Faithless star Maxi Jazz leaves jaw-dropping sum in will with huge donation to charity

Faithless frontman Maxi Jazz left behind a £3 million fortune in his will, along with an impressive gift to a Buddhist charity close to his heart.

The pioneering dance music star, born Maxwell Fraser, died in December 2022 at the age of 65 following a long illness. Jazz was the voice behind Faithless anthems like Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1.

Newly released probate records reveal that the musician’s estate was valued at £3,119,567 before deductions, with around £60,000 reduced due to costs. It comes after Sir Michael Palin says he is preparing for the end of his life in sad update.

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According to The Sun, 20 percent of the estate, amounting to approximately £624,000, was left to Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a global Buddhist charity.

Jazz became a devoted follower of SGI’s Nichiren Buddhism after being introduced to the practice by a girlfriend in the early 1990s. SGI teaches that individuals can transform their lives through chanting and personal empowerment. Despite its widespread following, the group has attracted criticism from some former members, and it remains a controversial presence in global religious circles.

The remaining estate was left to friends and his niece, Michaela, who will inherit her share once she turns 30, according to the 2019 will signed off by the High Court last week. Maxi Jazz had no children.

Jazz was born in Brixton, South London, and first made waves on pirate radio in the 1980s before co-founding Faithless in 1995 at nearly 40 years old. He once said the group’s name reflected his feelings of spiritual emptiness before discovering Buddhism.

The group’s breakout single Insomnia was written during a sleepless night caused by a painful tooth abscess. Jazz said writing music was the only thing that kept him going. The track became an instant club classic and is still a defining anthem of the era.

Jazz remained with Faithless for over two decades, performing in front of massive festival crowds including a 100,000-strong audience at Glastonbury in 2002, before leaving in 2016 to pursue new creative projects with his blues-reggae band, Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys.

After his death, Faithless paid tribute to the frontman with a heartfelt statement, which read: "He was a man who changed our lives in so many ways. He gave proper meaning and message to our music. He was also a lovely human being with time for everyone and a wisdom that was both profound and accessible. It was an honour and, of course, a true pleasure to work with him.

"He was a brilliant lyricist, a DJ, a Buddhist, a magnificent stage presence, car lover, endless talker, beautiful person, moral compass and genius."

Jazz was also a devoted Crystal Palace supporter and became an associate director of the South London football club in 2012. After his passing, players walked out to Faithless music at Selhurst Park in his honour.

Club chairman Steve Parish also commemorated him, saying: "He was such a huge talent, a massive supporter of the club in every way and just a wonderful kind-hearted man. He made the world dance, sing and laugh and someone I was privileged to call a friend. RIP Maxi."

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