Freddie Mercury Leaves Huge Estate

LONDON - Freddie Mercury, who died at age 45 in November of AIDS, left more than $15.5 million to family and friends, according to his will, released Saturday.

The lead singer of rock group Queen gave the bulk of his estate, including his luxury west London home, to former girlfriend Mary Austin, who had continued to work for Mercury after their seven-year relationship ended.

Mercury left $905,000 each to his friend Jim Hutton, chef Joe Fannelli and assistant Peter Freestone, the statement said.

His sister Cash Cooke received 25 percent from the sale of stock and property. The same proportion goes to his parents, Jer and Bomi Bulsara, the statement said.

Mercury had made a large donation to AIDS research; AIDS charities also got millions from a star-studded Mercury tribute concert last month, and from proceeds from a rerelease of Queen's hit "Bohemian Rhapsody."