Christie Brinkley is a renowned American model. Brinkley graced an extraordinary three consecutive covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the years 1979, 1980, and 1981.
She served as the face of CoverGirl for 25 years, has been featured on more than 500 magazine covers, and has entered into contracts with prominent brands across both fashion and non-fashion sectors.
Early Life & Education
Christie Lee Brinkley (née Hudson) was born on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan. She relocated with her family to Los Angeles during her infancy. Her biological father, Herb, was abusive and gave up custody following her parents’ divorce when she was eight years old.
Subsequently, her mother married television writer Don Brinkley, who adopted Christie and her brother. Don’s artistic influence and nurturing environment fostered her love for art.
She studied at Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles before moving to Paris in 1973 to follow her passion for illustration.
In 1973, Brinkley was discovered by American photographer Errol Sawyer at a post office in Paris. During the session for her first modeling photographs, Sawyer was introduced to Elite Model Management, where she met notable fashion photographers such as Mike Reinhardt and Patrick Demarchelier.
By the time Christie returned to California, she had already been booked for three national advertising campaigns.
Christie Brinkley Career
Shortly thereafter, Christie Brinkley began to frequently grace the cover of “Glamour” and secured a remarkable 25-year contract with CoverGirl. Between 1979 and 1981, she made history by appearing on three consecutive covers of the “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue,” a first for the publication.
Christie continued to feature in later issues and television specials for many years to come. Among the numerous magazine covers showcasing her are “Vogue,” “Newsweek,” “Cosmopolitan,” “Esquire,” “Harper’s Bazaar,” “Rolling Stone,” and “US.”
In addition, she has maintained partnerships with brands such as Max Factor, Nissan, Revlon, Prell, Diet Coke, and Chanel No. 19. Christie Brinkley has been photographed in more than 30 countries across six continents.
In addition to her modeling career, Brinkley has made appearances in film, as well as on stage and television. Her debut role was in the 1983 film “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” where she portrayed the memorable, unnamed girl in the red Ferrari.
This iconic role was revisited by Christie numerous times, including in the 1997 film “Vegas Vacation,” in commercials for DirecTV and Infiniti, and in a 2019 episode of ABC’s “The Goldbergs.”
Furthermore, her television credits feature a recurring role on NBC‘s “Parks and Recreation” and a guest appearance on “Mad About You.”
Christie Brinkley made her stage debut in 2011, portraying the lead character Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago.” She participated in a one-month engagement of the production at the Cambridge Theatre in London before taking on the role on Broadway.
As part of the National Tour Company, she completed a total of 182 performances in various cities, including Boston, Los Angeles, and Hartford.
On the beauty front, Christie Brinkley has developed apparel for the Simplicity Pattern Company and assisted in the design of a collection of prescription glasses for Nouveau Eyewear. In addition, she has unveiled a jewelry collection and her own signature fragrance.
Personal Life
Christie Brinkley has experienced a lengthy and remarkable romantic journey, having been married four times as of this moment. Her first marriage was to French artist Jean-François Allaux in 1973, which ended in divorce in 1981.
In 1985, Christie entered into matrimony with musician Billy Joel, and they welcomed a daughter named Alexa Ray Joel, who has pursued a career in singing. Their marriage concluded with a divorce in 1994.
Later that same year, Brinkley married real estate developer Richard Taubman in Telluride, Colorado, close to the location where they had both recently survived a helicopter crash.
They had a son together before their divorce in 1995. The subsequent year, Christie married architect Peter Halsey Cook, and they had a daughter. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2008.
Net Worth
Christie Brinkley is a renowned American model, entrepreneur, and actress with a net worth estimated at $100 million. As we elaborate at the conclusion of this article, the bulk of Christie Brinkley’s wealth is not derived from her modeling career; rather, it stems from astute real estate investments made over the years.
