Barbara Hutton
Heiress, socialite, and philanthropist with a famously troubled private life.
Barbara Woolworth Hutton (November 14, 1912 – May 11, 1979) was an American debutante, socialite, heiress, and philanthropist. The press called her the "Poor Little Rich Girl"—a label that stuck after her extravagant 1930 debutante ball, held during the Great Depression, and later because of her famously chaotic personal life. She inherited a third of the fortune of her grandfather, Frank Winfield Woolworth, the retail magnate behind the Woolworth five-and-dime stores, making her one of the world’s richest women.
Her childhood was marked by neglect from her father and the early death of her mother, Edna Woolworth, who died of suffocation from mastoiditis when Barbara was four. Rumors have long persisted that Edna actually took her own life. Barbara discovered the body, a trauma that haunted her forever. Afterward, she was shuttled among relatives and raised by a governess, attending Miss Hewitt’s Classes and Miss Porter’s School. She grew into an introverted child with few friends; her closest confidante was her cousin Jimmy Donahue, who also inherited part of the Woolworth estate and later struggled publicly with drugs, alcohol, and relationships.
In 1924, her grandmother Jennie Creighton Woolworth left her $26.1 million, with another $2.1 million in stock from her mother’s inheritance placed in a separate trust—both managed by her father. By her 21st birthday in 1933, Franklyn Hutton had grown her inheritance to $42 million, plus an additional $8 million from her mother’s estate. Her 1930 debutante ball, costing $60,000, drew such fierce public criticism that she was sent to Europe to escape the press.
Hutton married seven times, each union ending in divorce. Her husbands included Alexis Mdivani, a self-styled Georgian prince; Count Kurt von Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow; actor Cary Grant; Prince Igor Troubetzkoy; playboy Porfirio Rubirosa; Baron Gottfried von Cramm; and Vietnamese chemist Pierre Raymond Doan. Many of these men exploited her wealth and treated her poorly. She acquired grand foreign titles but remained deeply insecure, often turning to alcohol, drugs, and playboys for comfort.
She was an inconsistent and insecure mother to her only child, Lance Reventlow. A bitter custody battle after her second divorce worsened her parenting, and she later developed anorexia nervosa. Lance died in a 1972 plane crash, leaving Hutton devastated. A lifetime of lavish spending, combined with exploitation by those managing her estate, brought her to the brink of bankruptcy before her death in 1979.
- born
- November 14, 1912, New York City
- died
- May 11, 1979
- field
- Socialite, philanthropist
- nationality
- American (later Danish for tax purposes)
- known_for
- Heiress to Woolworth fortune; seven marriages; 'Poor Little Rich Girl'
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Barbara Hutton was the only child of Edna Woolworth and Franklyn Laws Hutton. After her mother died on May 2, 1917, from suffocation due to mastoiditis—though rumors of suicide by poison persisted—four-year-old Barbara discovered her mother's body, a trauma that haunted her for the rest of her life. She was raised by a governess and lived with various relatives, including a time with her aunt Marjorie Merriweather Post. Her father administered her inheritance, which by her 21st birthday in 1933 had grown to $42 million, not including an additional $8 million from her mother's estate, making her one of the wealthiest women in the world. Her 1930 debutante ball, costing $60,000 during the Great Depression, drew severe public criticism and prompted a tour of Europe. Hutton married seven times, often to men who exploited her wealth. Her first husband, Alexis Mdivani, was a self-styled Georgian prince whose sister engineered their marriage after a scandal. Her second husband, Count Kurt von Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow, subjected her to verbal and physical abuse, escalating to a savage beating that left her hospitalized and put him in jail. He persuaded her to give up her American citizenship and take Danish citizenship for tax purposes in December 1937. She had one child, Lance Reventlow, with Reventlow; a bitter custody battle followed their divorce. Hutton later developed anorexia nervosa. She married actor Cary Grant in 1942, divorcing in 1945. Subsequent husbands included Prince Igor Troubetzkoy, Porfirio Rubirosa, Baron Gottfried von Cramm, and Pierre Raymond Doan. Hutton's life was marked by lavish spending and exploitation by those managing her estate, bringing her near bankruptcy. Her son Lance died in a 1972 plane crash, leaving her devastated. She took refuge in drink, drugs, and playboys, and remained deeply insecure despite public envy of her beauty and possessions.
Reader's Guide
Barbara Hutton's significance lies in her embodiment of the paradox of immense wealth and personal tragedy. Her seven marriages, many to fortune hunters, and her struggles with anorexia, substance abuse, and custody battles highlighted the vulnerabilities of even the richest individuals. Her philanthropy during World War II—donating her yacht to the Royal Navy, supporting Free French Forces, and selling war bonds—showed a capacity for public good, but her private life remained chaotic. Hutton's story continues to fascinate as a study in the intersection of wealth, fame, and human frailty, and her 'Poor Little Rich Girl' label has become a cultural archetype. Her legacy is a reminder that financial fortune does not guarantee emotional well-being, and that public envy often masks private suffering.
Did You Know?
- Barbara Hutton discovered her mother's body at age four after her mother died from suffocation due to mastoiditis; rumors of suicide by poison have persisted.
- Her 1930 debutante ball cost $60,000 during the Great Depression, drawing severe public criticism and forcing her to tour Europe.
- By her 21st birthday in 1933, her inheritance had grown to $42 million, not including an additional $8 million from her mother's estate.
- Her second husband, Count Kurt von Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow, gave her a savage beating that left her hospitalized and put him in jail.
- She donated her London home, Winfield House, to the U.S. government after World War II to be used as the official residence for the U.S. Ambassador.
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