Wladimir Klitschko to Cover Late Ex Hayden Panettiere's $30,000 Tax Bill

Wladimir Klitschko, the former fiancé of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has stated his intention to pay Panettiere's outstanding $30,000 tax bill from his own funds. The move is aimed at protecting the inheritance of their daughter, Kaya, who is the sole beneficiary of Panettiere's estate.

Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36 from the accidental 'toxic effects' of multiple drugs, including fentanyl. Klitschko filed a petition in Los Angeles last month to become the temporary guardian of his daughter's estate. In a filing dated October 1, Klitschko noted that Panettiere's 2025 individual state and federal income tax returns are due on extension on October 15, 2026, with approximately $30,000 owed.

Klitschko expressed concern that failure to file and pay these taxes on time could result in 'unnecessary interest and failure to file penalties,' which would directly impact Kaya financially. He intends to cover the tax payment and later seek reimbursement from the probate estate, subject to court approval.

Legal documents also allege that some of Panettiere's personal property, including jewelry, may have been misappropriated. Klitschko's filings suggest that an individual previously connected to Panettiere may have sold items to a pawn shop. The pawn shop has reportedly declined to disclose specific item information without law enforcement contact, raising concerns that remaining property could be sold or transferred.

Klitschko has requested that his guardianship appointment include the authority to pursue law enforcement investigations into the recovery of Panettiere's property. This legal action follows an 'urgent' move to safeguard Kaya's inheritance amidst concerns of property risk.

In 2018, Panettiere granted full custody of their daughter Kaya to Klitschko amid her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction. Klitschko subsequently moved Kaya to his native Ukraine. Kaya is a U.S. citizen residing abroad with her father.

Panettiere, a U.S. citizen and resident of California, died intestate, meaning without a will. The court in California has jurisdiction over the guardianship of Kaya's estate as she is entitled to the assets subject to Panettiere's probate administration in California. The purpose of Klitschko's filing is to enable him to receive, manage, and hold assets from Panettiere's estate on Kaya's behalf.

Additional security measures were reportedly put in place at Panettiere's home before her death due to an unauthorized individual gaining access to her property. Storage units containing designer clothing and accessories have been relocated as a precaution. The petition states it is expected that the individual will continue to attempt to misappropriate property belonging to the estate.

Some items of Panettiere's personal property, including jewelry, are believed to be unaccounted for, with some items reportedly in the custody of law enforcement in connection with an ongoing investigation. Klitschko emphasized the urgency of appointing a representative for Panettiere's estate to marshal assets and interface with law enforcement.

Klitschko also alleged that federal agents accessed Panettiere's home and removed her property as part of an ongoing investigation. He stressed the necessity of immediate appointment as Temporary Guardian of Kaya's Estate to file a probate petition and nominate a proposed administrator to prevent potential loss, damage, or dissipation of estate property.

Panettiere and Klitschko were engaged in 2013 and welcomed Kaya in December 2014. They split again in 2018, but remained on amicable terms, leading to Panettiere's decision to sign full custody of Kaya to Klitschko. Panettiere spoke in May about the difficult decision, citing a challenging period in her life involving depression and substance abuse.

Panettiere began her acting career as a child, appearing in soap operas. She gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 film 'Remember the Titans' and as the voice of Dot in Pixar's 'A Bug's Life.' She later starred as Claire Bennet in the superhero drama 'Heroes' and as Juliette Barnes in the ABC show 'Nashville,' earning two Golden Globe nominations for the latter. Her film credits also include 'Scream 4' and 'Scream VI.'