Donna Adelson’s life, once marked by affluence and unwavering family loyalty, ended in a dramatic turn with a criminal conviction that shocked many. For years, she stood as the matriarch of a thriving South Florida clan, her life centered around her husband, children, and a flourishing dental practice.

However, this carefully crafted image crumbled in 2025 when she received a life sentence for masterminding a murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel. Her personal history, including her enduring marriage and accumulated family wealth, took center stage in a gripping legal saga that exposed layers of motive and tragedy.

Donna Adelson’s Family Life and Marriage

Donna was married to Harvey Adelson, a retired dentist who established the Adelson Institute for Aesthetics and Implant Dentistry in Tamarac, Florida. She played a vital role in the family enterprise, not just as a supportive spouse but as the bookkeeper overseeing the practice’s financial operations.

The couple enjoyed a stable and prosperous life in Coral Springs, nurturing three children: Wendi, a law professor; Charlie, a periodontist; and Robert, a physician. Friends often characterized her as a dedicated and fiercely protective mother, deeply committed to her family’s wellbeing.

The Criminal Case and Life Sentence

In September 2025, Donna Adelson was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation to commit murder. These charges were linked to the 2014 contract killing of Dan Markel, a respected Florida State University law professor embroiled in a contentious custody dispute with Donna’s daughter, Wendi.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Donna was the “calculated and controlling matriarch” who masterminded the plot, motivated by a desire to end the custody dispute and allow her daughter and grandchildren to relocate to South Florida. In October 2025, she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years to be served consecutively.

Donna Adelson sentenced to life without parole plus 30 years for her role in the murder of her ex-son-in-law, Dan Markel. pic.twitter.com/E4lsVj5uKm

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) October 13, 2025

Donna Adelson’s Net Worth and Financial Standing

As of 2025, Donna Adelson’s estimated personal net worth is between $1–2 million. This fortune was primarily derived from her role as a bookkeeper for the family’s thriving dentistry practice and its associated profits. In contrast, the broader Adelson family’s overall net worth is estimated to be between $5–10 million.

Prosecutors argued that this financial comfort was a key enabler of the crime, providing the means to fund the murder-for-hire plot. Her wealth also played a role in her arrest, as she and her husband were apprehended at an airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, a country with no extradition treaty with the U.S.

Trial Details and Courtroom Outburst

During her sentencing hearing, Donna Adelson addressed the court and passionately maintained her innocence, stating, “I swear to you on my life, I was not involved in any way in Danny’s murder”. She questioned the evidence against her and pointed out that the state had alleged different people were the “mastermind” in various trials.

Circuit Judge Stephen Everett interrupted her multiple times, warning that her statements demonstrated an “utter lack of remorse” for the crime. The judge noted that this lack of remorse was a factor he considered in the sentencing process.

Financial Motive and Arrest Attempt

The family’s significant wealth was repeatedly cited as a central element of the case. Prosecutors contended that the murder-for-hire plot cost over $100,000. Following her son Charlie’s conviction, the extent of Donna’s financial resources became starkly evident.

She and her husband obtained rushed visas and booked one-way tickets to Vietnam. They were intercepted and arrested at Miami International Airport in November 2023, just steps from freedom on a jetway, with prosecutors citing her “considerable financial resources” as what made this escape attempt possible.