- The housekeeper in the "maid to millionaire" story did not receive the money. In November 2024, Thai police said she could not claim the roughly 100 million baht (about S$3.7 million) estate left to her.
- The employer was French businesswoman Catherine Delacote, 59, who died at her villa in Mae Nam, Koh Samui, Thailand, on 29 April 2024.
- The helper, Ms Nutwalai Pupongta (known as "Pa Tim"), 49, had worked for her for 17 years, according to The Straits Times and Bangkok Post.
- The gift stalled because police found Ms Delacote held Thai land through nominee companies, which breaches Thailand's ban on foreigners owning land.
- For Singapore employers, the lesson is simple: a heartfelt wish only works if it sits in a valid will and covers assets you lawfully own.
The headline went round the world in 2024: a loyal maid inherits millions from her employer. The real story is more complicated, and a little sad. The love was real. The paperwork underneath it was not sound, and that is the part every employer who wants to look after a long-serving helper should understand.
Who was the maid who inherited $3.66 million?
Here is what reputable outlets reported, in one place.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Detail | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Helper | Ms Nutwalai Pupongta, 49, Thai national, nicknamed "Pa Tim" |
| Employer | Catherine Delacote, 59, French businesswoman living on Koh Samui since around 2007 |
| Years of service | 17 years |
| When and where | 29 April 2024, at her villa in Tambon Mae Nam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani |
| Value | About 100 million baht (reported as S$3.7 million; some outlets used US$2.7 million) |
| Assets named | A villa and land, adjacent plots, a car, jewellery, cash, and her three cats to care for. Two other villas went to her ex-husband. |
| Outcome | 26 November 2024: police said she could not claim the assets. Thaiger reported they would pass to the state once proceedings end. |
What did the employer do for her helper before she died?
The Straits Times, citing The Nation and Bangkok Post, reported that Ms Nutwalai showed police a LINE message from her employer. In it, Ms Delacote set out her wishes and tidied her affairs:
- Left her villa, about 0.32 hectares of land beside it, a luxury car, jewellery and cash to her helper
- Asked her helper to look after her three kittens
- Paid the internet and utility bills, plus the helper's salary
- Wired a further 500,000 baht to cover funeral costs
Khaosod English reported she had also named a French national, Mr Emmanuel, as executor of the will.
Why did the maid not get the inheritance?
In short, you cannot leave someone what you do not lawfully own. The will was clear; the ownership behind it was the problem. No court ruling on the will itself was reported. The decision came from the police investigation into the companies.
Can I leave money to my helper in my will in Singapore?
Yes. A will can name anyone as a beneficiary, including a foreign domestic worker. A few basics are worth knowing before you see a lawyer.
How do I provide for a long-serving helper the right way?
If there is no will, Singapore's Intestate Succession Act decides who inherits, and a helper is not on that list. Small estates may be handled by the Public Trustee's Office, but it only distributes to the people the law names. So if you want your helper included, a will is the only route.
What are other ways to thank a loyal helper?
Most of us will never leave a villa. Gratitude that lands while you are both alive often matters more:
- Fair, rising pay that reflects her years with you
- Completion or renewal bonuses, paid and recorded clearly
- Help with her children's school fees back home
- Courses in cooking, caregiving or finance that she keeps for life
- Time and respect: proper rest days, home leave, and a listening ear
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Browse SearchmaidP.S. The kindest thing Ms Delacote did may have been the small stuff: paying the bills, the salary, the funeral costs. Do the small stuff now. Get the big stuff checked by a lawyer.
