Oliver Tree Estate to Fund Artist Grants, Bypassing Family Inheritance After Singer's Death at 32

Oliver Tree Nickell's estate will flow entirely into a newly announced artist grant foundation, bypassing family inheritance — a structure the 32-year-old singer had codified in his will before he died in a June 14 helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His representatives confirmed Sunday that his body has returned to California, one week after the crash claimed six lives.

Foundation Structure and Grant Mandate

The endowment, named "Dr. Oliver Tree's Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses," was drafted before Tree's death and represents his stated final wish, according to his official Instagram account. Loved ones say they are committed to carrying the foundation to completion.

Tree outlined the grant's operational rules publicly during an April appearance on the "Zach Sang Show," months before the accident. Recipients will be prohibited from using funds to purchase equipment or pay for formal education. The capital must instead go toward hiring people to physically produce creative work, with equipment rentals permitted. A voting committee Tree said he had assembled would determine annual grant recipients.

The Artist-First Estate Philosophy

Tree articulated a clear rejection of generational wealth transfer. Speaking on the "Zach Sang Show," he said he does not view his accumulated wealth as personally his, and that no family member would inherit from his estate — with one defined carve-out: covering his children's college costs. He described the arrangement plainly as no silver spoon for his heirs.

His rationale was rooted in a belief that creative proceeds belong back in the artistic ecosystem that generated them. He also anticipated that his catalog would appreciate posthumously, citing the historical pattern of artists gaining wider appreciation after death. "People will finally appreciate my stupid f---ing videos and my stupid f---ing songs," he said in April. "That's when people appreciate you, when you're not there anymore."

Crash Details and Victims

Tree was among six people killed when two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro on June 14, according to the Associated Press. Rio de Janeiro's Military Fire Department said one aircraft struck a car dealership where several electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire that was subsequently extinguished. The other victims identified by CNN Brazil include passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, and Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.

Tree had performed in São Paulo on June 6 as part of a world tour supporting his album "Love You Madly, Hate You Badly" — his final show before the crash. His representatives closed Sunday's statement by noting that fan tributes and public outpouring of support have helped the family, friends, and collaborators navigate the loss. A formal launch timeline for the foundation has not yet been announced.