Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, widely known as Jackie Kennedy, had a net worth of $150 million at the time of her death in 1994 — equivalent to around $270 million today. Her fortune came from a combination of family inheritance, the Kennedy family trust, and a $26 million settlement from her second husband, Aristotle Onassis.
Early Life and Education
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born on July 28, 1929, in Southampton, New York. Her father, John “Black Jack” Bouvier, was a wealthy stockbroker whose fortune was diminished by gambling and alcohol. After her parents divorced, Jackie and her sister Lee Radziwill split time between Virginia, New York, and Rhode Island.
She graduated from George Washington University with a degree in French literature and co-authored a book with her sister titled One Special Summer after touring Europe together.
Marriage to John F. Kennedy
In 1953, Jackie married John F. Kennedy, then a U.S. Senator. As First Lady from 1961 to 1963, she became a global icon known for her fashion, elegance, and restoration of the White House interior.
She had three children: Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (who died two days after birth). After JFK’s assassination in 1963, she became a grieving widow at just 34 years old.
Kennedy Trust and Financial Independence
Following JFK’s death, Jackie received a Kennedy family trust income of approximately $200,000 annually (about $1.7 million today). A key stipulation of the trust stated that if she remarried, the income would pass to her children. This led Jackie to secure her financial future independently before remarrying.
Marriage to Aristotle Onassis
In 1968, Jackie married Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate with a fortune of $500 million (about $4 billion today). To protect her existing income, Jackie demanded a $3 million payout before the wedding and an additional $150,000 annual trust.
During their marriage, Jackie received lavish gifts, including a 40-carat diamond ring worth $1 million (around $7.5 million today), and access to properties in New York, Paris, and the private Greek island of Skorpios.
Onassis Estate Settlement
When Onassis died in 1975, a legal battle ensued between Jackie and his daughter Christina Onassis. Eventually, Jackie agreed to a $26 million lump-sum settlement — roughly $120 million today. Combined with her real estate and Kennedy assets, she became one of the wealthiest women in America.
Real Estate Holdings
- A 15-room apartment on Fifth Avenue in New York City
- A Martha’s Vineyard property
- Various vacation residences during her marriage to Onassis
Her children inherited these properties after her death. In 2003, Caroline Kennedy sold the Fifth Avenue apartment for $30 million.
Death and Inheritance
In 1994, Jackie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and passed away in her sleep on May 19, 1994, at the age of 64.
Her estate left:
- $250,000 each to Caroline Kennedy and JFK Jr. (already wealthy from other trusts)
- $500,000 each to her sister’s children
- Several real estate holdings and personal possessions
- Assets to the C&J Foundation, her charitable entity
In 1996, her children held an auction of nearly 6,000 items, raising $34.5 million, including $2.6 million for her Onassis diamond ring.
Summary: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Net Worth
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (1994) | $150 Million |
| Equivalent Today | ~$270 Million |
| Main Wealth Sources | Kennedy trust, Onassis settlement, real estate |
| Children | Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr. |
| Notable Assets | NYC apartment, jewelry, art, homes |
