A 19-year-long legal battle over James Brown's estate led to a myriad of accusations of financial mismanagement, paternity challenges and questions over the future of a planned charitable foundation. Brown died at age 73 on Christmas Day 2006 due to complications from congestive heart failure. The "Godfather of Soul" was married four times, though his exact number of children remains in dispute. Brown acknowledged sharing Teddy (who died in a 1973 car accident), Terry and Larry with first wife Velma Warren, daughter Venisha (who died in 2018) with singer Yvonne Fair, daughters Dr.