Ex-Playmate loses estate fortune

Smith has transformed herself into a reality TV star

A court has overturned the decision to award $88m (£44.7m) to former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith from the estate of her husband who was 90 when he died.

It is the latest twist in a nine-year battle between Smith and the son of the late oil baron J Howard Marshall II.

A court in 2002 awarded Smith the fortune but on Thursday a panel of appeal judges ruled she was not entitled to the money.

Smith married Mr Marshall in 1995, when she was 29 and he was 89.

Stake

He died just a year after they wed, spelling the start of the long-running battle between Smith and his family.

Mr Marshall's two sons have also been fighting each other in the courts to stake their claim on the will.

Elder son J Howard Marshall III had fought for a share against youngest son E Pierce Marshall.

Although she did not appear in his will, Smith claimed he had promised half of his estimated $1.6bn (£832m) fortune.

At one of the first hearings she was awarded $450m (£234m) but this was eventually reduced on appeal.

Strip club

The latest ruling means she is no longer entitled to any of the money, which has been held in trust during the lengthy legal fight, with E Pierce Marshall the sole heir.

A lawyer for Anna Nicole Smith said she would challenge the decision, eventually asking the Supreme Court to rule if necessary.

Smith met her future husband as she was working as a stripper in a club and she has always maintained that it was a marriage based on love.

She has since become the star of her own reality TV show, with her often bizarre behaviour fascinating viewers.