Age, Biography, and Wiki
Christie Brinkley was born Christie Lee Hudson on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan. She is best known for her extensive modeling career, which kicked off in Paris in 1973. Brinkley's rise to fame included historic appearances on the covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue from 1979 to 1981, solidifying her status as a supermodel. She has also ventured into acting, business, and entrepreneurship, making her a versatile figure in the entertainment industry. Brinkley's biography is detailed on her Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Stage Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 2 February 1954 |
| Age | 71 Years |
| Birth Place | Monroe, Michigan, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | U.S |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Christie Brinkley stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), which contributed to her success as a model. Her slender physique has been a hallmark of her career, though specific weight measurements are not consistently reported.
On August 5, 2019, it was reported by Deadline that Brinkley would have a guest role on the season 7 premiere of the ABC television series The Goldbergs playing a character named Aleah Welsh. In 2019, Brinkley was announced as one of the celebrities to compete on the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars. However, sometime before the premiere, she suffered injuries to her wrist and arm that required emergency surgery. As a result, her daughter Sailor, stepped in her place for the season. In 2022, Brinkley competed in season seven of The Masked Singer as "Lemur" of Team Cuddly.
In 1994, Brinkley was introduced to real estate developer Richard Taubman by a mutual friend. He proposed in May 1994 while she and Billy Joel were still married. She married Taubman on December 22, 1994, in Telluride, Colorado, near the area where they were both in a helicopter crash on April 1, 1994. Brinkley was 40 and Taubman was 46. She announced at their wedding that they were expecting a baby boy. The marriage ended in 1995 with one son, Jack Paris Brinkley, born June 2, 1995. As a result of the helicopter crash, she suffered years of hip pain, culminating in a full hip replacement in 2021.
| Height | 5 ft |
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Dating & Relationship Status
Brinkley has been married four times:
- François Allaux (1973–1981)
- Billy Joel (1985–1994)
- Richard Taubman (1994–1995)
- Peter Cook (1996–2008)
Her family moved to Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, where her mother Marjorie later met and married television writer Donald Brinkley in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Donald adopted Christie and her brother Greg Brinkley. During this time, the family lived in Malibu and then the Brentwood neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Brinkley was educated at Paul Revere Junior High School and attended Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles from 9th to 12th grade.
Brinkley played her first acting role in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation as "The girl in the red Ferrari" opposite Chevy Chase. She reprised that role in the 1997 sequel Vegas Vacation; later spoofed it in a 2008 DirecTV commercial, using footage from Vacation; again in a 2015 Infiniti commercial as the wife in the Infiniti (the blonde in the convertible for this spoof is model Scarlett Burke); and again in the ABC series The Goldbergs in 2019. In 2011, she appeared as herself in the documentary King of the Hamptons, which was produced by filmmaker Dennis Michael Lynch. The film premiered at the 2010 Hamptons International Film Festival.
Brinkley made further television appearances, including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue television specials and music videos for beau Billy Joel ("Uptown Girl", "Keeping the Faith", "All About Soul", "River of Dreams", "A Matter of Trust" and "Leningrad") and Mick Jones's "Just Wanna Hold". She had a recurring role as Gayle Gergich, the wife of Jerry Gergich, on NBC's Parks and Recreation. In December 2012, Brinkley co-hosted Anderson Live and also danced with Dancing With the Stars alumnus Gilles Marini during the show.
In 1973, Brinkley married French artist Jean-François Allaux. They divorced in 1981. In 1982, Brinkley had a romantic relationship with Olivier Chandon de Brailles, heir to the Moët-Chandon Champagne fortune. The two met at Studio 54 in New York City at a party promoting a calendar in which Brinkley appeared. Chandon died a year later in a crash at a private pre-season practice session car race.
Brinkley's fourth marriage was in 1996, to architect Peter Halsey Cook. Cook and Brinkley met in 1979 when he was modeling. They were later reintroduced by a mutual friend and announced their engagement in August 1996. They married on September 21, 1996. They had one child, daughter Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, born July 2, 1998, with the help of IVF as Brinkley was 44. Brinkley's representative announced in July 2006 that Brinkley and Peter Cook planned to separate. The couple reached a settlement in July 2008; accounts differ as to whether divorce was final on September 12, 2008, or October 3, 2008. In September 2015, it was widely reported that John Mellencamp was in a new relationship with Brinkley. In August 2016, the couple announced their separation after almost a year of dating.
* Heart Award, special honor from the American Heart Association in the "12th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala" for her commitment to helping children live healthier lives. Brinkley said she was very honored to receive the award from the AHA being convinced that the research from the organization made it possible for her mother to be alive after suffering five strokes.
* Merit Award, by the non-profit USA national organization Mothers Voices which mission is strengthens family communication about sex, sexual health and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention through education and awareness, mobilize parents and caregivers to become their child's frontline sexual health educator.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Jean-François Allaux (m. 1973-1981) Billy Joel (m. 23 March 1985-25 August 1994) Richard Taubman (m. 1994-1995) Peter Cook (m. 1996-2008) |
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Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Christie Brinkley's net worth is estimated to be $100 million. This wealth is primarily attributed to her successful modeling career, long-standing contract with CoverGirl, and smart real estate investments. Her salary from various endorsement deals, acting roles, and business ventures also contributes to her net worth.
Business Ventures
- Skincare and Hair Products: Brinkley has launched her own lines in these categories.
- Eyewear: She has endorsed and promoted several eyewear brands.
- Wine: Brinkley is involved in the wine industry through various partnerships.
- TWRHLL Clothing Line: A Hamptons-themed clothing line she co-founded.
- Total Gym Infomercials: Since 1997, she has appeared alongside Chuck Norris in these infomercials.
On April 8, 2011, in New York, Brinkley made her stage debut as Roxie Hart in the long-running musical Chicago. In August, she completed a one-month engagement in the London's production at Cambridge Theatre and reprised the role on Broadway and continued with 182 total performances with the National Touring Company of Chicago in cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston and Hartford. In April 2019, Brinkley reprised the Roxie Hart role in Chicago at the Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas.
Since 1997, Brinkley has appeared with Chuck Norris in a long-running series of cable TV infomercials promoting Total Gym home fitness equipment. In 2008, Brinkley and Carlon Colker promoted National Family Fitness Day with Xbox 360 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Brinkley promotes Christie Brinkley Authentic Skin Care, a line of beauty products, Hair2Wear, a line of hair extensions, Bellissima Prosecco, an organic sparkling wine label and Christie Brinkley Eyewear, an eyeglasses eyewear. Her financial holdings in 2019 were worth an estimated US$80 million, primarily as the owner of real estate mainly in the Hamptons.
Social Network
Christie Brinkley is active on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, where she engages with her fans and promotes her various ventures.
Brinkley was discovered in 1973 by American photographer Errol Sawyer in a post office in Paris. He took her first modeling pictures and introduced her to John Casablancas of Elite Model Management agency in Paris. Brinkley stated later: "I was basically a surfer girl from California. I never looked like a model." After being introduced to Elite, where Brinkley met the fashion photographers Patrick Demarchelier and Mike Reinhardt who called Eileen Ford and told her about Brinkley, she returned to California, and by the end of a lunch meeting with Nina Blanchard (Eileen Ford affiliate in Los Angeles) she had been booked for three national ad campaigns.
Education
Brinkley attended Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles. She did not pursue higher education, instead focusing on her modeling career after being discovered in Paris.
* Spirit of Achievement Award, at 2003 by "The Women's Division" of Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University presented Brinkley for her charity work.
* Christie Brinkley Scholarship, at February 2007 by The Ross School in East Hampton, Long Island, New York. This scholarship allows students interested in art or environment sciences get four free years at Ross High School.
* Humanitarian Award, given by March of Dimes. This organization is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality through research, community services, education and advocacy.
