The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune

Huguette Clark was an American heiress who lived a mysterious and fascinating life. She inherited a vast fortune from her father, William A. Clark, a wealthy copper magnate and U.S. Senator from Montana. Huguette spent her life hidden from the public eye, living in a secluded mansion in Santa Barbara, California, and spending her fortune in secret ways.

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune

by Bill Dedman

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14421 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	573 pages

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Huguette was born in Paris in 1883 to William A. Clark and his wife, Anna La Chapelle. She was the youngest of their six children. Huguette's father was a ruthless and ambitious man who made his fortune in the copper mines of Montana. He was also a powerful politician, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1899 to 1905.

Huguette's mother was a beautiful and cultured woman who came from a wealthy French family. She had little in common with her husband, and the two of them spent much of their time apart. Huguette was raised by her mother and a governess, and she received a privileged education. She was fluent in French, English, and German, and she had a passion for music and art.

In 1898, when Huguette was 15 years old, her father died. He left her a vast fortune, which included millions of dollars in cash, stocks, and bonds, as well as several valuable properties. Huguette's mother died a few years later, and Huguette became the sole heir to her father's estate.

Huguette was now a wealthy young woman, but she chose to live a quiet and secluded life. She moved to Paris with her governess, and she spent the next few years traveling the world. She collected art and antiques, and she donated large sums of money to charities.

In 1912, Huguette returned to the United States and settled in Santa Barbara, California. She purchased a large mansion called Bellosguardo, which became her home for the rest of her life. Bellosguardo was a beautiful estate with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Huguette lived there with her staff of servants, and she rarely left the property.

Huguette was a very private person, and she went to great lengths to keep her life a secret. She avoided the media, and she never gave interviews. She also refused to be photographed. As a result, very few people knew what she looked like or what her life was like.

Huguette spent her fortune in mysterious ways. She bought several properties, including a mansion in New York City and a castle in Ireland. She also collected art and antiques, and she donated large sums of money to charities. However, much of her spending was secret, and no one knows exactly how much money she spent or what she spent it on.

Huguette died in 2011 at the age of 104. She left behind a fortune that was estimated to be worth over $300 million. Her will was contested by her distant relatives, who claimed that she was not of sound mind when she made it. However, the court ruled in favor of the will, and Huguette's fortune was distributed to her beneficiaries.

The life of Huguette Clark is a fascinating story of wealth, mystery, and eccentricity. She was a woman who lived a secret life and spent her fortune in mysterious ways. Her story is a reminder that even the wealthiest people can have their secrets.

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Further Reading

• The New York Times: Huguette Clark, Reclusive Heiress, Dies at 104
• Vanity Fair: The Mystery of Huguette Clark, the Billionaire Heiress Who Lived in Secret
• Forbes: The Huguette Clark Mystery: Solved (Almost)

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune

by Bill Dedman

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14421 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	573 pages

FREE