Christie Lee Hudson, simply known as Christie Brinkley, is a famous American actress, pin-up girl, designer, as well as a supermodel. Considered to be one of the most attractive women in the modeling industry, Christie Brinkley has been featured on the covers of more than 500 magazines, including “Cosmopolitan”, “LIFE”, “Rolling Stone”, “Max Factor” and others, and was a face for the “CoverGirl”, which is one of the most famous cosmetics brands, for 25 years. Brinkley had the longest contract with cosmetics in the history of modeling.
Christie Brinkley Net Worth $80 Million
A famous model, how rich is Christie Brinkley? According to sources, Christie Brinkley’s net worth is estimated to be $80 million. As of 2012, Brinkley placed at #3 on the list of “World’s 20 Richest Models” compiled by “Daily Mail”.
Christie Brinkley was born in 1954, in Monroe, Michigan, but later moved out to Los Angeles, where she attended Paul Revere Jr. High School. Brinkley continued her education in Paris, where she moved in order to study art. It was in Paris where she was first discovered by Errol Sawyer, who introduced her to a modeling agent and scout John Casablancas. While still in Paris, Brinkley was introduced to “Elite Model Management Agency”, and then met several other photographers who helped her get in touch with the executive of the “Ford Modeling Agency” Eileen Ford. Eventually, Brinkley was signed for three national advertisements campaigns and was later offered a 25 year-contract with “CoverGirl”. Brinkley’s modeling career went uphill since then.
Brinkley debuted on a cover of “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition” in 1979, and reappeared on it in 1980 and 1981. She was then featured in a “Sports Illustrated Calendar”, which was followed by the release of two more calendars. Christie Brinkley then started making appearances on the covers of such magazines as “Vogue”, “Newsweek”, “Esquire”, “Black Velvet” and more, which opened many other career opportunities.
In 1983, Christie Brinkley debuted as an actress in Harold Ramis’ comedy film “National Lampoon’s Vacation”, where she starred alongside Chevy Chase, Anthony Michael Hall and Jane Krakowski. She then appeared in 1997 in the role of “the girl in the red Ferrari” in the sequel of this movie entitled “Vegas Vacation”.
Taking a step from movies, Brinkley went on to host “Celebrity Weddings InStyle”, as well as appearing on the “Today Show” and co-starred with Chuck Norris in many infomercials. For the television audiences, Christie Brinkley is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Gayle Gergich, Jim O’Heir’s wife in the television series “Parks and Recreation”, where she appeared next to Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Chris Pratt, Rob Lowe and others.
In addition to being an actress and a model, Christie Brinkley wrote a book called “Christie Brinkley’s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book”, which enjoyed a spot on the list of best-sellers, and ventured into designing, as she helped design various patterns for a manufacturer of sewing pattern guides “Simplicity Pattern”, and designed a line of sunglasses entitled “Christie Brinkley Perspectives”.
In 1998, Brinkley came out with her own perfume called “Believe”.
Spread sunshine and joy. Life's too short for anything else!
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[on recreating the National Lampoon's National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)'s pool scene for a Direct TV commercial] It was, like 1 A.M. in the morning... and the swimming pool was steaming and they couldn't have the steam, so they had to make the water as cold as the temperature outside, so they had huge blocks of ice going in and they had drained everything and put in the coldest water. I'm down to the pool in nothing but a G-string... my lips would freeze, so they would have to get me out the pool to pit me in a bathtub to thaw me out. I had to, like, go up the pool ladder with nothing much on.
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[Her memory of the pool scene in National Lampoon's National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)] Well, I remember that night that we were shooting the scene, it was about 3 A.M. in the morning and we got out to the pool and suddenly somebody decided that they really wanted me to strip and then jump in the pool. And so there was a little debate there and I couldn't reach an agent or anything at 3 in the morning. But I just kept saying "I don't think so". So we compromised with, and I think it was so much more effective, when I just tossed my bra and it hit Chevy in the face.
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Some people think happiness is a luxury, but its a necessity. You need to make space for it in your life.
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The mere act of putting your lips in the right position tells your body to release chemicals that make you feel better. Share your smile with the world. It's a symbol of friendship and peace.
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I have this helicopter crash, and I fall in love with this man who was in the crash with me. I must have been suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.
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If a person lies to you about what's in their bank account, they'll lie to you about other things as well.
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Fact
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She is of German, Irish, English, and Scottish descent.
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Release of her book, "Christie Brinkley's Outdoor Beauty & Fitness Book". [1983]
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Ranked #16 in Men's Health 100 Hottest Women of All Time (2011).
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Went to Palisades High School in Los Angeles, California.
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Recovering from emergency back surgery following a skiing injury that occurred during a recent family ski trip [February 28, 2007].
She was born in Monroe, Michigan, to Marge Brinkley (née Marjorie Marie Bowling) and Herbert Hudson. She was adopted by stepfather, producer-director Don Brinkley.
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Is a vegetarian.
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Was a democratic delegate from New York state at the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles.
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She and her then husband-to-be, Richard Taubman, survived a helicopter crash in March 1994 near Telluride, Colorado. Nine months later, they married near the spot of the crash. Other crash survivors were her friend, Sandra Will, and Sandra's son, Cade Carradine. Cade was the last person rescued off the mountain.
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Brinkley was one of three models featured as dolls produced by Matchbox Toys called "The Real Model Collection".
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Her first SPORTS ILLUSTRATED swimsuit issue cover was in 1979. She also appeared on the cover in 1980 and 1981, making her the first model to appear on 3 consecutive covers.
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Supermodel
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Filed a $42 million defamation suit against the National Enquirer and jointly sued her former personal assistant Beth La Face as the contact for the tabloid. [September 1997]
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Son, with Richard Taubman, Jack Paris Brinkley, was born. [June 1995]