The Untold Story Of 'Larry King Wife Bret': Unraveling The Identity, The $144 Million Estate Battle, And The Reality TV Connection

The search term "Larry King wife Bret" immediately points to one of the most complex and dramatic family sagas in recent Hollywood history. As of late 2025, the name "Bret" is not Larry King’s wife, but rather the brother of the legendary broadcaster’s seventh and final wife, Shawn Southwick King. This connection, which links a late-night talk show icon to the world of reality television through Bret Engemann, is just one layer of a deeper, more explosive story that continues to unfold years after King's passing, centered on a contested multi-million-dollar estate and a handwritten will. The true focus of the query is Shawn Southwick King, whose 22-year marriage to Larry King ended in a legal battle over his final wishes. The latest updates reveal that the fight over Larry King's estate—valued between $50 million and $144 million—has been the most significant post-mortem drama, pitting his widow against his surviving children. This article dives deep into the woman at the center of the controversy and the family ties, including her brother Bret, that have kept the King family in the spotlight.

Shawn Southwick King: Biography and Profile

Shawn Southwick King, born Shawn Ora Engemann, is a figure of considerable intrigue, known for her careers as an actress, singer, and television host long before her high-profile marriage to Larry King.

• Full Name: Shawn Ora Engemann Southwick King
• Date of Birth: November 5, 1959
• Place of Birth: Studio City, Los Angeles, California
• Age (as of late 2025): 66
• Career: Actress, Singer, Television Host, Producer, Former Business Owner
• Notable Work: Hosted the USA Network’s *Hollywood Insider* for seven years; appeared on the *Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon*.
• Religious Affiliation: Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon).
• Marriage to Larry King: Married in 1997. They separated, and Larry filed for divorce in August 2019. They were still legally married at the time of his death in January 2021.
• Children with Larry King: Two sons: Chance Armstrong King and Cannon Edward King.
• Family Connection: Her brother is Bret Engemann.

The Bret Engemann Connection: Reality TV and Family Ties

The reason the name "Bret" surfaces in connection with Larry King's wife is through her brother, Bret Engemann. This family link connects the King-Southwick family to a surprising corner of the entertainment world: reality television. Bret Engemann is a former college athlete who played football for Brigham Young University (BYU). His life, and by extension the King family's orbit, has been intertwined with reality TV through his marriages.

Bret Engemann's connections include:

• First Reality TV Marriage: Bret was previously married to Angie Harrington, a prominent figure who appeared on the Bravo series *The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* (*RHOSLC*).
• Current Reality TV Marriage: Bret is currently married to Demi Engemann, a star of the reality show *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*.

This web of relationships provides a unique topical authority, explaining how a search for "Larry King wife Bret" leads directly to the complex, high-profile Engemann family, who share the same Latter-day Saint (LDS) background as Shawn King. The family’s presence in the reality TV landscape ensures that their personal lives, and by extension the legacy of Shawn King, continue to generate public interest and discussion.

The Explosive Will Contest: Shawn King vs. The Holographic Will

The most significant and current chapter of Shawn King’s story is her ongoing legal battle over Larry King’s final estate. This dispute highlights the critical importance of estate planning, especially in the context of late-life divorces and multiple marriages.

The 2015 Will and the 2019 Holographic Will

Before his death in January 2021, Larry King had a formal estate plan in place. A will drafted in 2015 reportedly named Shawn Southwick King as the executor of his estate and the trustee of the couple's trust. This document was the primary legal framework for distributing his assets. However, the drama began when Larry King Jr., King's son from a previous marriage, filed a handwritten will—known as a holographic will—for probate. This document was reportedly penned in October 2019, just two months after Larry King filed for divorce from Shawn. The handwritten will explicitly stated that King wanted his assets to be divided among his surviving children, effectively excluding Shawn King.

Shawn King’s Legal Challenge

Shawn King immediately challenged the validity of the 2019 holographic will. Her legal argument, which has been the core of the dispute, asserts that the handwritten document is an "ineffective codicil" and does not supersede the more formal 2015 will and trust documents. Her grounds for contesting the will are rooted in several key points:

1. Legal Status at Death: Despite the 2019 divorce filing, Larry and Shawn were still legally married at the time of his passing in 2021. This marital status significantly impacts her rights as a surviving spouse, particularly in the absence of a prenuptial agreement, which King reportedly did not have with Shawn.
2. Lack of Formal Procedure: Shawn’s challenge questions the circumstances under which the handwritten will was created, suggesting it lacked the necessary legal formalities to be considered a valid, final will.
3. The King-Southwick Trust: A significant portion of Larry King’s wealth was reportedly held in a trust, the Larry and Shawn King Trust. Assets held in a trust typically bypass the probate process, meaning the trust documents—which may have named Shawn as a beneficiary or trustee—would govern their distribution, regardless of the separate handwritten will.

The Fate of the King Estate and Surviving Children

The outcome of this estate battle determines the distribution of Larry King's considerable wealth. The 2019 will aimed to leave the estate to his five surviving children: Larry King Jr., Chance Armstrong King, Cannon Edward King, Andy King, and Chaia King. Sadly, two of King's children, Andy and Chaia, passed away within weeks of the will being drafted. Shawn King and Larry King’s two sons, Chance King and Cannon King, have been caught in the middle of this high-stakes legal drama. While the details of the final resolution are often kept confidential, reports suggest that a settlement was eventually reached between Shawn King and her stepson, Larry King Jr., regarding the probate estate. However, the entire saga serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the complexities of celebrity estates and the necessity of frequently updating legal documents, especially during periods of marital separation.

Shawn King Today: Life After the Legend

Since Larry King's passing, Shawn Southwick King has maintained a relatively private life, focusing on her family and the resolution of the estate. The legal proceedings have ensured that she remains a figure of public interest, with the narrative often focusing on her determination to uphold what she believes were the true intentions of her late husband's estate planning. Her connection to her brother, Bret Engemann, and his reality television ties, continues to provide a point of intrigue for fans who search for the latest updates on the family. Ultimately, the story of "Larry King wife Bret" is a fascinating confluence of old-school media royalty, modern reality TV drama, and a multi-million-dollar legal fight that proves the family dynamics of a celebrity marriage can be just as compelling as the legacy they leave behind.