AIDS charities to get funds from Elizabeth Taylor

A number of AIDS charities are expected to benefit from Dame Elizabeth Taylor's death.

The Hollywood star passed away from congestive heart failure at the age of 79 last Wednesday (23.03.11) and although the details of her will have not yet been made public, a number of charities including the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and amfAR are set to receive proceeds from the sale of her jewellery.

Christie's auction house in London will oversee the sale of $240 million worth of the 'Cleopatra' star's jewel collection, including a Cartier necklace from husband Mike Todd and the famous 69.42-carat pear-shaped Burton-Taylor diamond which cost former husband Richard Burton over $1 million in 1969, with the money set to be shared among the two charities.

Elizabeth raised $270 million for her AIDS Foundation during her lifetime after taking up the cause when her close friend Rock Hudson died from the illness in 1985.

The savvy actress amassed the huge empire through her acting roles, including a rumoured $2.5 million cameo in 'The Flintstones', and her joint fragrance venture with cosmetics firm Elizabeth Arden including the famous scent White Diamonds.

The remainder of Elizabeth's fortune - rumoured to total between $600 million and $1 billion - will be shared among her four children Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.