A reclusive American millionaire has left the bulk of his estate to the National Trust for Scotland without ever having visited the country. When the estate has finished probate, the NTS could end up with about $4 million (£2.5 million).

The 79-year-old had been a lawyer and investor in California, accumulating his millions slowly and quietly over the years. According to his cousin, he had spent some time in Ohio taking care of his mother after she had a debilitating stroke. He considered a nursing home for her, but he "couldn't stand the thought." He hired full-time in-home care instead. The experience left him concerned about what would happen to him in his old age.

About 15 years ago, he started to give away his money -- as much as $15 million in total, according to his neighbor, who is the administrator of the trust. He donated $2 million to the University of Glasgow in 1999 and $4 million to the NTS about 18 months ago. He told his neighbor he was "spending down to zero."

This was a quiet man, who had never married and who lived alone in a modest house outside of Las Vegas. He had two friends -- his neighbor and his barber -- and two cousins who lived back East. And he had a pug named Midge. Everyone was surprised that he had so much money.

His love of Scotland is a mystery to everyone. The country was home to his ancestors, but he had never visited. Scottish newspapers, in their announcements of the NTS bequest, made light of his love of the country. His images of the country were strictly "Brigadoon," they said.

It that's true, it adds a dimension of romance to the mystery.

Source: Daily Mail (UK), "Las Vegas tycoon's love of 1954 movie Brigadoon inspired him to leave £2.5m fortune to Scotland - even though he'd never been there," 01/05/11