Christie Brinkley is an American supermodel, actress and entrepreneur whose face has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers across a career spanning five decades. She became a household name through three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers and a record long partnership with CoverGirl, and in 2026 she remains a fixture in fashion, business and the public eye following her 2025 memoir.
Christie Brinkley Biography, Wiki
| Field | Detail |
| Full Name | Christie Lee Brinkley (born Christie Lee Hudson) |
| Date of Birth | February 2, 1954 |
| Age (2026) | 72 years |
| Birthplace | Monroe, Michigan, United States |
| Hometown | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | not publicly confirmed |
| Ethnicity | White (English, Irish, Scottish and German descent) |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Height | 175 cm (about 5 feet 9 inches) |
| Weight | not publicly confirmed |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | Blonde |
| Profession | Model, Actress, Entrepreneur, Author |
| Known For | Sports Illustrated covers, CoverGirl, Billy Joel marriage |
| Biological Father | Herbert Hudson |
| Mother | Marjorie Hudson (born Marjorie Bowling) |
| Adoptive Father | Don Brinkley (television writer) |
| Siblings | Greg Brinkley (brother) |
| Marital Status | Married and divorced four times, currently single |
| First Husband | Jean-François Allaux (1973 to 1981) |
| Second Husband | Billy Joel (1985 to 1994) |
| Third Husband | Richard Taubman (1994 to 1995) |
| Fourth Husband | Peter Cook (1996 to 2008) |
| Children | Alexa Ray Joel, Jack Paris Brinkley Cook, Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook |
| School | Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles |
| College or University | Studied art in Paris |
| Political Party | N/A |
| Current Position or Role | Model, entrepreneur and author |
| Net Worth (estimated) | Around 100 million US dollars |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | not publicly confirmed |
| @christiebrinkley | |
| Official Website | not publicly confirmed |
Christie Brinkley Events
| Year | Event |
| 1973 | Discovered in Paris and signed with Elite Model Management |
| 1976 | Signed a contract with CoverGirl |
| 1979 to 1981 | Three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers |
| 1983 | Film debut in National Lampoon’s Vacation |
| 2011 | Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago |
| 2024 | Returned to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at age 70 |
| 2025 | Released her memoir Uptown Girl |
Christie Brinkley Selected Acting Work
| Year | Title | Role | Medium | Notes |
| 1983 | National Lampoon’s Vacation | The girl in the red Ferrari | Film | Iconic screen debut |
| 1997 | Vegas Vacation | The girl in the Ferrari | Film | Reprised role |
| 2011 | Chicago | Roxie Hart | Broadway | Stage debut |
| 2012 | Parks and Recreation | Gayle Gergich | Television | Recurring role |
Christie Brinkley Early Life and Family
Born on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan, Christie Brinkley entered the world as Christie Lee Hudson. Her family moved to the Los Angeles area during her childhood, where she grew up as a self described surfer girl soaking up the creative culture of California.
Warmth and art defined her home once her mother remarried. Her stepfather, a successful television writer, adopted Christie and her brother and encouraged the artistic curiosity that shaped everything that followed.
Christie Brinkley Father
Her biological father, Herbert Hudson, gave up his parental rights when Christie was a young child, an experience she has described as one of the hardest of her early life. Her adoptive father, Don Brinkley, became the caring parental figure she credited with encouraging her passion for art.
Christie Brinkley Mother
Christie’s mother, Marjorie, born Marjorie Bowling, raised her with a strong sense of independence and self expression. Marjorie later married Don Brinkley, giving the family the stable and supportive home that helped Christie thrive.
Christie Brinkley Siblings and Family Background
Christie grew up alongside her brother Greg Brinkley, who was also adopted by Don Brinkley. The family lived in neighbourhoods including Malibu and Brentwood, and her upbringing blended Midwestern roots with a Southern California lifestyle.
Christie Brinkley Education
Long before fashion found her, Christie Brinkley was drawn to art and language. She attended Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, a French focused school where she developed a lasting love of French culture.
After graduating in 1972, she moved to Paris to study art and work as an illustrator. She dreamed of a creative career behind the easel rather than in front of the camera, a passion that later shaped how she approached modeling.
Christie Brinkley Career
The career of Christie Brinkley began by chance. In 1973 an American photographer discovered her in a Paris post office, took her first modeling pictures and introduced her to Elite Model Management.
Her wholesome looks and athletic build made her an immediate favourite. She returned to the United States already booked for national campaigns, joined the Ford agency and soon appeared on the cover of Glamour, then signed her landmark deal with CoverGirl.
That contract ran for twenty five years, one of the longest in modeling history. Over the decades she balanced fashion work with acting, television, writing and business, reinventing herself many times over.
Christie Brinkley Modeling Career and Sports Illustrated Fame
Fashion history remembers Christie Brinkley most for her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers. From 1979 to 1981 she appeared on three consecutive issues, a feat no model had achieved before.
Beyond those covers, she graced more than 500 magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar. Her long partnership with CoverGirl became a defining image of American beauty advertising through the 1980s and 1990s.
In 2024 she returned to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at the age of 70, a moment widely praised for challenging ideas about age in fashion. Publications such as Allure and Men’s Health have named her among the most attractive women of all time.
Christie Brinkley Acting, Television and Books
Screen work gave Christie Brinkley a second creative outlet. She made her film debut in 1983 as the girl in the red Ferrari in National Lampoon’s Vacation, a role she later reprised and turned into a pop culture reference.
On television she appeared in Mad About You and had a recurring role as Gayle Gergich on Parks and Recreation. In 2011 she made her Broadway debut playing Roxie Hart in Chicago, later touring with the production.
In April 2025 she published her first memoir, Uptown Girl, written with Sarah Toland. The book covers her childhood, her modeling years, her four marriages and a 1994 helicopter crash she survived, and includes original artwork and personal photographs.
Christie Brinkley Business Ventures
Entrepreneurship became one of the strongest chapters of Christie Brinkley and, by many accounts, the true source of her wealth. She built ventures across beauty, wellness and lifestyle rather than relying on modeling income alone.
Her brands include Bellissima Prosecco, Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare, an eyewear line and a Hamptons clothing label. Careful real estate investments over the decades have also played a major role in her financial success.
Christie Brinkley Religion and Community
Public curiosity about Christie Brinkley sometimes turns to her personal beliefs, though she keeps this side of her life private. She is best known for her activism rather than any public religious identity.
What is Christie Brinkley Religion
Her religion is not publicly confirmed. She has not spoken in detail about practising a particular faith, so any single label would be uncertain.
What is Christie Brinkley Community
Christie is of English, Irish, Scottish and German descent. She has long identified with causes rather than communities, working as an advocate for human and animal rights and environmental protection.
Christie Brinkley Personal Life and Relationships
Few careers have been followed as closely off camera as that of Christie Brinkley. Her personal life has included four marriages, each of which drew wide public attention.
Is Christie Brinkley Married
Christie is not currently married. She has been married and divorced four times and now speaks openly about the lessons those relationships taught her.
Christie Brinkley Husbands
Her first marriage was to French artist Jean-François Allaux, lasting from 1973 to 1981.She then married musician Billy Joel in 1985, a union that lasted until 1994 and inspired his song Uptown Girl. Her brief marriage to Richard Taubman followed in the mid 1990s, and her fourth marriage, to architect Peter Cook, lasted from 1996 to 2008.
Christie Brinkley Children
Christie has three children. Her daughter, musician Alexa Ray Joel, was born during her marriage to Billy Joel. Her son Jack Paris Brinkley Cook and her daughter Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, a model, complete her family.
Christie Brinkley Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Standing at about 175 cm, Christie Brinkley has the tall, athletic frame that suited the fashion standards of her era. Her blonde hair and radiant smile became signatures of her CoverGirl years.
Her exact weight is not publicly confirmed. Even in her seventies she is regularly praised for a healthy, energetic appearance that she links to an active, wellness focused lifestyle.
Christie Brinkley Net Worth and Earnings
Estimates place the net worth of Christie Brinkley at around 100 million US dollars, though some figures suggest a lower total. Much of that wealth is credited to smart real estate investments rather than modeling fees alone.
| Source | Estimated Amount |
| Higher estimate | Around 100 million US dollars |
| Lower estimate | Around 80 million US dollars |
Her income has flowed from modeling, her long CoverGirl contract, acting roles, book sales and her beauty and lifestyle brands. Property holdings, particularly in the Hamptons, have added significantly to her assets over time.
Christie Brinkley Social Media
Digital platforms keep Christie Brinkley connected to a wide audience. Instagram is her main channel, where she shares family moments, business updates, activism and glimpses of life in the Hamptons.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| @christiebrinkley | Lifestyle, family and business content |
Her posts often highlight her children, her wellness routine and her advocacy work. Exact current follower figures are not confirmed here, but she maintains a large and engaged following.
Christie Brinkley Controversies
The most public difficulty in the life of Christie Brinkley was her 2008 divorce from architect Peter Cook. The proceedings drew heavy media coverage because of allegations of infidelity on his part.
Christie has spoken about the episode as a painful chapter she chose to move past. The divorce was finalised and she has since focused on her family, her business ventures and her writing.
Lesser Known Facts About Christie Brinkley
- She originally trained and worked as an artist and illustrator in Paris before modeling found her.
- She survived a helicopter crash into a mountain during a skiing trip in 1994 and later wrote about the experience.
- Before her fame peaked, she was in a relationship with French racing heir Olivier Chandon de Brailles, who died in an accident in 1983.
- Her memoir Uptown Girl features more than 100 photographs along with pieces of her own artwork.
- She once co-hosted a daily television show on CNN called Living in the 90s.
- She has been an outspoken activist for animal rights and environmental causes for decades.
- Her daughter Sailor followed her into modeling, while her daughter Alexa built a career in music.
Today Christie Brinkley stands as one of the most enduring figures in American fashion, a woman who turned a chance discovery into a five decade career across modeling, film, business and writing. With her memoir behind her and her brands still growing, she continues to redefine what longevity in the public eye can look like.
Christie Brinkley FAQ
Who is Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley is an American supermodel, actress and entrepreneur famous for her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers and her twenty five year role as the face of CoverGirl. She is also a bestselling author and activist.
How old is Christie Brinkley
She was born on February 2, 1954, which makes her 72 years old in 2026.
What is Christie Brinkley net worth
Her net worth is estimated to be about 100 million US dollars, earned largely through real estate investments and business ventures rather than modeling alone.
Is Christie Brinkley married
No, she is not currently married. She has been married and divorced four times.
Who was Christie Brinkley married to
She was married to Jean-François Allaux, then musician Billy Joel, then Richard Taubman, and finally architect Peter Cook.
How many children does Christie Brinkley have
She has three children, Alexa Ray Joel, Jack Paris Brinkley Cook and Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook.
How tall is Christie Brinkley
She is about 175 cm tall, which is roughly 5 feet 9 inches.
What is Christie Brinkley known for
She is known for her three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers, her long CoverGirl contract, her role in National Lampoon’s Vacation and her marriage to Billy Joel.
What is Christie Brinkley latest news
In 2025 she released her memoir Uptown Girl, and in 2024 she returned to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at the age of 70.
Sources
Celebrity Net Worth
https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/models/christie-brinkley-net-worth/
Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelburchfield/2025/04/28/christie-brinkley-on-writing-her-new-memoir-uptown-girl-if-not-now-when/
TODAY
https://www.today.com/popculture/books/christie-brinkley-billy-joel-uptown-girl-rcna203298
Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/christie-brinkley/uptown-girl/