and a multibillion-dollar legal claim—a burden no infant should carry, yet one that defines her entire biography.
The pattern: a child born into a storm of litigation and tragedy, then quietly raised away from the circus—an outcome that might have been impossible without the paternity ruling.
Who inherited Anna Nicole Smith’s money?
The $1.6 billion estate of J. Howard Marshall
- After J. Howard Marshall’s death in 1995 at age 90, Anna Nicole claimed that she was entitled to a large share of his estimated $1.6 billion oil fortune, based on an oral promise to leave her half his estate (Forbes (estate battle analysis)).
- The case wound through federal courts for years. In 2000, a Los Angeles federal jury awarded her $474 million, but a judge later overturned that verdict (CBS News (timeline)).
- Smith died before the Supreme Court could hear her appeal. In 2011, the Supreme Court declined to review the case, effectively ending the legal battle for her estate (Forbes).
Court rulings and final distribution
- After years of litigation, the Marshall estate was not awarded to Smith or her heirs. However, Dannielynn Birkhead reportedly received a settlement estimated at several million dollars, though the exact figure remains private (Morris Hall (legal commentary) — low confidence as per research notes).
- The case set a precedent for the difficulty of inheritance claims based on oral promises when the marriage was brief.
Despite winning a $474 million verdict in 2000, Anna Nicole Smith died without ever collecting a dollar from the Marshall estate. The legal machine outlasted her.
What this means: the inheritance story is less about Smith herself and more about the child she left behind—Dannielynn may ultimately be the only person who received any money from the fight.
What happened to Anna Nicole Smith’s son Danny?
Daniel Smith’s death in September 2006
- Daniel Smith, Anna Nicole’s son from her first marriage, died on September 10, 2006, at age 20 (CBS News (timeline)).
- He was visiting his mother and newborn sister at Doctors Hospital in Nassau when he died in her hospital room.
- The Bahamian medical examiner concluded that the cause of death was a combination of methadone and the antidepressants Zoloft and Lexapro (CBS News).
Burial decision in the Bahamas
- Anna Nicole Smith chose to bury Daniel in the Bahamas, reportedly to avoid media scrutiny and because she had established residency there.
- She purchased a plot at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Nassau, where Daniel was interred. When she died five months later, she was buried alongside him.
The trade-off: the same strategy that allowed her to shield the burial from paparazzi also led to a permanent separation from her family in Texas.
Why did Anna Nicole Smith bury her son in the Bahamas?
Legal and personal reasons for the choice of burial site
- At the time of Daniel’s death, Anna Nicole was living in the Bahamas, partly to avoid U.S. taxes and partly to reduce media pressure surrounding her pregnancy and legal battles.
- Bahamian law allowed her to handle the funeral with relative privacy, away from the U.S. press.
- Howard K. Stern, her lawyer and close companion, reportedly assisted in arranging the burial and later handled the purchase of the adjacent plot for Anna.
Connection to Howard K. Stern and local laws
- Stern was listed on Dannielynn’s original birth certificate and remained a central figure in the Bahamian legal arrangements.
- The choice of burial in the Bahamas was also strategic: it kept the legal jurisdiction for related matters (such as the paternity case) partially in Bahamian courts, giving Anna more control.
The pattern: every major decision in those final years was tangled with litigation strategy. Even a funeral.
Timeline of key events
- – Born in Houston, Texas
- – Marries J. Howard Marshall (age 26)
- – Marshall dies at age 90; inheritance dispute begins
- – Daughter Dannielynn born
- – Son Daniel Smith dies at age 20
- – Anna Nicole Smith dies from accidental overdose (CBS News)
- – Paternity case resolves; Larry Birkhead awarded custody (CNN)
- – Supreme Court declines to hear Marshall estate appeal (Forbes)
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Anna Nicole Smith died from an accidental overdose on February 8, 2007 (CBS News)
- Dannielynn Birkhead is the biological daughter of Larry Birkhead (CNN)
- Daniel Smith died from a combination of drugs at age 20 (CBS News)
- The $474 million jury award was overturned and never paid
- Anna Nicole Smith was 39 years old at death
What remains unclear
- Precise amount Dannielynn received from the Marshall estate settlement remains undisclosed (Morris Hall (legal summary) — medium confidence)
- Nature of Anna Nicole’s relationship with Howard K. Stern versus Larry Birkhead in the months before Dannielynn’s birth
- Whether the legal stress directly caused the overdose (not explicitly ruled)
Voices in the story
“We never got any money from the Marshall estate. The fight was for Dannielynn’s future.”
— Statement attributed to Anna Nicole Smith’s attorney in 2006 (via Forbes)
“I wanted Dannielynn to have a normal life, away from the cameras.”
— Larry Birkhead, in a 2023 interview with People
“The cause of death is accidental overdose due to combined effects of multiple drugs.”
— Broward County Medical Examiner’s report, cited in CBS News
For Dannielynn Birkhead, now 16, the chain of deaths and court battles means she holds a unique place in celebrity legal history—the child who inherited a legal war her mother could not win. The choice for her father, Larry Birkhead, is clear: keep her grounded, or let the tabloid machine rewrite her story.
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Frequently asked questions
What caused Anna Nicole Smith’s death?
An accidental overdose of prescription drugs, including chloral hydrate and benzodiazepines.
Who is the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby?
Larry Birkhead, confirmed by DNA testing in April 2007.
How old was Dannielynn Birkhead when her mother died?
Five months and one day old.
Did Anna Nicole Smith inherit J. Howard Marshall’s fortune?
No. She died without receiving any money from the estate.
Where is Anna Nicole Smith buried?
At Lake View Memorial Gardens in Nassau, Bahamas, next to her son Daniel.
What happened to Anna Nicole Smith’s son?
Daniel Smith died at age 20 from a combination of methadone and antidepressants.
How much money did Dannielynn Birkhead inherit?
The exact amount is undisclosed, but reports suggest a settlement of several million dollars from the Marshall estate.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.