Why Wladimir Klitschko is quietly settling Hayden Panettiere's massive tax bills
The former heavyweight champion says he’s paying the bill himself to shield Hayden Panettiere’s estate from additional penalties
Wladimir Klitschko is stepping in to cover a significant tax bill linked to his late former fiancée, Hayden Panettiere, as he works to protect the inheritance of their daughter, Kaya .
According to court documents reported by TMZ, Klitschko says he plans to pay approximately $30,000 from his own funds toward Panettiere’s 2025 federal and state income taxes.
He believes the returns are due October 15 and wants to prevent additional interest and penalties from being charged against the actress’s estate. Klitschko says he plans to request reimbursement once the estate has been formally established.
The payment is part of a much broader effort by the retired heavyweight champion to protect Kaya’s financial interests.
Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36, leaving Kaya , 11, as her sole heir, according to court filings. Because Panettiere reportedly died without a will, the actress’s assets must now be dealt with through the probate process.
Klitschko’s decision to pay the tax bill himself could help prevent the estate from accumulating additional financial obligations while questions surrounding its administration are resolved.
It also gives him another reason to seek legal authority to represent his daughter in matters involving her late mother’s property.
Klitschko’s wider push to protect Kaya’s inheritance
Klitschko has been seeking temporary guardianship so he can act on Kaya’s behalf in connection with Panettiere’s estate. His concerns, however, go beyond unpaid taxes and financial deadlines.
In a separate court filing, Klitschko alleged that personal belongings belonging to Panettiere had ended up at a pawn shop. He raised concerns that jewelry and other valuable possessions could potentially be sold or transferred before an official representative of the estate has been appointed.
According to the filing, the pawn shop has declined to provide specific information about the items without law enforcement involvement.
Klitschko argues that the absence of an officially appointed personal representative makes it difficult to take action and recover property that could ultimately form part of Kaya’s inheritance.
He has therefore asked the court to give him authority to represent his daughter while the estate is being handled. His filings indicate that he believes protecting Panettiere’s assets is particularly important because Kaya is her only heir.
The legal developments follow Panettiere’s death, which was determined to have been accidental. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, the actress died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine.
Klitschko and Panettiere were together on and off for several years and became engaged in 2013. Although they separated in 2018, they remained connected through their daughter.
After Panettiere’s death, Klitschko paid tribute to her publicly, describing her as an important part of his life and highlighting both her acting career and the challenges she faced.
