Love knows no age, but when it comes to high-profile marriages, the age difference can often become a topic of discussion.
One such marriage that raised eyebrows was that of a shipping magnate and a former First Lady. The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony on a private island, but what caught everyone’s attention was the significant age gap between them.
In this article, we’ll delve into the details of this controversial union and answer the question on everyone’s mind: How old was he when he married her?
How Old Was Aristotle Onassis When He Married Jackie Kennedy
Aristotle Onassis was born in 1906 and was already a successful shipping entrepreneur by the time he married Jackie Kennedy. The couple tied the knot in 1968, which means that Onassis was 62 years old at the time of their marriage.
This age difference of 23 years raised many eyebrows, especially considering that Jackie Kennedy was a former First Lady and a well-known public figure. Onassis, on the other hand, was a Greek shipping magnate who had been indicted by the U.S. Government for fraud in the early ’60s and had a reputation for being a vulgar, ambitious millionaire.
Despite the controversy surrounding their union, the couple remained together until Onassis’ death in 1975. They did not have any children together, but both had children from their previous marriages.
Introduction To The Onassis-Kennedy Marriage
The marriage between Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy was one of the most talked-about events of the late 1960s. At the time of their marriage, Onassis was a wealthy businessman, while Jackie Kennedy was a well-known public figure and former First Lady of the United States. The couple’s age difference, as well as Onassis’ controversial reputation, made their union a topic of much debate.
Despite the controversies surrounding their marriage, the couple remained together until Onassis’ death in 1975. While they did not have any children together, both had children from their previous marriages. In this article, we will explore the details of the Onassis-Kennedy marriage and examine the circumstances that led to their union.
Aristotle Onassis: A Shipping Magnate’s Rise To Fame
Aristotle Onassis was born in 1906 in Karataş, a suburb of the port city of Smyrna (now İzmir, Turkey). His father, Socrates Onassis, was a successful shipping entrepreneur who sent his children to prestigious schools. When Aristotle graduated from the local Evangelical Greek School at the age of 16, he spoke four languages: Greek (his native language), Turkish, Spanish, and English.
Onassis’ rise to fame began when he inherited his father’s shipping business and expanded it into a global empire. He became known as a shrewd businessman and was able to secure lucrative contracts with major oil companies. His wealth and success allowed him to indulge in a lavish lifestyle, owning multiple properties around the world and hosting extravagant parties on his private yacht.
However, Onassis’ personal life was marked by instability and scandal. He had a tumultuous marriage to Athina Livanos, a daughter of a Greek shipping magnate, and had many extramarital affairs, including one with the famous Greek opera singer Maria Callas. Despite their fame and wealth, Onassis and Livanos were reportedly unhappy together and divorced after 15 years of marriage.
In October 1968, Onassis shocked the world when he married Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The marriage sent shockwaves through American culture and made Onassis an even more prominent public figure. However, rumors circulated that their marriage was troubled, with Onassis continuing to have affairs with other women.
Onassis’ life took a tragic turn when his beloved son Alexander died in a plane crash in 1973 at the age of 24. This event devastated Onassis and reportedly contributed to his declining health. He died two years later in Paris of bronchial pneumonia, a complication of myasthenia gravis.
Despite his controversial personal life, Onassis’ legacy as a shipping magnate and businessman continues to be remembered. His empire paved the way for modern shipping practices and his wealth and influence made him a prominent figure in the world of international business.
Jackie Kennedy: A Life In The Public Eye
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was a prominent American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor. She is widely known as the First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, during the presidency of her husband, John F. Kennedy. Jackie was born on July 28, 1929, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French literature from George Washington University in 1951.
Jackie’s dedication to preserving the historic White House and her campaigns to restore historic landmarks and architecture made her a popular First Lady. Her interest in American history, culture, and arts was evident throughout her life. Jackie’s fluency in French, Italian, and Spanish made her very popular abroad, and she traveled to many countries during her tenure as First Lady.
After the assassination of her husband in 1963, Jackie and her children largely withdrew from public view. But she remained a public figure and continued to be a frequent target of paparazzi and tabloids until her death. In 1968, she married Aristotle Onassis after knowing him for several years. The marriage caused controversy due to the age difference between the two.
Following Onassis’s death in 1975, Jackie had a career as a book editor in New York City. She worked at Viking Press and later at Doubleday, where she restored her public image. Jackie also maintained her interest in the arts and landmark preservation. She played an important role in saving Grand Central Terminal in New York City during the 1970s.
Jackie’s constant companion during the last 12 years of her life was Maurice Tempelsman, a Belgian-born diamond dealer. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1994, Jackie died in her New York City apartment. She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery beside President Kennedy and their two children who had predeceased them.
Even after her death, Jackie remains one of the most popular and recognizable First Ladies in American history. Surveys of historians conducted periodically by the Siena College Research Institute since 1982 have consistently found her to be among the most highly regarded First Ladies.
The Couple’s First Meeting And Initial Attraction
The details of Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy’s first meeting and initial attraction are not widely known, but it is believed that they met through mutual friends in the mid-1960s. At the time, Jackie was still mourning the loss of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, who had been assassinated in 1963.
It is said that Onassis was immediately drawn to Jackie’s elegance and sophistication, while she was intrigued by his wealth and charm. They began a friendship that eventually turned into a romantic relationship.
Despite their different backgrounds and lifestyles, the couple found common ground in their love of travel, culture, and the finer things in life. They were often seen together at social events and on luxurious vacations around the world.
Their relationship was not without its challenges, however. Onassis’ daughter Christina reportedly did not approve of Jackie and believed that she was cursed due to the assassinations of her husband and brother-in-law. Nevertheless, the couple remained committed to each other until the end.
The Controversy Surrounding Their Relationship
The age difference between Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy was not the only controversy surrounding their relationship. Many fans of the former First Lady were shocked and dismayed by the idea of her marrying Onassis, who had a shady reputation and a history of scandal.
Onassis had been indicted by the U.S. Government for fraud in the early ’60s and had been divorced. He had also carried on an open affair with married opera diva Maria Callas for years. In the US, he was considered to be a vulgar, ambitious millionaire who would do anything to establish himself in the upward corridors of power.
Onassis’ wealth and fame also added to the controversy surrounding their relationship. He was one of the world’s richest and most famous men, with the world’s largest privately-owned shipping fleet. Many speculated that Jackie Kennedy was marrying him for his money and social status.
Despite these controversies, Jackie Kennedy went ahead with the marriage. The couple tied the knot off the coast of Greece on Onassis’ private island of Skorpios. The wedding was not a “fairy tale” affair, but rather a low-key event that caused shock and dismay among the jet-set on both sides of the Atlantic.
In the end, their marriage lasted until Onassis’ death in 1975. Despite the controversies surrounding their relationship, they remained devoted to each other until the very end.
The Private Island Wedding And Extravagant Celebrations
The wedding of Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis was a highly publicized event that took place on the private island of Skorpios, owned by Onassis himself. The ceremony was a traditional Greek Orthodox one, with around 40 close family and friends in attendance.
Jackie’s sister, Lee Radziwill, served as the matron of honor, while Caroline and John Jr., the children of Jackie and her first husband, President John F. Kennedy, participated in the ceremony by holding the candles traditionally held by Greek pages during a marriage.
The wedding was followed by extravagant celebrations that lasted for several days. Guests were treated to lavish meals and drinks, and were entertained by famous musicians and performers. The yacht of Onassis, The Christina, was also used for various events during this time.
Despite the grandeur of the celebrations, the couple managed to keep their wedding private and intimate. The event was not televised or broadcasted to the public, which added to its exclusivity and allure.
The private island wedding and extravagant celebrations were a testament to the wealth and power of Aristotle Onassis, and also marked a new chapter in the life of Jackie Kennedy. The couple’s union may have been controversial, but their wedding was a momentous occasion that will forever be remembered in history.
