Net Worth Ranker
What Is Christie Brinkley’s Net Worth?
Christie Brinkley, a prominent American model, entrepreneur, and actress, has amassed a considerable fortune over her career. As of 2025, Christie Brinkley’s net worth is estimated to be $100 million. This impressive figure is a result of her diverse professional endeavors, including a successful modeling career, various business ventures, and strategic real estate investments.
Early Career and Modeling Success
Born Christie Lee Hudson on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan, she later moved to Los Angeles. Brinkley’s career began in 1973 when she was discovered by American photographer Errol Sawyer in a post office in Paris. This encounter led to her introduction to Elite Model Management and meetings with influential fashion photographers like Mike Reinhardt and Patrick Demarchelier. Her modeling career quickly took off, leading to multiple appearances on the cover of “Glamour” and a record 25-year contract with CoverGirl. From 1979 to 1981, she appeared on three consecutive covers of the “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue,” a first in the magazine’s history.
Brinkley’s modeling career is marked by over 500 magazine covers, including “Vogue,” “Newsweek,” “Cosmopolitan,” “Esquire,” “Harper’s Bazaar,” “Rolling Stone,” and “US.” She also secured contracts with major brands such as Max Factor, Nissan, Revlon, Prell, Diet Coke, and Chanel No. 19. Her work has taken her to over 30 countries across six continents. Although specific figures for her individual modeling contracts are not publicly available, her long-term endorsement deals and extensive magazine work significantly contributed to Christie Brinkley’s net worth.
Film, Television, and Theater Appearances
Beyond her modeling career, Brinkley has made several appearances in film, television, and theater. Her first role was in the 1983 film “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” where she played the iconic girl in the red Ferrari. She reprised this role in subsequent films, commercials, and television shows, including “Vegas Vacation” (1997), commercials for DirecTV and Infiniti, and an episode of ABC’s “The Goldbergs” (2019). On television, she had a recurring role on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” and a guest spot on “Mad About You.”
In 2011, Brinkley made her stage debut, playing Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago.” She performed in London’s Cambridge Theatre for a month and then on Broadway. With the National Tour Company, she gave 182 performances in cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, and Hartford. The financial details of her acting contracts and stage performances are not publicly disclosed, but these ventures have undoubtedly added to Christie Brinkley’s net worth.
Business Ventures and Endorsements
Christie Brinkley has also established herself as a successful entrepreneur with various business ventures. She has endorsement deals with Total Gym home fitness equipment and owns several brands, including Bellissima Prosecco, Christie Brinkley Authentic Skin Care, and Christie Brinkley Eyewear. In 1983, she wrote and illustrated “Christie Brinkley’s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book,” which became a New York Times bestseller. She also illustrated the cover of Billy Joel’s 1993 album “River of Dreams,” which won Rolling Stone magazine’s award for Best Album Cover of the Year.
Brinkley has designed clothes for the Simplicity Pattern Company and helped design a line of prescription glasses for Nouveau Eyewear. Additionally, she has released a jewelry collection and a signature fragrance. While specific revenue figures for these business ventures are not publicly available, they are significant contributors to Christie Brinkley’s net worth. Her ability to leverage her personal brand into successful product lines has been a key factor in her financial success.
Real Estate Investments
One of the most significant components of Christie Brinkley’s net worth is her real estate portfolio. She has made several astute investments in properties, particularly in The Hamptons, an exclusive beach town in New York. In the mid-1990s, she invested $2.7 million over several transactions to assemble a 21-acre Hamptons estate. This estate was initially listed for $7 million in 2004 and later for $16 million in 2010. In 2017, the asking price was increased to $25 million. Ultimately, the property was sold for $15 million in June 2019.
Her current residence, Tower Hill, is a 20-acre estate dating back to 1891. This gated compound consists of three separate lots and a 50-foot-tall observation tower. It includes a four-bedroom, five-bath main house, as well as a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath guest house with a greenhouse conservatory. This estate is estimated to be worth at least $40 million today. In addition to Tower Hill, Brinkley owns a five-bedroom estate spanning about four and a half acres in the Hamptons. This property features a pool, a chef’s kitchen, a master suite, and a private terrace overlooking the harbor. Built in 1843, the home retains original details, including an oak banister and grand columns. The value of this property is also a substantial part of Christie Brinkley’s net worth.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Christie Brinkley’s personal life has included four marriages. She was first married to French artist Jean-François Allaux in 1973, and they divorced in 1981. In 1985, she married musician Billy Joel. They had one child, a daughter named Alexa Ray Joel, who is a singer. The couple divorced in 1994. Later that year, Brinkley married real estate developer Richard Taubman in Telluride, Colorado. They had one child, a son, before divorcing in 1995. In 1996, Christie married architect Peter Halsey Cook. They had one child, a daughter, and divorced in 2008.
Brinkley has a history of political and philanthropic involvement. Since the late 1990s, she has donated approximately $1 million to various Democratic groups and candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee. She has also participated in anti-nuclear protests and advocates for animal rights through PETA. These activities, while not directly contributing to Christie Brinkley’s net worth, reflect her values and commitments.
Christie Brinkley’s Net Worth Milestones
Christie Brinkley’s financial success has been built over decades through a combination of modeling, business ventures, and real estate investments. Here are some milestones in her net worth journey:
- 1970s-1980s: Establishing herself as a top model and securing major contracts, significantly increasing her early net worth.
- 1990s: Investing in Hamptons real estate, a move that would later prove to be highly lucrative.
- Early 2000s: Expanding her business ventures with the launch of her skincare and eyewear lines, further diversifying her income streams.
- 2019: Selling her 21-acre Hamptons estate for $15 million, realizing a substantial profit on her initial investment.
- 2025: Maintaining a net worth of $100 million, reflecting her continued success and financial acumen.
These milestones demonstrate her ability to leverage her brand and make strategic financial decisions, contributing to Christie Brinkley’s net worth.
