As The Money Burns

Parental conflict pushes an heiress into a match with a neighboring though equally challenging heir. The chance of finally having a loving warm maternal bond proves more than alluring. After winning a lawsuit against her mother Nanaline, Doris Duke is pushed towards another heir and neighbor Huntington Hartford. However his relationship with his mother Henrietta complicates matters. Other people a...

Unsuccessfully navigating the rough waters of adolescence and love leaves one heiress literally drifting out to sea. After getting into a fight with friend Doris Duke over the secret love affair between Louise Van Alen and Prince Alexis Mdivani, teen heiress Barbara Hutton finds herself stranded and alone in a sailboat in open sea. Other people and subjects include: Franklyn Hutton, Coast Guard, i...

Music soothes the soul and can cross racial lines. When a supreme hostess introduces an international guest to one local style, a new media sensation is created. Supreme hostess Cobina Wright hosts a reception for famed French composer Maurice Ravel. The entertainment includes the best of the Harlem Renaissance including Hall Johnson and his choir. Other people and subjects include: Doris Duke, Ba...

A family fortune isn’t always family friendly. Sibling rivalry can reach great heights when money is divided unequally, especially after one infamous maritime tragedy changed the course of a dynasty. When the Titanic sinks, the richest man aboard went down with the ship leaving behind a young pregnant wife. The oldest son inherited everything and is unwilling to accept his new half brother. The im...

An heir to two fortunes is back on the market. Which unlucky heiress will win his heart? Some perfect moments can turn so bad that one wishes it had only been a nightmare. Our heiress Doris Duke finds herself stuck in two situations that go horribly wrong. No matter the era, adolescence is never easy with or without those awkwardly bad moments. Other people and subjects include: Bailey’s Beach, Ba...

Everyone wants a happily ever after, though few are prepared for the misery that a broken heart brings. Financial woes and broken hearts can increase the risk of suicide. Though the truth behind suicides in 1929 is more complicated than the prevailing myths. With the more recent concern in another rise, the close personal connections to the subject are revealed. Other people and subjects include:...

They say the sun never sets on a Vanderbilt, but no good fortune lasts forever. Dowager Alice Vanderbilt opens the Breakers after a season away. The great Vanderbilt fortune is no longer growing and dwindling under the weight of far too many heirs. In her twilight years, Alice tries to hide her financial situation while trying to see who will be the next Society queen her daughter-in-law Grace Wil...

Polo might be the sport of kings, but for our young heiresses the prize seems to be their hearts. Polo week brings lots of exciting matches both on and off the fields. A history of polo mixes with its modern day celebrities – Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras as well the British royal family being the most current famous players. Other people and subjects include: Barbara Hutton, Doris Duke, Louis...

Hindsight is 20 / 20, but can be a little late. More importantly, how’s your foresight? Everyone wants in, but membership comes at a price. Amongst our wealthy, two stockbrokers vie for new clients, but one is running a Ponzi scheme. More recent schemes come to light both in relation to Broadway’s Hamilton and Nascar. Even Warren Buffet is not immune. Other people and subjects include: Newport 192...

Wealth can be both a blessing and a curse. It allows many to wander far and wide, and one soul has been wandering for an eternity.   The discovery of a lifetime almost didn’t happen, but when Howard Carter found King Tut’s tomb everything changed. Curses and mummies came with fame and fortune. Come see how the fortune behind the discovery also connects to our stories of heirs and heiresses, the Ti...

Do you remember your first love? Ever had a magical summer romance? Summer is starting, and love is in the air.   Teen heiresses Doris Duke, Barbara Hutton, and Louise Van Alen vie for status and love all while preparing for the age old Society event – their debutante balls. Explore the traditions and obstacles to joining Society, where one needs more than money to belong. They want to enjoy life...

Some have money, the others don’t. In the game of fortunes, the heart might be the first casualty. Can you figure out who’s who?   Even before the Wall Street life was not what it seems, and already people are hiding the truths of their situations both love triangles and fortunes while trying to stay amongst the elite. It may be decades later, but Newport still has appeal for the likes of Taylor S...

All they want is love.  Everyone else wants their fortune.  An introduction into the historical podcast series exploring the lives of the super rich and what happens when the Great Depression changes their world forever. Each podcast episode includes three sections: a narrative story, a deeper exploration into historical facts, and contemporary relevance and connections. Other people and subjects...

We all dream about the security money will provide us. Only in a world where money is primarily inherited, it is the very factor that could most endanger one’s life.   An ailing Buck Duke warns his daughter Doris about dangers of inheriting wealth. Come explore the history behind the Duke fortune, and how the loss of a father relates to our current pandemic lives. Other people and subjects include...