Before Oliver Tree suddenly passed away, he reflected on mortality and uncertainty during an appearance on “The Really Good Podcast.”
“We don’t know if I’ll be alive next year or you’ll be alive. There’s no day promised,” he told host Bobbi Althoff.
He added, “Do you know how high-risk I live my life, actually for real?”
The episode was released on June 29, which would have been Tree’s 33rd birthday. Dressed in an Elmo costume, a hallmark of his eccentric public persona, he discussed travel, creativity and personal relationships.
Tree died in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when two helicopters collided midair on June 14. All six people aboard were killed, including Tree, Argentine producer Lucas Vignale, Brazilian producer Lucas Brito Chaves (Lucas Frota), content creator Gaspar “Gaspi” Prim and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
The crash occurred while Tree was touring South America after performing in São Paulo on June 6. He was scheduled to continue the tour in Lisbon in July.
Other statements on legacy and wealth
Tree had previously revealed his will and financial plans. During an April 25 interview on “The Zach Sang Show,” he said, “When I die — I’ve set it up — my family, no one’s going to get a penny.”
Tree added that even if he had children, they would not inherit wealth beyond education support. “There’s not going to be a silver spoon… all the money is going to go back to artists,” he shared.
Following his death, tributes poured in from collaborators and fans. Electronic duo Louis the Child recalled their first meeting with Tree, praising his humor, drive and creativity.
Althoff announced that proceeds from Tree’s final podcast episode would support his foundation, Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant for Baby Geniuses, which provides grants to emerging artists in music, film and performance art.
Fans have also revisited Tree’s interviews and music videos, pointing to recurring themes of death and risk-taking. In one earlier interview, he joked about imagining himself “jumping off a helicopter into a volcano.”
