In 2016, Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint inside a Paris hotel. The thieves escaped with over $10 million in jewelry, including her $4 million dollar diamond engagement ring from her former husband Kanye West. In recent news, Kim’s 2025 courtroom testimony at the Palais de Justice in Paris, France, brought the ordeal back into public view. The suspects, one woman, and nine men, were said to be a part of a group called the “Grandpa Robbers”. 

They were charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, and the possession of unauthorized weapons. The recent spotlight highlighting the Kim Kardashian robbery also brings awareness to a broader and more relatable topic: estate planning for high-value assets. Whether you’re a multimillion-dollar celebrity or just someone who owns meaningful personal items, Kim’s story offers key lessons on how to protect, document, and plan for valuable property.

Personal Property Coverage: Estate Planning for Sentimental Value

Even in the Kim Kardashian robbery case, the aftermath of the Paris heist wasn’t just about the dollar amount. The emotional violation of losing items tied to milestones, relationships, and memories was arguably more important than the financial loss itself. Her story reminds us that what’s truly valuable isn’t always what’s most expensive, it's what’s most personal. Whether you’re safeguarding a diamond ring or a journal full of family stories, having a clear plan in place ensures those valuables don’t become the center of confusion or conflict later on.

In these next sections, we’ll share some tips on how to go about protecting your personal property, and how to make sure your estate plan includes personal property coverage.

Insuring Jewelry and Beyond: Top Tips to Protecting High-Value Personal Property

1. Insuring Jewelry & Valuable or Sentimental Items

Kim reportedly had insurance coverage on her stolen jewelry. Most standard homeowners or renter’s insurance policies only cover a small amount of personal property, often excluding luxury items unless specially scheduled. Ask your insurer about personal articles policies that cover high-value items like jewelry, watches, or collectibles. They’ll likely require appraisals which leads to our next point. Insuring jewelry and obtaining personal property coverage for other valuable or sentimental items is critical if you wish to get the best protection for them.

2. Digital Security: Maintaining a Detailed Inventory

Consider this: if something happened tomorrow, would you be able to list every valuable item you own—along with purchase details, serial numbers, or appraisals—just off the top of your head? Most people can’t, which is why creating a detailed inventory is a best practice in estate planning and asset protection. 

Thanks to technology, you can add an element of digital security by storing your inventory and details in a secured space, such as a cloud-based platform or digital safe. This inventory should include clear item descriptions, high-quality photos, any available appraisals or purchase receipts, and serial numbers where applicable. Make it a point to update your inventory annually so that your records stay accurate and current. For more tips on how to implement digital security for your assets, read our guide here.

3. Watch What You Share on Social Media

Kim posted a photo of her diamond ring hours before the robbery, a clue that investigators state caused the robbers to target her. Public posts about travel, valuables, or absence from home can increase the risk of exposure. Avoid sharing real-time updates about luxury items or vacations. Consider sharing after you return, and review your privacy settings often. For true sentimental and irreplaceable items, consider wearing costume jewelry to avoid any risk of loss or theft while you travel. 

How to Incorporate Valuables into Your Estate Plan

Use a Personal Property Memorandum

If you want certain items to go to specific people, verbal promises are not reliable. A personal property memorandum allows you to list individual items alongside your will. It’s a flexible tool that is easier to update than a formal will and can help prevent family disputes.              

Address Access, Not Just Ownership

Kim’s robbers didn’t just know what she had, they knew how to get to it. Your estate plan should include details on how your heirs can access your valuables such as: Safe combination, storage unit keys, and passwords, including login information for digital safes and digital currencies. Without access, even well-documented wishes can be difficult to execute.

Plan for Loss or Theft

If a valuable is stolen or destroyed, and it’s named in your will, what happens? Clear language and contingency planning, like leaving alternate items or adjusting gifts. Regularly reviewing your estate plan and making the necessary updates can help prevent confusion.

Conclusion

The $10 million Kim Kardashian robbery isn’t just a headline, it’s a reminder that estate planning for high-value assets is about more than just wealth. It’s about clarity, security, and reducing stress for loved ones. Whether you own a designer handbag, a rare coin collection, or a single sentimental necklace, planning ahead protects those items, and the people who matter most.

At Trust & Will, we make it simple to build a plan that works for your life — and your valuables. Take our free quiz to get started, or compare our estate planning options today.

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