I wish I had those Troubles

There is still some controversy about Trouble's billions.

Trouble, you will recall, is the Maltese pooch to whom Leona Helmsley left a lot of cash.

A Manhattan judge ruled Wednesday the $5 billion estate can be distributed to people, places and things other than dog-related charities.

Here is the story from the N.Y. Daily News.

The luxury hotel queen, who died at age 87 in August 2007, famously left $12 million in her will to her tiny Maltese, Trouble, while freezing out two of her grandchildren.

A judge last year trimmed Trouble's trust fund to $2 million, while providing $6 million to her two disowned grandchildren.

They charged she wasn't mentally competent when she signed the will.

Trouble, who lives in Sarasota, Fla., now, has annual expenses totaling about $300,000, including $210,000 of round-the-clock protection.

Funny, Kate manages very well on less.