Caroline Kennedy's Finances & Jackie Kennedy-Onassis' Wealth

The daughter of the [now-deceased] Jackie Kennedy-Onassis and JFK apparently now has a good chance to soon join JFK’s brother in the U.S. Senate—despite her lack of legislative experience, her lack of experience previously working at a U.S. government job and her reluctance to reveal much information about her personal financial worth. But if you’re a daughter of Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, a grandchild of Joseph P. Kennedy and a member of the Kennedy Dynasty, not much experience is apparently needed to start a U.S. political career at the top with one of New York State’s seats in the U.S. Senate.

After Caroline Kennedy’s father was mysteriously eliminated in Dallas, Texas in 1963, JFK’s “First Lady”—Jackie Kennedy-Onassis—apparently was more interested in accumulating and spending money than in finding out who actually was responsible for JFK’s death. As Good Ted, Bad Ted by Lester David recalled in the early 1990s:

“The Kennedys were appalled when, in the Spring of 1968, Jackie told them of her intention to marry the elderly Aristotle Onassis, the billionaire Greek shipping tycoon…

“Jackie…inherited about $70,000 in cash from President Kennedy, plus his personal effects and the Cape Cod house, and the income from a trust fund, which amounted to $200,000 a year. When she married Onassis, she asked for—and received—what amounts to a bride price: a cash payment of $3 million and $1 million for each of her children…

“Ari gave Jackie a huge ruby-and-diamond ring with matched earrings. She also wore two new 24-karat gold bracelets, one inlaid with diamonds and rubies. The cost: $1,200,000…

“…Ari…was angered at the amount of money Jackie was spending. He had given her an allowance of $30,000 a month, in addition to charge accounts, but she always exceeded the limits…

“Ari’s death [in 1975] made Jackie a very wealthy woman. She…received a $20 million settlement, plus an extra $6 million to pay the taxes on the inheritance…”

The same book also noted, however, that “Jackie, who insisted on separate sleeping arrangements, would not allow Ari into her bedroom without permission…”

Jackie Kennedy-Onassis’ first father-in-law and Caroline Kennedy’s grandfather—Joseph P. Kennedy—was the ninth wealthiest person in the United States around the time JFK was elected president in 1960. The Kennedy Dynasty’s wealth in the 1990s was estimated to be around $350 million.

(Downtown 2/16/94)