The Richest Family In US Couldn't Buy Their Way Out Of This Scandal

Poor Little Rich Girl, The Duchess of Denim, Anderson Cooper's Mom — no matter what you call her, you've heard of Gloria Vanderbilt. The railroad heiress-turned-fashion dynamo made headlines from the day she was born. She still does, even after being laid to rest. Some may think her long successful life was made easy by trust funds, but Gloria suffered wounds that no amount of money could heal — before she could even speak, her life was open to speculation. So don't let the glamour fool you: being born into the world of the ultra-wealthy doesn't shield anyone from lasting trauma.

A life of distinction

From the moment she was born, Gloria was heaped with praise. Her father, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, cried out, "It is fantastic how Vanderbilt she looks! See the corners of her eyes, how they turn up?" No one would ever question her belonging to the old money club.

Born into scandal

The newest addition to America's richest family received every trapping of the uber-wealthy, but at just two years old, the death of Gloria's father set off a pattern of events that led to a high-profile scandal.

Silver spoon

Toddler Gloria was sitting on an inheritance of a $2.5 million trust fund. That might seem like a low amount, but today that would be roughly $33 million. Now a single mother, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt whisked her namesake daughter from NYC to Europe.

Plenty of attention

While mother Gloria traveled all over Europe, rubbing elbows with royals, her daughter was relegated to the care of her nanny. What followed was a high society rumpus worthy of even today's tabloid news.