Tony Bennett’s oldest son, Danny Bennett, slammed his sisters, Antonia and Johanna Bennett, as their court battle over the musician’s estate turns nasty, In Touch can exclusively report.
In court documents obtained by In Touch, Danny scoffed at Antonia and Johanna’s claims he refused to turn the estate’s financial records.
He also claimed their father was adamant that he would have sole control of his trust.
Danny even addressed Antonia and Johanna’s confusion over records showing Tony gave Danny more gifts than them.
“He always gave me and [his wife] significantly more than he gave to my siblings,” Danny said.
In his declaration, Danny said, “My two sisters … clearly want a fight, but there is nothing to fight about. Our father trusted me during his life — he trusted me to manage his career, manage his money and to serve as his trustee; and our father trusted me to continue to handle his affairs … after he died.”
Danny said, “My sisters have gained little traction in the court of public opinion, where they continue to hurl the same, tired, accusations they throw at the court in this proceeding, yet they pursue their goal of painting me dirty.”
He denied accusations of “self-dealing” while working for Tony. Danny said his sisters’ allegations of improper conduct were false.
Danny said Tony was so adamant about Antonia and Johanna not being involved in his business that he created a “no contest” clause, which would block anyone from receiving part of the trust if they opposed any part of the trust.
Danny said he does not intend to invoke this provision, but only mentioned it to make Tony’s intentions clear.
Danny added, “I have provided my sisters with voluminous information concerning the affairs of the Trust and my father’s assets.”
He admitted he was actively making deals regarding Tony’s assets and intellectual property.
“That is what I am supposed to do,” Danny said.
He added, “Tony’s death created a small window in which we can grow the assets he left to all of us, by negotiating blockbuster entertainment and marketing deals. My job … is to engage in negotiations and to make the best deals possible for all of Tony’s heirs. How can my sisters possibly complain about me doing my job?”
As In Touch previously reported, back in June 2024, Antonia and Johanna filed a lawsuit against Danny over Tony’s estate.
Antonia and Johanna demanded Danny be ordered to turn over accounting for the estate. Danny, who served as Tony’s manager during his lifetime, was appointed as the trustee of the singer’s trust after Tony died on July 21, 2023, the age of 96.
In court, Antonia and Johanna claimed to be confused as to why Tony’s estate was only worth $7 million.
They believed Tony had earned over $100 million in the past 15 years and should have had a lot more to show for it.
Antonia and Johanna took issue with Danny receiving $4.2 million in gifts from Tony while they received a lot less over the years.
The sisters claimed Danny failed to provide them with proper accounting for estate transactions and expenses. In addition, they said Danny did not provide them with information about the sale of Tony’s music catalog.
Their lawyer said, “Danny has provided conflicting financial statements, unexplained expenses totaling many hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more), and significant distributions, gifts, and other payments that Danny made directly to himself or for his own benefit while wearing every fiduciary hat possible.”
He continued, “Danny’s actions during the Pre-Death Period were anything but ordinary and raise serious concerns about the Post- Death Period.” Danny pointed out, “Tony never was declared to be legally under a disability, and neither of my sisters ever raised such an issue nor took such a step, although they could have done so.”
The sisters believed Tony’s trust was supposed to treat his four children equally.
He added, “They saw him regularly and knew that, while he struggled, and had good days and bad, he still understood what it meant to make a gift to a loved one. More important, Tony’s pattern of gifting did not change dramatically from year to year.”
Danny said Tony always gave him and Tony’s wife Susan Bennett “more than he gave” Antonia and Johanna.
He noted, “The differential between what Tony gifted to [Tony’s wife], me and my siblings was consistent for years – both before and after my sisters allege he was incapacitated.”
“Tony obviously was aware that I had check-signing power. That is one of the reasons he wanted me, his son, to be both his personal and his business manager. He trusted me not to steal from him. And I did not,” Danny said in his declaration.
“Tony knew his children, and he knew who was good at what. He knew I am good at business, and he chose me to continue his business and to manage his legacy after his death,” he said. “Clearly, Tony did not want his daughters to have any involvement, whatsoever, in his affairs or his business, during his life or after his death.”
Danny asked that his sister’s petition be thrown out.
He said he would continue to provide them with information on the trust as he has been. The case is ongoing.
Antonia, Johanna and Danny have a brother named Dae, who is not a party to the legal battle.
As In Touch first reported, earlier this year, Danny first asked the court to toss his sister’s petition.
