What Did Gollum Own After Falling into Mount Doom?

The fate of Gollum after his fall into Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings has puzzled many readers. Was everything burnt, melted, and vaporized, leaving Gollum with nothing?

What Were Gollum's Possessions Before Falling?

Even before his catastrophic plunge, Gollum had some meager possessions. After being exiled from his village, every item he left behind would have eventually been taken by a hobbit. But in his lair, deep under the Misty Mountains, Gollum kept a few things for himself. He had a small island in a lake within a vast cavern, where he likely stored his belongings. The One Ring, famously picked up by Bilbo, was a point of contention. If Gollum had sued Bilbo for its return, the court would have struggled to decide. However, a court in Mordor would have seized it for Sauron, while the Free Peoples would have decided it belonged to Isildur's Heir as spoils of war. The Ring's corrupted nature would have made every member of the court fight to possess it.

What Happened to Gollum's Possessions?

When Gollum left his lair seeking Bilbo and the Ring, he likely carried only the clothing he wore and items he could carry. During his long travels, he may have lost some items or acquired others. After being captured in Mordor and tormented by Sauron, Gollum might have lost some possessions that were considered confiscated under Mordor's laws.

Released from Mordor, Gollum had only what he could wear or carry. Aragorn captured him and brought him to King Thranduil's realm in Mirkwood. Eventually, Gollum escaped, leaving behind any possessions he might have been wearing or carrying as he fled. Months of wandering before joining Frodo and Sam on their quest into Mordor meant that at the time of his death, the only items Gollum owned were those he was wearing or carrying.

Legal and Physiological Considering

From a legal standpoint, Gollum might have abandoned some of his possessions in his lair, allowing them to decay over time. If any Orcs ever found the island, they would have taken anything they desired. The Misty Mountains' geological changes over millennia would have further eroded any remaining remnants. Physiologically, once Gollum fell into Mount Doom, the extreme heat would have destroyed anything he was wearing or carrying, leaving nothing behind for formality or probate.

Conclusion: Gollum's Elemental Fate

Considering both legal and physical realities, it is highly unlikely that Gollum left behind much that could have been probated. His transformation within the fiery depths of Mount Doom meant he had nothing left to be left behind.

Thus, the realm of Mount Doom became the ultimate and final testament to Gollum's journey and the destruction of the One Ring.