Tommaso

Tommaso began life as a black stray wandering the streets of Rome, and ended it as one of the wealthiest cats in the world. He was taken in by Maria Assunta, the childless widow of a wealthy Italian property developer, who lavished affection on him in her final years. When she died in 2011 at the age of 94, she left her entire estate — reported at around €10 million in cash, along with property in Rome, Milan and Calabria — to Tommaso. Because Italian law does not allow an animal to be named directly as an heir, the fortune was placed in the care of a trustee: a nurse named Stefania who had looked after Maria in her last years and had promised to care for the cat. Assunta had reportedly tried for some time to find an animal charity she trusted to manage the bequest before settling on a private arrangement. The story made headlines around the world as a striking example of a pet inheriting vast wealth, joining a small and curious club of millionaire animals. To protect Tommaso from unwanted attention, his guardian kept his whereabouts private, ensuring the once-homeless tomcat lived out his days in quiet, well-funded comfort.