The New York Post reports that, if there were a perfect time for the death, this year was it for George Steinbrenner. The year of 2010 is a fluke in that Congress failed to address estate tax issues, so there is no estate tax for the entire year. This makes it the year for America’s wealthiest to die, in order for their family to receive the most inheritance.

According to The Post, Steinbrenner’s net worth is estimated around $1 billion. With next year’s 55 percent estate tax, the family would have had to sell around $500 million, probably requiring them to give up the Yankees.

Another well-timed death was executed by a Houston man. According to The NY Post, “Houston tycoon Dan Duncan, a self-made mogul…died at 77 after building one of the country’s largest energy-service companies.” His net worth was around $8 billion, meaning his 2010 death saved his family around $4 billion.