Who Was Aristotle Onassis Wife
Aristotle Onassis was married twice. His first wife was Athina Mary Livanos, an heiress from a prominent Greek shipping family. His second wife was Jacqueline Kennedy, the former First Lady of the United States. Onassis also had a long-term relationship with opera singer Maria Callas, though they never married. He had one child, Alexander Onassis, from his first marriage. Forbes details his early shipping career.
Onassis and Athina Livanos married in 1946 and divorced in 1960. He later married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. The marriage drew global media attention because of her status as a former First Lady. Onassis died in 1975, leaving a complex estate that involved his daughter Christina Onassis and his widow Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Britannica provides a full biography of his life.
Marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy
Marriage Timeline
Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis on October 20, 1968, in Skorpios, Greece. The wedding was a private ceremony. Onassis was 62 years old; Jacqueline was 39. The marriage lasted until his death in 1975. The couple spent significant time on his private island of Skorpios and on his yacht, the Christina O.
Public and Media Reaction
The marriage was met with intense media scrutiny. Many public figures and members of the Kennedy family expressed disapproval. Jacqueline faced criticism for the timing of the marriage, which came just a year after the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. Despite the controversy, the marriage provided her with financial security and privacy.
Christina Onassis and the Onassis Estate
Christina Onassis Inheritance
Christina Onassis was the only child of Aristotle Onassis and Athina Livanos. She inherited a substantial portion of the Onassis fortune, including shares in the shipping company Onassis Maritime Co. and the island of Skorpios. Christina became a major figure in European business and society. She died in 1988 at the age of 37.
Legacy and Current Status
The Onassis legacy continues through the Onassis Foundation, established by Aristotle Onassis in 1975. The foundation supports education, arts, and culture in Greece. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis later worked as an editor at Doubleday in New York. The history of the Onassis marriages remains a subject of public interest and is documented by financial and biographical sources.