One of the most famous “rich pet” stories in history involved a German Shepherd named Gunther IV, who reportedly inherited a fortune connected to the wealthy German countess Karlotta Liebenstein.

According to the long-running story, Liebenstein allegedly left roughly $80 million to her dog after her death in the early 1990s because she reportedly had no close heirs. The fortune was then managed through a trust and later associated with Gunther IV and subsequent generations of the dog’s bloodline.

Over the years, the value of the assets connected to the “Gunther” trust reportedly grew substantially through investments and real estate holdings, with some reports later claiming the overall fortune reached hundreds of millions of dollars.

The story became globally famous because of the extravagant lifestyle connected to the dog. Reports claimed the trust purchased luxury properties, yachts, rare collectibles, and even a Miami mansion once owned by Madonna.

At one point, Gunther was frequently described in media reports as “the world’s richest dog,” turning the bizarre inheritance into an internet legend.

However, parts of the story have also been questioned over the years, with documentaries and investigations suggesting some details may have been exaggerated or mixed with marketing surrounding the trust and its handlers.

Even so, the idea of a dog connected to an enormous fortune became one of the internet’s most famous luxury stories — mostly because people couldn’t believe an animal might technically live wealthier than entire cities of humans.