Barbara Hutton
The Woolworth heiress whose life of spectacular wealth and publicized misery made her a symbol of fortune's hollowness.
1912–1979 (age 67)·American philanthropist and socialite·Birthday: November 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Barbara Hutton was born into unimaginable wealth in 1912, the granddaughter of the founder of the Woolworth five-and-dime empire. Her childhood was marked by tragedy with her mother's suicide when she was just five, setting a tone of loneliness that her fortune could never mend. She rocketed to public fame with a lavish debutante ball in 1930, a spectacle of opulence that seemed jarring during the Great Depression and earned her the enduring nickname 'Poor Little Rich Girl.' Hutton's life became a serialized public drama of seven marriages to princes and playboys, extravagant spending on jewels and homes across the globe, and a profound personal struggle with addiction and ill health. While she gave away tens of millions to charities and war relief, her philanthropic efforts were often overshadowed by the spectacle of her decline. She died nearly penniless in 1979, her story a cautionary tale about the perils of inherited wealth without purpose.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Barbara was born in 1912, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barbara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1912
Barbara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1912Born
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1917Started school
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Became a teenager
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Could drive
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1930Could vote
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Turned 21
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1942Turned 30
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 40
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 50
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 60
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1979Died at 67
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
Key Achievements
- Inherited an estimated $50 million trust fund on her 21st birthday, one of the largest fortunes of the era.
- Donated millions to relief efforts during World War II, including funding an ambulance fleet for the French Red Cross.
- Her 1933 wedding to Georgian Prince Alexis Mdivani was a global media event, cementing her celebrity status.
- Authored a syndicated newspaper column, 'Barbara Hutton's Beauty Secrets,' in the 1930s.
Did You Know?
She was a first cousin once removed of the actress and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt.
Her famous 40-carat Cartier diamond ring, the 'Pasha of Marrakesh,' was later owned by actor Richard Burton.
She purchased and lavishly renovated a palace in Tangier, Morocco, known as the 'Palais Hutton.'
Her son, Lance Reventlow, became a famous race car driver and built the Scarab sports car.
“A rich man's joke is always funny.”
