Barbara Hutton: The Tragic Saga Of America's "Poor Little Rich Girl"
In the annals of 20th-century American society, few figures captivated the public imagination quite like Barbara Hutton. An American heiress, socialite, and philanthropist, her life was a dazzling, yet ultimately heartbreaking, paradox of immense wealth and profound personal struggle. Born into unimaginable privilege as the granddaughter of Frank Woolworth, the visionary founder of the Woolworth's retail chain, Barbara Hutton was destined for a life of luxury. Yet, despite inheriting a fortune that would be equivalent to nearly a billion dollars today, her existence was a turbulent odyssey marked by seven marriages, financial difficulties, and deep-seated personal tragedies, earning her the poignant moniker, "the poor little rich girl."
From the moment she turned 18 in 1930, Hutton was constantly in the press, alternately celebrated and scrutinized. Her lavish lifestyle, high-profile marriages to Hollywood's leading men and European royalty, and eventual financial ruin made her a perpetual subject of fascination. This article delves into the extraordinary life of Barbara Hutton, exploring how immense wealth failed to buy happiness, and how she became the original "out of control Hollywood heiress" whose story continues to resonate today.
Table of Contents
- The "Poor Little Rich Girl": An Introduction to Barbara Hutton
- Biography: The Life of Barbara Hutton
- A Life of Unimaginable Wealth: The Woolworth Legacy
- The Marriages of Barbara Hutton: A Quest for Happiness
- The Lavish Lifestyle and Financial Downfall
- Personal Struggles: Addiction, Depression, and Tragedy
- Barbara Hutton's Enduring Public Persona
- Legacy of an Heiress: More Than Just Riches
The "Poor Little Rich Girl": An Introduction to Barbara Hutton
The narrative of Barbara Hutton is one that defies simple categorization. She was not merely an heiress; she was a socialite, a philanthropist, and a figure whose life played out dramatically on the world stage. Born into immense wealth and privilege in 1912, Barbara Hutton was more than just an heiress. She was one of the wealthiest women in the world in her time, and her story is often cited as proof that money can't buy happiness. While you might not recognize her name today, Hutton was all over the papers during her lifetime, a constant subject of public fascination. Then known as the "poor little rich girl," Hutton’s life was a whirlwind of opulence and despair, making her a compelling subject for biographers and historians alike.
Biography: The Life of Barbara Hutton
To understand the complexities of Barbara Hutton, it's essential to look at the foundational elements of her life. Born in New York City, she was the only child of Franklyn Hutton, a vice president and partner in his brother's investment firm, E.F. Hutton. Her maternal grandfather, Frank W. Woolworth, founded the department store chain of the same name, amassing a considerable fortune globally. This lineage placed Barbara Hutton at the pinnacle of American society from birth, yet her childhood was far from idyllic.
Personal Data & Biodata: Barbara Hutton
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Barbara Woolworth Hutton |
| Born | November 14, 1912 |
| Birthplace | New York City, New York, USA |
| Died | May 11, 1979 (aged 66) |
| Cause of Death | Heart attack (after years of illness) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Heiress, Socialite, Philanthropist |
| Known For | Woolworth's Heiress, "Poor Little Rich Girl," lavish lifestyle, seven marriages |
| Parents | Franklyn Laws Hutton (father), Edna Woolworth (mother) |
| Grandfather | Frank Winfield Woolworth (founder of Woolworth's) |
| Spouses | 7 (including Cary Grant, Prince Mdivani, Count Haugwitz-Reventlow, Prince Troubetzkoy, Porfirio Rubirosa, Baron von Cramm, Raymond Doan) |
| Children | Lance Reventlow (with Count Haugwitz-Reventlow) |
| Net Worth (at peak) | Equivalent to $898 million to $1 billion today |
A Life of Unimaginable Wealth: The Woolworth Legacy
Barbara Hutton was the heiress to two fortunes and one of the richest women in the world. Her primary inheritance stemmed from her maternal grandfather, Frank W. Woolworth, who founded the department store chain that bore his name. At the turn of the century, Woolworth’s created a retail empire, accumulating a considerable fortune all over the world. This made Barbara Hutton the granddaughter of Woolworth's founder and the recipient of an immense inheritance.
Early Life and Inheritance
Born in Manhattan in 1912, Barbara Hutton grew up in sheltered and wealthy circumstances. However, no amount of money could buy Barbara a happy childhood. Her mother, Edna Woolworth, tragically died by suicide when Barbara was just five years old. Her father died when she was a child as well, leaving her orphaned at a young age. For the most part, Barbara was raised by nurses and governesses, a common practice among the elite but one that often led to emotional detachment and loneliness. If she were alive today, Barbara Hutton would be worth about a billion dollars, receiving around $25 million from her grandfather after his death in 1919. This initial inheritance, though substantial, was merely a precursor to the much larger fortune she would fully control upon reaching adulthood. At 18, in 1930, she inherited the bulk of her grandfather's estate, estimated at $900 million in today's money, making her one of the wealthiest individuals globally.
The Marriages of Barbara Hutton: A Quest for Happiness
Barbara Hutton's personal life was famously troubled, marked by a relentless, yet ultimately futile, search for love and stability. She married and divorced seven times, each union a public spectacle that further cemented her image as the "poor little rich girl" who couldn't find lasting happiness. Over the course of her life, she married Hollywood's favorite leading man, an infamous con artist, and several princes, showcasing a diverse and often tumultuous romantic history.
The Seven Husbands: From Cary Grant to Princes
Her marital roster reads like a who's who of varied backgrounds, each marriage contributing to her legend and her financial woes:
- Prince Alexis Mdivani (1933-1935): A Georgian prince, their marriage was a whirlwind of extravagance, but ultimately short-lived and marred by his alleged gold-digging.
- Count Kurt Haugwitz-Reventlow (1935-1938): A Danish count who was reportedly abusive and controlling. He was the father of her only child, Lance Reventlow.
- Cary Grant (1942-1945): Perhaps her most famous marriage, to the beloved Hollywood actor. Grant reportedly genuinely cared for Hutton and tried to help her with her personal struggles, but the pressures of her wealth and her insecurities proved too much for the relationship. He famously refused to take any money from her during their divorce.
- Prince Igor Troubetzkoy (1947-1951): A Russian prince and former racing driver. This marriage was also marked by Hutton's continued struggles with depression and addiction.
- Porfirio Rubirosa (1953-1954): A Dominican diplomat, playboy, and infamous con artist. This brief, fiery marriage was one of her most scandalous, with Rubirosa known for his philandering.
- Baron Gottfried von Cramm (1955-1959): A German tennis champion. This marriage offered a period of relative calm but still ended in divorce.
- Raymond Doan (1964-1966): A Vietnamese artist. Her final marriage, which was also brief and ended in separation, highlighting her ongoing inability to find a stable partner.
Each divorce chipped away at her fortune and her emotional well-being. Barbara Hutton was a wealthy heiress who married seven times, including to Cary Grant and a prince, but none brought her the lasting happiness she desperately sought.
The Lavish Lifestyle and Financial Downfall
Barbara Hutton's life was a testament to extreme extravagance. She owned multiple mansions, including the famous "Winfield House" in London, a fleet of luxury cars, and a vast collection of jewels, art, and haute couture. She was known for throwing opulent parties that were the talk of high society, sparing no expense in her pursuit of pleasure and status. This lifestyle, however, came at an astronomical cost.
The Cost of Luxury and Divorces
Woolworth’s retail chain heiress Barbara Hutton blew a fortune equivalent to $898 million today. She spent it all on a lavish lifestyle and divorces. Her incessant spending, coupled with the hefty settlements from her numerous divorces, steadily eroded her vast inheritance. Each marriage, particularly the ones to individuals seemingly interested only in her wealth, further depleted her funds. She bought expensive gifts for her husbands and friends, invested in questionable ventures, and maintained an entourage that traveled with her around the world. Learn how she became a penniless celebrity and the original "out of control Hollywood heiress." By the time of her death, nearly broke and alone, the contrast between her early wealth and her final circumstances was stark. This dramatic financial decline, from one of the richest women in the world to near penury, was a direct consequence of her unchecked spending habits and the emotional toll of her relationships.
Personal Struggles: Addiction, Depression, and Tragedy
Beyond the glittering façade of wealth and celebrity, Barbara Hutton grappled with profound personal demons. Explore her marriages, affairs, poetry, and struggles with addiction and depression. From a young age, the emotional void left by her parents' deaths and her isolated upbringing contributed to deep-seated insecurities. She battled anorexia nervosa for much of her adult life, a condition often linked to a need for control and a manifestation of inner turmoil. Her reliance on alcohol and drugs became a coping mechanism for her chronic depression and anxiety. Although destined to enjoy a life of luxury, Barbara Hutton dodged disaster at every turn, yet no amount of money could buy her a happy childhood or inner peace.
The ultimate tragedy struck in 1972 when her only son, Lance Reventlow, died in a plane crash. This devastating loss plunged her into an even deeper despair, from which she never truly recovered. She died in 1979, nearly broke and alone, after losing her son in a plane crash. Her final years were marked by isolation, ill health, and financial destitution, a poignant end for a woman who had once commanded such immense wealth.
Barbara Hutton's Enduring Public Persona
Barbara Woolworth Hutton was one of the first American socialites to seize the public’s attention for her wealth and lavish style as well as for her troubled private life. Her life played out in the full glare of the media, shaping public perception of the ultra-rich and their perceived misfortunes. She was the Woolworth heiress whom the press dubbed "poor little rich girl." This label, while sympathetic, also underscored the public's fascination with her apparent inability to find happiness despite her immense fortune. In an era before reality television, Barbara Hutton's life offered a real-life soap opera, captivating readers with tales of her extravagant parties, her tumultuous marriages, and her ever-present struggles.
Her story even inspired media adaptations, including a 1987 television miniseries titled "Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story," starring Farrah Fawcett, David Ackroyd, Stéphane Audran, and Amadeus August. This enduring interest highlights how her life transcended mere gossip, becoming a cautionary tale about the perils of inherited wealth and the elusive nature of happiness.
Legacy of an Heiress: More Than Just Riches
Barbara Hutton might not be a name that rings many bells today, but in her time she was notorious. She was one of the richest women in the world, with a fortune of almost a billion dollars in today’s money. Yet, her legacy is not defined by her wealth alone, but by the stark contrast between her immense fortune and her personal suffering. She shamed the Woolworth name in ways that would make the Kardashians and Hiltons blush, not just through her lavish spending, but through the public spectacle of her chaotic personal life.
Her life serves as a powerful reminder that wealth, while providing access to unparalleled luxury, does not guarantee emotional well-being or happiness. Barbara Hutton's story is a complex tapestry of privilege, tragedy, and the relentless pursuit of something that money could not buy. She represents a bygone era of American aristocracy, but her struggles with identity, love, and addiction are timeless and universal, continuing to resonate with audiences who ponder the true meaning of a rich life.
Conclusion
The life of Barbara Hutton, the Woolworth heiress, was a grand, tragic opera played out on the world stage. From her birth into one of America's wealthiest families to her lonely death, nearly penniless, her journey underscores the profound truth that material possessions cannot fill an emotional void. She was a woman who had everything money could buy, yet she spent her life searching for love, stability, and happiness, often in the wrong places and with the wrong people.
Her story is a compelling blend of glamour and despair, a cautionary tale that continues to fascinate and inform. Barbara Hutton remains an iconic figure, not just for her wealth and extravagance, but for the raw humanity of her struggles. We invite you to share your thoughts on Barbara Hutton's life in the comments below. Do you think her wealth was a blessing or a curse? Explore more captivating biographies of historical figures on our site to uncover other lives shaped by extraordinary circumstances.
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Barbara Hutton: The “Poor Little Rich Girl” Who Had Everything Except
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