Brooke Astor's estate settled after five year legal battle Astor died in 2007 aged 105 and her will was immediately disputed by her grandson, who accused his own father of taking advantage of her dementia to increase his share of her fortune, estimated at between $100 million (£63 million) and $200 million (£126 million). Anthony D Marshall, 87, and his lawyer Francis X Morrissey Jr were found guilty three years ago of defrauding and stealing money from the elderly widow. Now following a hearing in New York's Westchester County, he and his wife, Charlene, have also had their inheritance cut from $31 million (£19 million) to $14.5 million (£9 million), and are banned from choosing which charities will receive bequests from his mother's estate. Mrs Astor was a well-known figure in Manhattan's social scene well into her 90s, and the many charities which she supported will now receive millions of dollars of extra funds. Among the beneficiaries will be New York's Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Library, Carnegie Hall, city playgrounds and other cultural institutions. Mr Marshall insisted that he was content with the settlement, saying: "We're very happy that the probate proceedings have been resolved." In a statement, his attorney, Kenneth E Warner, said that because of his client's age, he "much prefers closure to an expensive and protracted litigation over his mother's estate." The settlement was based on a 2002 copy of Mrs Astor's will, after later versions were ruled to have been drawn up under pressure by Mr Marshall, who was knowingly taking advantage of his mother's fading faculties. Her grandson Philip C Marshall said: "It is great news for everyone that the will contest has settled without a trial."