Oliver Tree Spoke About His Will Weeks Before Dying in Rio Helicopter Crash
Weeks before his death in a helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro, singer Oliver Tree gave a candid interview in which he described exactly what he wanted done with his money after he was gone — and mused that people would only truly appreciate his work once he was no longer alive.
What Tree Said About His Will
During a recent appearance on the "Zach Sang Show," Tree opened up about how he had structured his estate. He said he did not believe any of his wealth was truly his to keep and that no family member — not even a hypothetical spouse or children — would inherit a penny.
"I don't believe that any of the wealth, or the things that get made from it, is mine," Tree said. "So when I die, my will is set up that when I pass, my family, no one's going to get a penny."
He said he would pay to get any future children through college, but drew a firm line there. "I'll get my kids through college. That's the agreement," he said. "But there's not going to be a silver spoon."
The Money Goes Back to Artists
Tree said he had set up a foundation called Dr. Oliver Tree's Art Grants for Baby Geniuses, with the explicit intent of funneling his estate into supporting other creators. The grant money would come with strict conditions: recipients could not spend it on equipment purchases or educational programs, only on paying people to physically produce work.
"You have to physically hire people to physically produce stuff — and you're allowed to rent equipment to make things," he explained.
He described a committee system that would vote each year on which artists received funding, and said he intended to set it up while still alive. Tree also noted he expected his catalog to appreciate significantly after his death.
"People will finally appreciate my stupid f---ing videos and my stupid f---ing songs," he said. "That's when people appreciate you, when you're not there anymore."
The Crash That Killed Six
Tree, 32, was among six people killed when two helicopters collided mid-air over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on June 14. According to the Associated Press, Rio de Janeiro police confirmed Tree was on the passenger list of one of the aircraft. One of the helicopters came down on a car dealership, where the impact ignited a fire that burned through a number of parked electric vehicles before firefighters extinguished it.
The other victims were identified as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim — an Argentinian YouTuber known online as Gaspi — and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. Investigators have not yet announced a cause for the collision.
A Career Cut Short on Tour
Tree had been actively touring at the time of the crash in support of his fourth studio album, "Love You Madly, Hate You Badly," released in April 2026. He performed in São Paulo on June 6 and had posted a video to Instagram the day before the crash of himself playing soccer in a Rio neighborhood. His next scheduled date was a show in Lisbon on July 1.
Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, Tree built a following through self-released music and a memorable alter ego — "Turbo" — characterized by a bowl cut, oversized '80s clothing, and eccentric self-directed music videos. He signed with Atlantic Records after his 2017 single "When I'm Down" gained traction online. His biggest hits included "Alien Boy," "Life Goes On" and "Miss You" with Robin Schulz.
Atlantic Records and Warner Chappell Music released a joint statement following news of the crash: "We are shocked and saddened by Oliver's untimely passing. He was a remarkable talent — a gifted artist and songwriter who forged a thoroughly unique and captivating style. Oliver was endlessly inventive and a true original."
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.