Who inherits Garbo's Estate?

The designation of Gray's as the sole heir went unchallenged for four months after Garbo's death. A man claimed to be Greta's brother second illegitimate son, Sven (Åke) Fredriksson wanted to break her last will and some time later a German woman appeared, Christine Schmitz from Cologne, who claimed to be Greta's half-sister.

Sven (Åke) Fredriksson

He was contacted in the small Swedish town of Oxelosund. Fredriksson said he never expected anything from his famous aunt.He said that he had no plans to pursue the matter.  But in August 1990, Fredriksson changed his mind and filed a suit to break the will. He charged that Garbo was an alcoholic, of unsound body and mind. She unduly influenced by Gray Reisfield in writing her will.

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A close friend said: “I laughed when I read about the half-nephew claiming Gray pressured her on the will. Anybody who knew GG knew nobody influenced her will. And anybody who knew Gray knew the thought would never have crossed her mind.” The case was dismissed by Manhattan Surrogate Court Judge Eve Preminger in July 1991.
 

Christine Schmitz

Shortly after Garbo died, the designation of her estate went unchallenged for some time. Garbo's sole heir was her niece Gray Reisfield. In late 1990 or early 1991, a German “half-sister” appeared - Christine Schmitz from Frechen/Cologne.

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Mrs Schmitz told reporters that Garbo even wanted Schmitz as the sole heiress of her estate. Schmitz than showed a handwritten copy of Garbo's Last will. Christine Schmitz also claimed that  Greta told her that, after her death,  she wanted to be buried, were her “real” father was born, in Frechen/Cologne.

For years, even until her death in 1997, Schmitz fought to fulfill Garbo's wish and teh promise she gave to her - to bury her in Frechen. A gravesite was chosen and a monument with Garbo's like-ness was designed Sculptor Höhnen but Garbo's Urn stayed in New York.