He was the wildlife warrior that wowed the world with his undying passion for conservation.
He also starred in his very own feature film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, which also proved a smash hit at the box office.
While Steve’s big screen debut received mixed reviews from critics, it was a different story with fans, with Collision Course grossing an impressive $33.4 million on a $12 million budget.
But despite all of his success, at the time of his passing, Steve left his wife Terri, 61, and children Robert, 21, and Bindi, 27, with a surprisingly meagre inheritance.
Rather than bestowing untold riches onto his children, Steve left Robert and Bindi with a life insurance policy totalling just $200,000, realestate.com.au reports.
Steve Irwin was the wildlife warrior that wowed the world with his undying passion for conservation
While the figure may seem surprising, Steve put his money where his mouth was when it came to conservation, reinvesting most of his earnings back into Australia Zoo.
Robert and Bindi surely stand to inherit the iconic Queensland conservation facility one day.
Speaking to the Australian Financial Review in 2024, Steve’s widow, Terri, revealed that his passing left the family in a precarious position, financially.
She told the publication that the majority of the money that Steve made went straight back into his conservation efforts and keeping Australia Zoo open.
‘Everything was reinvested into conservation work,’ Terri said.
‘I was in debt… and Steve’s life insurance, I think, was the sum total of $200,000, which didn’t even cover half of one week’s payroll.’
Terri did add, though, that she and Steve had established a 10-year business plan before his death.
She added that Steve also had an ‘ironclad’ will that prevented ‘some crazy person [would] sweep in from some distant family connection and try to take everything.’
But despite all of his success, at the time of his passing, Steve left wife Terri, 61, and children Robert, 21, and Bindi, 27, with a surprisingly meagre inheritance
Rather then bestowing untold riches onto his children, Steve left Robert and Bindi (pictured) with a life insurance policy totaling just $200,000, realestate.com.au reported. Also pictured; Terri Irwin
Steve died on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef with Philippe Cousteau Jr.
A private funeral service was held on September 9, and Steve was buried in a private ceremony at Australia Zoo later that same day.
A public memorial service was held in Australia Zoo’s 5,500-seat Crocoseum on September 30, and was broadcast live to an estimated audience of more than 300 million.
Speaking about his father in June, on BBC Radio 2’s Scott Mills Breakfast Show, Robert became visibly emotional after being played a forgotten clip of Steve that showed him outlining his dreams for him and his sister, Bindi.
The clip began with Steve asking himself: ‘Is there anything in this world that would want to make me give away what I’m doing now?
‘Yes. Yes, there is,’ he replied. ‘When my children can take the football that I call wildlife conservation and run it up.’
Steve’s voice began to crack with emotion as he admitted that seeing Robert and Bindi take up the wildlife warrior mantle would be his ‘proudest moment’.
‘I guarantee you it’ll be the proudest moment of my life – and my job will be done like my mum and my dad,’ Steve said.
While the figure may seem surprising, Steve certainly put his money where his mouth was when it came to conservation, reinvesting most of his earnings back into Australia Zoo. steve is pictured with son, Robert
‘Everything was reinvested into conservation work,’ Terri told the Australian Financial Review in 2024. ‘I was in debt… and Steve’s life insurance, I think, was the sum total of $200,000, which didn’t even cover half of one week’s payroll
‘Then, and only then, will I know that I have achieved my ultimate goal: to be able to stand aside and let them run up my mission.’
Visibly moved by his father’s words, Robert admitted that his dad would always be his ‘superhero’.
‘It’s emotional to hear that,’ he said.
‘It means so much, and when you dedicate your life to legacy, it really makes you think about how we all get to create our legacy.’
‘He is my superhero – he always will be. And he was, I think, a superhero to an entire generation.’
