David Bowie took steps to ensure his wife and children would inherit his £135m fortune.
The Space Oddity singer - who died of cancer on Sunday - came close to bankruptcy in the 1970s but in 1997, his Bowie Bonds scheme gave investors the rights to his royalties for 10 years, before ownership returned to him and allowed him to buy back the rights to some of his most popular work from a former manager.
California-based banker David Pullman, who put together the scheme - which saw Prudential Insurance Company pay £337m for rights to Bowie's first 25 albums - said: "The deal saw that the bonds were paid off and Mr Bowie then retained all his rights.
"He was astute financially and he had the foresight to have things set up then that would look after his family.
"He was smart enough to have confidence in himself. Most artists sell themselves short, and they don't hold out for the rights. He was able to retain his legacy. His songs were his baby."
