Gloria Laura Vanderbilt was born on 20 February 1924, in Manhattan, New York City USA, and is an author, artist, actress, socialite, as well as a fashion designer, but perhaps best known as a part of the Vanderbilt family, which was one of the most prominent families in the United States during the Gilded Age, which constitutes the late 19th century. The success of the family begins with Cornelius Vanderbilt, who created a business empire of railroad and shipping systems, and then ventured on to other businesses. Another noted person in the family is the American journalist and television personality Anderson Cooper, who is Gloria Vanderbilt’s son.
So just how rich is Gloria Vanderbilt, as of mid-2017? According to authoritative sources, Gloria’s net worth is estimated to be over $200 million, the majority of her wealth actually coming from her business ventures, not inheritance.
Gloria Vanderbilt Net Worth $200 Million
Gloria Vanderbilt’s father, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, passed away when Gloria was only 18 months old, which in turn made her the youngest heiress to her father’s $5 million trust fund. Since she was a minor, the rights to control the fund went to her mother who was challenged by Gloria’s aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney alleging that her mother was unfit, a confrontation which resulted in one of the most infamous trials, later retold in a television miniseries directed by Waris Hussein called “Little Gloria… Happy at Last”. Gloria was educated at several high schools, and attended an art school called Art Students League, where she focused on her artistic skills. Vanderbilt’s passion for arts resulted in her studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where she also studied acting. Vanderbilt proved to be a talented artist, as her paintings started to be used by a privately owned manufacturer of greeting cards in America – “Hallmark Cards”. At the same time, Gloria began painting specifically for linens and pottery.
Gloria Vanderbilt’s artistic nature inspired her to venture into the fashion industry too. In 1976, Gloria suggested the production of designer jeans with her logo on them, so Gloria is known as the creator of designer jeans, that became extremely popular all around the world. Vanderbilt did not stop with jeans only – she then went on to launch a line of shoes, perfumes, dresses, blouses, sheets and other goods, all of which carried Vanderbilt’s swan logo. Vanderbilt then sold her name to the designer company Murjani Group, followed in 1982 by partnering with L’Oreal to create eight perfumes, inevitably named “Gloria Vanderbilt”. In addition to her partnerships, Gloria Vanderbilt also founded her own company called “GV Ltd.”
Gloria Vanderbilt is also a known author, and has published three novels and four memoirs, plus making consistent contributions to such magazines as “Elle”, “Vanity Fair” and “The New York Times” since the beginning of her writing career in the 1970s.
Gloria has led an interesting personal life, although not necessarily private. She has been married four times, firstly to actors’ agent Paul DiCicco (1941-45), then to conductor Leopold Stokowski (1945-55) with whom she had two sons. Director Sydney Lumet (1956-63) was Gloria’s third husband, and the last was author Wyatt Emory Cooper, from 1963 until his death in 1978, and with whom she had two sons. Gloria had a close friendship with film-maker Gordon Parks until his death in 2006, and apparently had romantic relationships with Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Roald Dahl and Howard Hughes, among others.
Now well into her 90s, Gloria still lives in New York City.
