Richard Simmons’ Brother and Housekeeper at War Over His Estate: He’d Be ‘Heartbroken’

Fitness trailblazer Richard Simmons went to his eternal rest prepared to sweat to the oldies. “Just like Clark Kent, underneath his beautiful things that he was wearing, he is wearing a tank top and shorts,” his brother, Leonard Simmons, said at the star’s celebration of life memorial in his native New Orleans on October 5. “We made sure that he was going to be in his normal costume that we all know and love to help the saints and the angels get into shape.”

Despite the joy Richard brought into the world, there is a fight brewing over his estate, pitting his brother, Lenny, against Richard’s longtime housekeeper, Teresa Reveles. Teresa has filed a petition in court asking to be reinstated as a cotrustee of Richard’s estate. She claims Lenny and his wife, Cathy, pressured her to give up her say over Richard’s legacy.

Richard’s brother, meanwhile, argues that Teresa has already received a big bequest from the fitness star and doesn’t have his legacy in mind. “He would be heartbroken to learn of Teresa’s greed,” Lenny said in a statement.

Richard gushed about his love for Lenny, whom he nicknamed “Baba” as a child, and Teresa, his live-in companion for more than 30 years. He would be upset by the feud. “Teresa was his confidante, and some say his only friend,” says an insider. “Lenny says that Teresa may have been there for Richard, but she’s not family. He’s OK with Teresa getting something from the will, but he’s adamant that she shouldn’t be a cotrustee.”

Richard looked up to his older brother. They spoke on the phone the day before Richard’s death when Lenny called to wish him a happy birthday. “They had issues like most siblings, but they were close,” says the insider.

Lenny, who didn’t respond to Closer’s request for an interview, also accuses Teresa of continuing to live in Richard’s home and asking for payment. “She is staying in his house, even though she has her own residence,” Lenny said. “She has attempted to charge the estate for her living expenses.” Teresa also did not respond to requests for comment.

Richard Simmons Left Behind Millions

Richard left behind an estate worth approximately $20 million, but there is even more at stake. Before his unexpected death from a fall at his home, Richard was fielding offers for a biopic about his life. “Wow! I just got my fourth offer from studios who want to work with me on my biopic,” Richard posted on X. “I have so many ideas swimming in my head. I am writing an outline now.”

Lenny accuses Teresa of trying to undercut Richard’s wishes by creating her own story about the fitness guru’s life. “A documentary has been pitched to Netflix that identifies Teresa as the principal source and contributor, and that we believe will be hurtful to Richard’s legacy,” said Lenny, who has also fought an unauthorized biopic about Richard tentatively titled The Court Jester, starring comedian Pauly Shore.

Richard, who published a memoir in 1999 called Still Hungry After All These Years: My Story, had some specific ideas about how he wanted his amazing story to be told. “I think he wanted to tell it just like a Broadway play. He wanted a documentary to tell people that there is hope in the world, that you can do it,” Lenny explained. “You can work hard, you can lose weight. And that’s why he wanted to tell that story.”

-Reporting by Rick Egusquiza