Adorable Story #67: Consuelo Vanderbilt

The Queen of the "Dollar Princesses"

“It is a melancholy fact that childhood, so short when compared with the average span of life, should exert such a strong and permanent influence on character that no amount of self-training afterwards can ever completely counter it.”
― Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan

Consuelo Vanderbilt with C.Z. Guest at a party in Palm Beach, Florida, ca. 1955 — Photo © by Slim Aarons / Getty Images

During the Gilded Age, a fascinating social phenomenon emerged known as the era of the “Dollar Princesses.”

These were wealthy American heiresses who married into the British aristocracy to enhance their social standing and, thanks to their substantial dowries, rescued financially troubled noble families along the way.

These transatlantic alliances symbolized the merging of New World wealth with Old World titles, and they were as much about social strategy as they were about romance.

Among the most famous of these Dollar Princesses was Consuelo Vanderbilt, whose life story epitomized the glamour, challenges, and eventual triumph associated with these transatlantic unions.

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The Gilded Life of Consuelo Vanderbilt

Consuelo Vanderbilt, born on March 2, 1877, was an American socialite and one of the most iconic figures of the Gilded Age. Her life was a fascinating blend of opulence, high society, and significant personal transformation.

The Vanderbilt Family Fortune

The foundation of the Vanderbilt family fortune was laid by Consuelo’s great-great-grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt, who was one of the richest Americans in history.

Known as “The Commodore,” Cornelius amassed his wealth through shipping and railroads during the 19th century. He started with a ferry business and later built a vast transportation empire, which included the New York Central Railroad.

Cornelius’s son, William Henry Vanderbilt, significantly expanded the family fortune. By shrewdly managing and investing in railroads, he doubled the inheritance from his father, making the Vanderbilt family one of the wealthiest in the United States.

Consuelo’s father, William Kissam Vanderbilt, was a railroad tycoon and one of the wealthiest men of his time.

Early Life and Background

Consuelo was born into immense wealth as the daughter of William Kissam Vanderbilt and Alva Erskine Smith.

Despite not being born into the highest social circles, Alva’s ambition and strategic marriage to William Kissam Vanderbilt, allowed her to quickly ascend to the upper echelons of New York society. Alva became a key figure in the Gilded Age, determined to secure a prestigious position for herself and her children.

Consuelo’s childhood was marked by strict discipline (she was educated at home by private tutors) and high expectations particularly from her mother.

1932: Consuelo Vanderbilt with her father William Kissam Vanderbilt aboard the Alva, his yacht — Courtesy of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.

The Marriage to the Duke

On November 6, 1895, Consuelo married Charles Spencer-Churchill, the 9th Duke of Marlborough, in a lavish ceremony at St. Thomas Church in New York City.