What was John F. Kennedy Jr.’s Net Worth?

John F. Kennedy Jr., son of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, was a lawyer, journalist, and magazine publisher with a net worth of $100 million at the time of his death in 1999. He was a popular social figure in Manhattan and worked as a New York City Assistant District Attorney for nearly four years. Kennedy launched George magazine in 1995 and made appearances in film and TV. He married Carolyn Bessette in 1996.

Tragically, John F. Kennedy Jr. passed away in July 1999 at the age of 38 in a plane crash. His will listed his assets as worth between $30 and $100 million, and his estate eventually paid $15 million in compensation to the heirs of his wife, Carolyn Bessette, who also died in the crash.

Early Life and Education

John F. Kennedy Jr. was born in Washington, DC in 1960 to John and Jacqueline Kennedy. His older sister is Caroline, and he had a younger brother named Patrick who died shortly after birth. Kennedy spent his early years in the White House, where he received significant media attention. However, his father was assassinated when Kennedy was just three years old, and the family moved to Manhattan shortly thereafter. Kennedy attended Saint David’s School and Collegiate School in Manhattan before finishing his primary education at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts.

After graduating from high school, Kennedy attended Brown University where he co-founded a student discussion group focused on civil rights and gun control. He later spent time in India studying at the University of Delhi before obtaining his JD from the New York University School of Law in 1989.

Kennedy’s Career Path

From 1984 to 1986, Kennedy worked at the New York City Office of Business Development and served as deputy director of the 42nd Street Development Corporation in 1986. He worked as a summer associate at the Los Angeles law firm Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Phillips in 1988 and headed the nonprofit Reaching Up in 1989. After passing the New York bar exam on his third attempt, he worked as a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for nearly four years while also working as a journalist.

Founding of George Magazine

John F. Kennedy Jr. and Michael J. Berman founded the glossy monthly publication George in 1995. The magazine covered politics-as-lifestyle and fashion and featured interviews written by Kennedy. The first issue’s cover image of Cindy Crawford posing as George Washington received criticism. Notable issues included the July 1997 profile of then-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and the September 1997 coverage of the unscrupulous behavior of Kennedy’s cousins, Joseph and Michael.

The Downfall of George Magazine

George Magazine was already struggling in 1997 due to a power struggle between Kennedy and Berman. Berman sold his company shares, leaving Kennedy in charge of all business responsibilities. Despite Kennedy’s efforts, sales of the magazine continued to drop. Following Kennedy’s death, Hachette purchased George, but the magazine ultimately folded in 2001.

Relationships and Tragic Death

During his time at Brown University, Kennedy dated Sally Munro for six years. He also had romantic relationships with actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Daryl Hannah, models Julie Baker and Cindy Crawford, and childhood friend Christina Haag. In 1996, he married fashion publicist Carolyn Bessette.

In 1999, Kennedy, along with his wife and sister-in-law, were reported missing when their plane failed to arrive in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts from New Jersey. Debris and a suitcase belonging to Bessette were recovered from the Atlantic, and the three bodies were found on the ocean floor five days later. They were subsequently cremated, and their ashes were spread off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.

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