Ozzy Osbourne is gone. The Prince of Darkness passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. For decades, fans lived in fear of this day, but there was one detail that made the prospect of his death even more haunting: the famous Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne death pact.
It wasn’t just a rumor. It was a documented, public agreement. They even talked about it at the kitchen table with their kids.
But when the time actually came last summer, Sharon stayed. She didn't go to Switzerland. She didn't check into Dignitas. Naturally, people started asking questions. Was it all just for show? Did she get cold feet? Honestly, the truth is a lot more human and a lot more heartbreaking than the headlines suggested.
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What Was the Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Death Pact, Anyway?
This whole thing didn't start with a flair for the dramatic, despite what you might think given their history. It started with Alzheimer’s.
In 2007, Sharon’s father, the legendary and often-feared music mogul Don Arden, died after a brutal battle with the disease. Watching his mind slip away destroyed Sharon. She didn’t want that for herself, and she certainly didn't want it for Ozzy.
So, they made a deal.
The original plan was simple: if either of them were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, they would head to Dignitas, the physician-assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. Sharon was very clear about it in her 2007 memoir, Survivor. She basically said that if they couldn't recognize each other, they were "off."
The Pact Evolved
By 2014, the "rules" of the agreement changed. Ozzy told the Daily Mirror that it wasn't just about the brain anymore. It was about quality of life. He was blunt. He said if he couldn't go to the bathroom by himself or if he was "paralyzed," he wanted Sharon to "just turn the machine off."
It sounds cold. Maybe even a bit scary. But if you’ve followed Ozzy’s health struggles over the last few years—the Parkinson’s, the four spinal surgeries, the "bricks on his feet" feeling—you can see why a man who lived at 100 mph would be terrified of being stuck in a body that wouldn't move.
Why Sharon Chose to Stay
So, why is Sharon still here? She’s 73 now, and she’s finally opening up about why she didn't honor the pact.
In a raw interview with Piers Morgan in December 2025, she didn't hold back. She admitted that "grief has become her friend." But more importantly, she credited her children—Aimee, Kelly, and Jack—for the fact that she’s still breathing.
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It turns out, a memory from years ago changed everything.
Sharon recalled a time when she was in a mental health facility. She met two young women there. Both of them had lost their mothers to suicide. Sharon saw the "state" of those girls—the wreckage left behind, the permanent scars on their souls—and she made a vow.
"I will never, ever, ever do that to my kids," she told Morgan.
It’s one thing to make a pact when you’re healthy and the sun is shining. It’s another thing entirely when you’re standing in the wreckage of a 43-year marriage. She realized that while she might have been "ready" to go because she’d done everything she wanted to do, her kids weren't ready to lose both parents at once.
The Reality of Ozzy’s Final Days
There was a lot of misinformation floating around right before Ozzy died.
Kelly Osbourne actually went on a bit of a tear on Instagram just days before his passing, slamming "bulls***" articles about the death pact. She claimed her mom just said it to get attention once.
But Sharon's recent comments suggest it was very real, even if the execution changed.
Ozzy’s death certificate eventually showed he died of a heart attack, with Parkinson's and heart disease as contributing factors. He didn't die in a clinic in Switzerland. He died surrounded by his family. His final words to Sharon? "Kiss me. Hug me tight."
That doesn't sound like a man who needed a pact in the end. It sounds like a man who was ready to let go naturally.
Dealing With the Aftermath
The Osbournes have always been "oversharers." It's why we love them. But this topic brings up some heavy stuff:
- Autonomy: The right to choose how you go.
- The Burden on Family: How a death pact affects the ones left behind.
- The Difference Between Talk and Action: Most people think they know what they'd do until the moment arrives.
What We Can Learn From the Osbournes
Honestly, the Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne death pact is a lesson in how humans process the fear of aging. We want control. We want to promise our partners we won't let them suffer.
But life is messy.
Sharon’s decision to stay isn't a betrayal of Ozzy; it’s an act of love for her children. She saw the "magnificent" way they treated her after Ozzy passed and realized her work as a mother wasn't finished.
If you’re thinking about end-of-life planning or have had "the talk" with your own family, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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- Get it in Writing: If you have specific wishes about "turning off the machine," a legal Living Will or Advance Directive is much more effective than an informal pact.
- Talk to Your Kids Early: The Osbournes sat their kids down at the kitchen table years ago. Even if the kids didn't like the plan, they weren't blindsided by the conversation.
- Allow Room for Change: Sharon changed her mind. That’s allowed. Circumstances change, and the perspective you have at 40 is vastly different from the one you have at 73.
- Professional Support: If you're dealing with the kind of "mental and physical" suffering Sharon talked about, reach out to palliative care experts or grief counselors. You don't have to navigate the "see ya" moment alone.
Ozzy may have left the stage, but the conversation he and Sharon started about dignity in death isn't going anywhere. For now, Sharon is focusing on his legacy, including the massive museum in Birmingham and the upcoming documentary No Escape From Now. She’s living for the memories—and for the three kids who wouldn't let her go.
Check your local listings for the upcoming Paramount+ documentary on Ozzy’s final years to see the raw footage of how the family handled these "death pact" discussions behind closed doors.