A mystery third party made a legal bid for what remains of Geoffrey Edelsten's ragged estate.
Edelsten died a virtual pauper in June last year, leaving behind an estate valued at just over $1million, despite the disgraced businessman's desperate attempts to portray an image of extreme wealth in his final years.
In his will, Edelsten gave his son Matthew Beard $50,000, leaving nothing to his second wife, American socialite Brynne Gordon, and third wife, former escort Gabi Grecko.
Beard, 33, and Gordon, 39, have since lodged papers in the Victorian Supreme Court.
Beard, who lives in America, is arguing he deserves bigger portion of his father's assets, while Melbourne-based Gordon claims she is entitled to a slice of what's left.
This week, the court heard an unknown third claimant is now preparing to lodge their own claim for Edelsten's estate, reports the Herald Sun.
Executors were told of the mystery claimant's intentions last week, and will therefore hold off from distributing the estate.
The party was described as a potentially 'eligible person' in the matter, although their exact relationship to Edelsten was not specified.
Meanwhile, Gordon's lawyer Carolyn Sparke KC described the former reality star as penniless and in desperate need of a 'nest egg'.
Ms Sparke also said Gordon 'has a suspicion' that Edelsten's estate is worth more than it has been valued.
At the peak of his success, Edelsten owned the Sydney Swans AFL football club, travelled in helicopters and led an extravagant lifestyle.
However, his final will revealed the dire financial circumstances the notorious womaniser was in before his death.
In July, Gordon launched legal action with the Supreme Court of Victoria after being snubbed by the disgraced doctor in his final will.
In legal action taken against Michael John Webb and Lindsay Lawrence Hosking as the executers of Edelsten's will, Gordon claims she is entitled to a slice of what's left of Edelsten's estate.
'The distribution of the deceased's estate effected by his said Will is such as to not make adequate provision for the proper maintenance and support of the Plaintiff,' a notice to the court stated.
Gordon, who was married to Edelsten from 2009 to 2014, told the court that she too was deserving of a handout.
'The deceased made specific legacies of $50,000 and three of $25,000 to people who appear to be friends or acquaintances, gifts by way of commission in the order of $25,000 to each of his executors, a legacy of $300,000 to a business associate, two legacies of $100,000 to two charities and the residue divided between four charities,' Gordon complained.
Edelsten had made it clear even in death that he wished for Gordon to receive nothing of his estate.
'I have made no provision for my former wife Brynne Gordon as we are divorced and I had made substantial and excessive provision for her during my marriage to her,' his will stated.
Edelsten's son Beard, meanwhile, lodged his papers with the Supreme Court of Victoria in April.
In his submission, Beard, who received $1,000 a year until 2017 from his father, asked for money to fund his 'education, maintenance and advancement in life', to be paid out to him from Edelsten's estate.
The bodybuilder, who has a tattoo of his late father's surname on his torso, is also seeking costs for the court action.
The son of Isabel Beard, once Edelsten's receptionist, Matthew was the only significant family member Edelsten recognised in the will, even though he had not seen him since he was a child.
Beard, who has stayed out of the spotlight unlike his publicity-seeking father, is understood to have attended Edelsten's funeral on June 16 last year.
It is believed he stayed in touch with Edelsten by phone over the years and was reportedly distressed by his death.
Meanwhile, Gabi Grecko has claimed she was still technically married to Edelsten at the time of his death.
The couple, who were 46 years apart in age, married in June 2015 but split in 2019.
