Helmsley’s well-heeled dog loses $10 million

A Manhattan judge cuts the dog's trust fund from $12 million to $2 million

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updated 1:58 p.m. ET June 16, 2008

NEW YORK - Leona Helmsley's dog isn't quite as well-heeled as she used to be.

Manhattan Surrogate Judge Renee Roth has reduced the trust fund for the little dog, named Trouble, from $12 million to $2 million.

The remaining $10 million now goes to Helmsley's charitable foundation.

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The 9-year-old Maltese lives in Florida with the general manager of the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel.

Helmsley became known as the "queen of mean" during her 1989 trial for tax evasion. A former housekeeper testified that she heard Helmsley say: "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes."

Helmsley denied having said it, but the words followed her until her death last August at age 87.

The court decision, made April 30, became public Monday.