Barbara Hutton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Hutton
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born |
Barbara Woolworth Hutton
November 14, 1912 New York City, U.S.
|
| Died | May 11, 1979 (aged 66) |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York |
| Occupation | Philanthropist, heiress |
| Years active | 1933–1979 |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | Lance Reventlow |
| Relatives |
|
Barbara Woolworth Hutton (born November 14, 1912 – died May 11, 1979) was a very rich American heiress and philanthropist. She was known as the "Poor Little Rich Girl." This nickname came about because she had a super fancy party in 1930 during the Great Depression. It also described her difficult personal life.
Barbara inherited a huge amount of money from her grandfather, Frank Winfield Woolworth. He founded the famous Woolworth stores. This made her one of the richest women in the world. She had a tough childhood, losing her mother early and feeling neglected by her father. This made it hard for her to form strong relationships later in life. People often envied her wealth and lifestyle, but she felt very insecure inside.
Barbara had one son, Lance Reventlow, with her second husband. After they divorced, there was a disagreement over who would care for her son. Sadly, her son died in a plane crash in 1972 when he was 36. This made Barbara very sad. She passed away on May 11, 1979, at age 66. Even though she was once incredibly wealthy, she was almost out of money when she died. This was due to her generous spending and some people not managing her money well.
Contents
Barbara's Early Life
Barbara Hutton was born in New York City. She was the only child of Edna Woolworth and Franklyn Laws Hutton. Her mother, Edna, was the daughter of Frank Woolworth, who started the successful Woolworth five-and-dime stores. Her father, Franklyn, was a co-founder of a rich investment company. Barbara was also a cousin to actress Dina Merrill. Dina Merrill once said that Barbara lived with her family after her mother died and her father left.
After her mother passed away in 1917, Barbara lived with different relatives. A governess helped raise her. She went to special schools like The Hewitt School and Miss Porter's School. Barbara became a quiet child who didn't play much with other kids her age. Her closest friend was her cousin, Jimmy Donahue. He also inherited money from the Woolworth family.
A Huge Inheritance
In 1924, Barbara's grandmother, Jennie Woolworth, died. She left Barbara $26.1 million. Another $2.1 million from her mother's inheritance was put into a separate fund. Both funds were managed by Barbara's father. By her 21st birthday in 1933, Barbara's father had grown her inheritance to $42 million. This amount, plus another $8 million from her mother's estate, made her one of the wealthiest women on Earth.
In 1930, when Barbara turned 18, she had a very fancy debutante ball. This party was a tradition for young women in New York City's high society. Guests included famous families like the Astors and Rockefellers. Stars like Rudy Vallee and Maurice Chevalier performed. The party cost $60,000, which was a huge amount of money during the Great Depression. People criticized her so much that she was sent on a trip to Europe to avoid the newspapers.
Barbara's Marriages
Barbara Hutton was married seven times. Here are her husbands:
- 1933: Alexis Mdivani, a Georgian prince (divorced 1935)
- 1935: Count Kurt Heinrich Eberhard Erdmann Georg von Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow (divorced 1938)
- 1942: Cary Grant, a famous actor (divorced 1945)
- 1947: Prince Igor Troubetzkoy (divorced 1951)
- 1953: Porfirio Rubirosa (divorced 1954)
- 1955: Baron Gottfried Alexander Maximilian Walter Kurt von Cramm (divorced 1959)
- 1964: Pierre Raymond Doan (divorced 1966)
Her Amazing Collections
Barbara inherited many valuable things, including old paintings and sculptures. She also collected many beautiful items herself. Her collection included:
- Fine art
- Delicate porcelain
- Very valuable jewelry, including pieces that once belonged to Marie Antoinette and Empress Eugénie of France.
- Important items from famous jewelers like Fabergé and Cartier.
One of her famous jewels was the Pasha Diamond. It was originally a 40-carat (8.0 g) octagonal diamond. She had it recut into a round shape, making it 36 carats (7.2 g).
Her Later Years and Death
When her only son, Lance Reventlow, died in a plane crash in 1972, Barbara was heartbroken. By this time, her huge fortune had become much smaller. This was partly because she was very generous, like when she gave Winfield House to the United States government. Also, some people who managed her money didn't always do a good job.
Eventually, she started selling her valuable items to get money to live. But she still spent money on strangers who showed her a little kindness. She spent her last years in Los Angeles, living at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. She died there from a heart attack in May 1979, at age 66. Some people say she only had $3,500 left when she died, but others who knew her disagreed. She was buried in the Woolworth family mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Barbara Hutton para niños
- Woolworths
- Lady Hutton
- List of people from Morelos, Mexico
