Barbara Hutton Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Barbara Hutton was an American heiress and socialite known for her extraordinary inheritance, a legendary personal life marked by high-profile relationships, and a reputation as one of the most talked-about figures of 20th-century society.

Barbara Hutton — born November 14, 1912 — was the sole heir to the Woolworth retail fortune whose life intertwined immense wealth with a string of dramatic personal relationships. Though she died in 1979, her remarkable story — from opulent beginnings and iconic jewelry tastes to multiple marriages and a deeply personal legacy — continues to fascinate. Her birthday on November 14 is remembered in stories of privilege and paradox.

Quick Facts (Table Summary)

A Heiress Born Into Wealth and Spotlight

Barbara Woolworth Hutton entered the world on November 14, 1912, in New York City, as the only child of Edna Woolworth and Franklyn Laws Hutton, heirs to one of America’s most successful commercial dynasties. 

From the start, her life was shaped by vast affluence and profound loss. After her mother’s death when Barbara was a young child, she was raised largely by relatives and staff, growing up with privileges most could only imagine but also with emotional distance that would echo throughout her personal life.

Defining moments in Barbara Hutton’s journey include:

• Inheriting a massive estate from her family’s Woolworth retail fortune. 

• Hosting a lavish debutante ball that became emblematic of the era’s extremes. 

• Navigating a succession of highly publicized marriages and relationships. 

• Cultivating one of the most celebrated private jewelry collections of the 20th century.

The Core Pillars of Barbara Hutton’s Wealth

Barbara Hutton’s financial foundation was built on an inheritance that made her one of the world’s most noted heiresses. While she did not build business empires in the traditional sense, her wealth stemmed from:

• Family Fortune: She inherited tens of millions of dollars from the Woolworth estate, which at the time of her coming of age was one of the largest private inheritances in history. 

• Investment Growth: Managed by financial guardians and advisors, her estate was significant even before tax and spending. 

• Collectibles & Jewelry: Hutton’s passion for acquiring historic jewels added artistic and monetary value to her personal portfolio. 

Note: Because Barbara Hutton passed away decades ago, modern net worth estimates often refer to the scope of her inheritance in contemporary economic terms rather than an active personal valuation.

Relationships & Personal Life in the Public Eye

Barbara Hutton’s relationships were as widely reported as her wealth, with a personal life that captured global fascination.

Her romantic journey included multiple marriages, many to prominent figures. The press often chronicled these unions almost as characters in her story:

• Alexis Mdivani – Her first husband, styled as a Georgian prince. 

• Count Kurt von Haugwitz-Reventlow – With whom she had her only child, Lance Reventlow. 

• Cary Grant – Hollywood legend and arguably her most famous spouse. 

• Prince Igor Troubetzkoy – A titled noble with racing fame. 

• Porfirio Rubirosa – International diplomat and notorious playboy. 

• Baron Gottfried von Cramm – German tennis star. 

• Prince Pierre Raymond Doan – Her final marriage. 

Key insights into Barbara Hutton’s relationships and personal life:

• Her relationships often intertwined with high society, celebrity, and global travel. 

• Many unions, while short-lived, generated significant public and media attention. 

• Her only child, Lance Reventlow, pursued a career in motor racing and became a noted figure in his own right. 

Beyond Wealth: Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Barbara Hutton’s life was not just measured in dollars and relationships but in the cultural artifacts she cherished and moments that reflected her complex character.

Beyond career success, Barbara Hutton led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Iconic Jewelry Collection: Hutton’s assortment included historically significant diamonds and bespoke designs from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.

• Philanthropy: Although not structured as modern charity work, she gave generously in personal and social contexts. 

• Global Homes & Travel: Her residences and travels were emblematic of an era when wealth conferred both privacy and spectacle.

Net Worth Breakdown & Legacy

Because Barbara Hutton’s life unfolded before contemporary net worth tracking systems emerged, most valuations focus on her inherited estate and its significance:

Barbara Hutton net worth is thus best understood as a narrative of immense inherited means, substantial personal spending, and a legacy of cultural fascination rather than as a modern portfolio figure.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Barbara Hutton’s story has endured because it embodies contrasts — vast wealth and personal vulnerability, privilege and public scrutiny. Known by the press as the “Poor Little Rich Girl,” she became a symbol of how wealth can magnify both opportunities and personal challenges. 

Her influence persists in:

• Cultural portrayals, including films and biographies.

• Jewelry history as a collector whose tastes shaped 20th-century haute joaillerie. 

• Social history as a figure whose personal narrative reflected broader themes of wealth, identity, and human connection.

Conclusion

Barbara Hutton’s life was a tapestry of grand inheritance, compelling relationships, and a public persona that defied simple categorization. Born on November 14, 1912, her birthday marked not only a personal milestone but also the beginning of a life lived at the intersection of power, glamour, and introspection. Although her Barbara Hutton net worth transformed over time, her influence on social history and the arts — particularly jewelry — remains vivid. Her Barbara Hutton personal life and Barbara Hutton relationships continue to be subjects of fascination, illustrating a legacy that transcends mere numbers.