Bing Crosby’s $60 million legacy lives on through his grandchildren, who carry on the iconic singer and actor’s remarkable heritage. Read on..
Bing Crosby, born on May 3, 1903, and passing away on October 14, 1977, was a famous American singer, actor, TV producer, and businessman. Known as the first multimedia star, Crosby was hugely popular worldwide in the 20th century. He dominated record sales, radio ratings, and movie earnings for over 50 years, made numerous films, and recorded over 1,600 songs, becoming one of the earliest global cultural icons.
Bing Crosby had two marriages and two families during his life.
In 1930, Bing Crosby married Dixie Lee. They had four sons: Gary (1933), twins Phillip and Dennis (1934), and Lindsay (1938). All the Crosby boys followed their father into showbiz and formed The Crosby Boys but struggled with fame and alcohol addiction. Their mother, Dixie Lee, passed away in 1952.
In 1957, Bing Crosby married Kathryn Grant. They had three children: Harry (1958), Mary (1959), and Nathaniel (1961).
Bing Crosby died of a heart attack in Spain in 1977. At the time, all his children were alive, but tragically, four of his sons from his first marriage met untimely deaths. Lindsay died by suicide in 1989, followed by Dennis’s suicide in 1991. Gary passed away from cancer in 1995, and Phillip died from cancer in 2004.
Despite these tragedies, each of his sons left behind children. Bing Crosby has a number of grandchildren.
Dennis Crosby had seven children: Patrick Anthony, Gregory, Dennis Jr., Kelly Lee, Erin Colleen, Catherine Denise, and Denise. Phillip Crosby had five children: Mary Elizabeth, Dixie Lee, Flip, Philip Jr., and Brian Patrick (who died at 18 in 1978). Gary Crosby had one son, Steve. Lindsay Crosby had five sons: David, Sean, L. Chip, Adam, and Kevin.
Mary Crosby, Bing’s only daughter, is an actress and has two sons, Brent and Christopher, with her husband, Mark Brodka. Nathaniel Crosby, Bing’s youngest child, became a successful golfer and has six children, including stepchildren, with his wife, Sheila: Nathaniel Jr., Brendan, Bridget, Claire, Turner, and Courtney Reynolds.
Among Bing Crosby’s grandchildren, Phil Crosby Jr. is a singer, jazz artist, and actor, continuing the legacy of American music and culture. Denise Michelle Crosby, granddaughter of Bing and Dixie Lee, is an actress and model, best known for her role as Tasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is also known for her work in the film Trekkies.
In total, Bing Crosby has over a dozen living grandchildren.
Table of Contents
Bing Crosby – Total number of Grandchildren (Family Tree)
Bing Crosby had a total of 22 grandchildren. Here is the breakdown of the grandchildren from each of his children:
From Gary Crosby:
- Steve Crosby
From Phillip Crosby:
- Mary Elizabeth Crosby
- Dixie Lee Crosby
- Phillip Crosby Jr.
- Flip Crosby
- Brian Patrick Crosby (deceased at 18)
From Dennis Crosby:
- Gregory Crosby
- Dennis Crosby Jr.
- Patrick Anthony Crosby
- Kelly Lee Crosby
- Erin Colleen Crosby
- Catherine Denise Crosby (adopted)
- Denise Crosby
From Lindsay Crosby:
- David Crosby
- Sean Crosby
- L. Chip Crosby
- Adam Crosby
- Kevin Crosby
From Mary Crosby:
- Brent Brodka
- Christopher Brodka
From Nathaniel Crosby:
- Nathaniel Jr.
- Brendan Crosby
- Bridget Crosby
- Claire Crosby
- Turner Reynolds (stepchild)
- Courtney Reynolds (stepchild)
In total, this adds up to 22 grandchildren, including both biological and adopted children as well as stepchildren.
Bing Crosby – Net Worth at Death and How Wealth was Distributed
In 1977, Bing Crosby, the famous singer and actor, passed away. Unlike many other stars, Crosby left very clear and detailed instructions on how his money should be divided, as well as specific plans for his funeral, which he arranged four months before his death. At the time of his passing, Crosby’s estate was valued at about $60 million.
Bing Crosby ensured his wife received her share of the inheritance in cash. He also made generous donations, leaving $50,000 each to Gonzaga High School and Gonzaga University, and $5,000 to St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
For his children, Crosby set strict conditions on their inheritance. They couldn’t access their share of the money until they turned 65. One of his sons, Philip Crosby, believed this was because their father was concerned that having too much money too soon could lead them into trouble.
Crosby’s careful planning reflected his desire to support his family and favored institutions while also protecting his children from potential pitfalls of sudden wealth.