Ozzy Osbourne family faces tax debts and inheritance challenges after rock icon’s death

Ozzy Osbourne’s family confronts millions in unpaid taxes, dual-country inheritance rules, and potential disputes.

The death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has left his family contending not only with grief but also with serious financial complications. The 76-year-old Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away five weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest at his U.K. home, leaves behind his widow Sharon Osbourne and six children.

According to Women’s Day, Osbourne amassed an estimated $337 million during his career through music royalties, reality television, and business ventures. However, new reports reveal he also owed nearly $8 million in unpaid taxes.

Radar Online reported that federal filings show two significant liens were issued against Osbourne and his wife: one for $689,107 in 2023 and another for more than $4.3 million in 2024.

Estate planning attorney Gideon Alper of Alper Law told HELLO! that without careful financial preparation, tens of millions could be lost before the family inherits anything.

The situation is further complicated by Osbourne’s transatlantic lifestyle. He owned properties in Los Angeles and Buckinghamshire, which subjects his estate to both U.S. estate taxes and U.K. inheritance taxes. Under current laws, estates over $14 million in the United States face substantial taxation, while in Britain inheritance tax can reach 40 percent above £375,000.

Family law specialist Adam Jones of HD Claims told HELLO! that disputes among Osbourne’s blended family could prolong probate proceedings, particularly if older children feel excluded from distribution.

In his final weeks, Osbourne performed at Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” charity concert in Birmingham on July 5. Billboard reported the event raised roughly $190 million for medical charities, though it is unclear whether Osbourne received personal compensation.

Now, Sharon Osbourne faces the task of addressing these financial issues while honoring her husband’s legacy and decades-long influence on heavy metal.