Mark Consuelos has a soft spot for his furry friend Lena, so much so that he's jokingly considering leaving his entire fortune to her instead of his kids. Now, that's what you call true devotion to your four-legged companion.
Mark Consuelos Opens Up About Leaving His Estate to His Dog on Live With Kelly and Mark
The beloved Riverdale actor made this heartwarming confession during an episode of Live With Kelly and Mark on March 21. The topic came up when discussing a report about people leaving their estates to their pets. Mark, 53, shared the fascinating details with the audience, sparking a lively conversation about the legalities and emotional aspects of such decisions.
Mark read from the report, “You know pet bequests have been known to be challenged in court, sometimes successfully.” He went on to explain the complexities of leaving money to pets, noting that they are considered property in all U.S. states. “You can’t leave your property to property,” his co-host Kelly Ripa, 54, chimed in, highlighting the legal nuances of such an arrangement.
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A Moment of Confusion
Mark got a little lost while reading the report aloud, trailing off mid-sentence. “And since pets are considered in all U.S. states property, you can’t actually leave — wait,” he paused, trying to make sense of the legal jargon. It was a humorous moment that showed the actor's genuine curiosity about the topic.
Kelly took the opportunity to remind her co-host and the audience about the importance of reading an article in full before jumping to conclusions. “Pets bequests have known to be challenged sometimes successfully by disinherited heirs. And since pets are considered in all U.S. states property, you can’t leave them money,” Mark eventually clarified.
Mark's Heartfelt Decision
Despite the legal complexities, Mark stood firm in his decision. “I’m leaving everything to Lena,” he declared, referencing the couple’s beloved dog. “Because you know you want to skip the kids. What is that? Generational skipping?” he joked, referencing a potential tax-saving strategy. “Save all the taxes? Generational skipping?”
Mark added, “Lena will appreciate it much more than our kids will appreciate it.” Mark and Kelly share three children—Michael, 27, Lola, 23, and Joaquin, 22—all of whom have moved out of their NYC house for work and college. It’s clear that Lena holds a special place in their hearts.
Kelly jokingly supported Mark’s decision, saying, “I love that plan. I can’t wait. You know what? Let’s just cut to the court battle.” She added with a laugh, “Let’s hire the attorneys now.”
This lighthearted conversation came more than a month after Kelly and Mark announced the passing of their other dog, Chewie, whom they adopted during a pet segment on the show years ago. Mark reflected on the difficult decision to let go, saying, “Chewie had stopped eating for a couple of days and had been eating less and less for the past few weeks. She was extremely dehydrated and had some neurological issues.”
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“It’s probably one of the toughest things we’ve had to do as a married couple,” Mark shared, emphasizing the deep bond they shared with their pet. “It takes a pet owner to understand this kind of loss. It’s grief. It really is grief. But knowing that we did the right thing because it was just going to be really, really, really bad over the next few days for her.”
Kelly broke down in tears during the episode, expressing her love and gratitude for Chewie. “I’m really sorry. I thought I got it all out, guys. I really thought I got it all out and I apologize because this is not how I wanted this to go down,” she told the audience. “God, she gave us so much.”
