The Partners Who Defined George Michael’s Life: Where Are They Now And The Shocking Estate Battle
The legacy of George Michael, one of music’s most talented and complex figures, continues to resonate years after his tragic passing on Christmas Day 2016. While his music with Wham! and his solo career are legendary, the story of his personal life—specifically the men he loved—is equally compelling, marked by deep connection, public scrutiny, and, ultimately, dramatic legal turmoil.
The most recent updates, even in late 2025, revolve around the contentious aftermath of his death, particularly the staggering £97 million estate and the partners who were controversially excluded from his will. This is the definitive, up-to-date look at the men who shared George Michael's life, and the shocking claims and settlements that have only recently come to light.
A Complete Profile of George Michael’s Major Partners
George Michael had three significant, long-term relationships that profoundly shaped his life and music. Here is a detailed look at the men who were closest to him.
Anselmo Feleppa: The First Love and Tragic Loss
- Name: Anselmo Feleppa
- Born: August 21, 1956, in Brazil
- Profession: Dress Designer
- Relationship Duration: 1991–1993
- Significance: Feleppa was George Michael's first true love and the relationship that inspired some of his most profound work, notably the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Michael met him in Rio de Janeiro.
- Post-Death Status: Feleppa tragically died in March 1993 from an AIDS-related brain hemorrhage. His death was a devastating blow to Michael, who kept his own grief and sexuality private for years.
Kenny Goss: The Longest Partner and Legal Victor
- Name: Kenneth "Kenny" Goss
- Born: September 17, 1958, in Brownwood, Texas, USA
- Profession: American Art Dealer and Businessman (Co-founded the Goss-Michael Foundation in Dallas)
- Relationship Duration: 1996–2009 (though the breakup was not publicly confirmed until 2011)
- Significance: Goss was George Michael’s longest-standing partner, a relationship that lasted 13 years and provided a crucial period of stability in the singer's life. They were a highly visible couple in the art world and celebrity circles.
- Post-Death Status: Despite being excluded from George Michael's £97 million will, Goss launched a legal claim for financial provision from the estate. In a major development, he reached an out-of-court settlement with the estate’s trustees, which included George Michael's sister Yioda Panayiotou and his father. The settlement was based on his claim for 'reasonable financial provision' as a dependent under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, a crucial piece of legislation in UK estate law.
Fadi Fawaz: The Final Partner and Dramatic Aftermath
- Name: Fadi Fawaz
- Born: May 24, 1973, in Lebanon
- Profession: Hairdresser and Photographer
- Relationship Duration: 2012–2016 (Partner at the time of death)
- Significance: Fawaz was the one who tragically discovered George Michael’s body at his Goring-on-Thames home on Christmas Day. Their relationship was reportedly turbulent in its final years.
- Post-Death Status: Fawaz was also excluded from the will, which left the bulk of the estate to George Michael's sisters, Yioda and the late Melanie Panayiotou, and seven close friends, including Shirlie Kemp and David Austin. Following the death, Fawaz was embroiled in a highly public dispute, refusing to leave Michael's Highgate, London, home and making controversial claims about the singer's final days, including allegations that Michael had tried to commit suicide multiple times and was HIV positive. He was eventually evicted from the property and has since struggled financially, reportedly living in a budget hotel.
The Legal Drama: How Kenny Goss Won a Share of the Estate
The greatest source of modern news and intrigue surrounding George Michael’s partners centers on his will. The singer's final wishes, which were revealed to leave his entire fortune to his family and a select group of friends, entirely excluded both Kenny Goss and Fadi Fawaz.
Kenny Goss, the Texas-based art dealer who was with Michael for 13 years, did not accept this exclusion quietly. He launched a lawsuit against the George Michael estate, a complex legal maneuver in the UK. His claim was filed under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, which allows a former partner to seek financial support if they were dependent on the deceased.
The argument centered on the fact that despite their split in 2009, Goss claimed he was still financially supported by Michael. The estate’s trustees, who had initially vowed that Goss "wouldn't get a penny," eventually agreed to an undisclosed settlement. This landmark decision confirmed that even long-term former partners, if they can prove financial dependence, have a legal path to challenge a will in England and Wales, providing a fresh perspective on the complexities of celebrity estate planning.
Fadi Fawaz’s Controversial Claims and Eviction
While Kenny Goss sought a quiet legal resolution, Fadi Fawaz’s post-death narrative was far more tumultuous and public. As the partner who found George Michael’s body, his life became inextricably linked with the tragedy. However, his relationship with Michael’s family deteriorated rapidly.
Following the star's death, Fawaz was banned from the funeral by the Panayiotou family. The drama escalated as he refused to vacate George Michael’s Highgate mansion, a property reportedly worth millions. The legal battle over the property lasted for years, culminating in his eventual eviction. This led to a period of instability for Fawaz, who has since been reported to be living in a budget hotel, a stark contrast to the life of luxury he once shared with the global superstar.
Fawaz also made a series of shocking and unsubstantiated claims on social media and in interviews. He controversially alleged that the singer had died by suicide, a claim that contradicted the official coroner's report, which ruled the death was due to natural causes (dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and a fatty liver). Furthermore, he claimed George Michael was HIV positive at the time of his death, a statement that was widely reported but never officially confirmed by the family or estate.
The Undying Influence on George Michael’s Music
Beyond the legal and personal drama, the influence of George Michael's partners on his artistic output remains the most enduring part of his legacy. His first love, Anselmo Feleppa, was the muse for the iconic ballad "Jesus to a Child," a deeply emotional tribute released three years after Feleppa's death. The subsequent years with Kenny Goss saw Michael find a sense of domestic peace that was rare for him, even as his struggles with addiction continued.
The openness and vulnerability Michael displayed in his music, especially in his later albums, were a direct result of the freedom and pain he experienced in these relationships. While the estate battles and public disputes have cast a shadow, the true story of George Michael and his partners is ultimately one of searching for connection, enduring grief, and the profound power of love to inspire timeless art.
The ongoing public interest in Kenny Goss’s settlement and Fadi Fawaz’s current status proves that the narrative of George Michael's life is far from over, offering continuous, fresh insight into the personal life of a music icon.
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