A Tragic Countdown Through the Life of America’s Poor Little Rich Girl, Barbara Hutton

A Tragic Countdown Through the Life of America’s Poor Little Rich Girl, Barbara Hutton

Trista - December 4, 2018

A Tragic Countdown Through the Life of America’s Poor Little Rich Girl, Barbara Hutton
Farrah Fawcett stars in the title role of Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story as the famed Woolworth heiress 1987. AP Photo/CNN.

8. She Was The Poor Little Rich Girl

Hutton was born on November 14, 1912, in New York City. While she was born to an extremely wealthy family, she is known to be America’s firstpoor little rich girl” and much of this is because of her childhood. While this includes the death of her mother, it is mostly because of the life she lived after her mother’s passing. It did not take long for Hutton’s father, Franklin, to fall in love again and marry another woman, who has famously become known as Hutton’s wicked stepmother, Irene Curley Bodde.

Because neither her father nor stepmother paid much attention to her, Hutton was neglected and mostly cared for by nannies, governesses, and relatives. Her governess, who was called Tiki, requested bodyguards for Hutton’s own protection. While she was still young, she went to live with her father’s sister for a while. She also stayed with other relatives, such as Marjorie Merriweather Post Hutton, who married Franklin’s brother, Edward. Because Hutton was sent to live with different relatives, she moved around often as a young child.

Around the age of 12, Hutton’s father and stepmother began sending her to a boarding school. However, even living with some children her own age, Hutton continued to isolate herself from others. Most of the other students picked on Hutton because her father and stepmother were so neglectful. In fact, Hutton spent many holidays alone in the schools because no one came to pick her up to take her home, even during Christmas.

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