Born Christie Lee Hudson on February 2, 1954, Christie Brinkley is an American model, actress, and businesswoman who has gained recognition for her versatile career and ageless beauty.
She gained widespread recognition in the 1970s as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, appearing on more than 500 magazine covers and serving as CoverGirl’s face for 25 years. In addition to modeling, Brinkley pursued careers in acting, writing, art, and activism, supporting the rights of animals and the environment.
Christie Brinkley Spouse
After divorcing four times—Peter Cook, Richard Taubman, Billy Joel, and Jean-François Allaux—the supermodel is still searching for her true love.
Christie even declared once that if she ever found the proper man, she would set aside her “busy” life. The Broadway actress said, “I’d slow it down a little if the right person came along,” in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in July 2017.
She also mentioned that she is still unmarried. But when Christie married French artist Jean-François for the first time in 1973 at the age of 19, her love life took a turn for the better.
After eight years of marriage and without having welcomed any children into their union, the couple filed for divorce in 1981.
Christie later wed Billy as her second husband in 1985. The couple’s first and only child, daughter Alexa Ray Joel, was born in December 1985 to the “Uptown Girl” singer.
Christie fell in love with Richard again after her divorce from Billy occurred in August 1994. Jack Paris Brinkley Cook, Christie’s second child, was born in June 1995 after she and Richard got married in December 1994.
However, Christie and Richard got divorced when Jack was two months old. In 1996, she wed Peter for the fourth time. After Peter adopted Jack, Jack adopted the last name Brinkley-Cook.
Christie didn’t give birth to her previous child, model Sailor Brinkley-Cook, until July 1998. Sadly, despite spending a decade together, she and Peter were unable to make their relationship work.
Discover more about each of Christie’s four spouses by scrolling below!
Jean-François Allaux (1973-1981)
Christie tied the knot with the guy who would become her first husband when she was only a teenager. At the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Jean is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Design.
But over the years, his artwork has also been included in a number of prestigious journals. Jean-François has no publicly available photographs.
Billy Joel (1985 to 1994)
Christie’s second marriage to the renowned musician and creative force behind classics like “Piano Man” and “New York State of Mind” is the most well-known of her unions. They lasted for nine years.
Like her father, their daughter Alexa Ray followed in his footsteps as a singer, occasionally sharing the stage with him at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. In fact, Alexa Ray exclusively told Closer Weekly that if Billy consented, she would sing a duet with her father at her forthcoming wedding to restaurateur Ryan Gleason since their vocals blend so well together.
Richard Taubman (1994-1995)
The real estate developer proposed to Christie while she was still legally wed to her second husband, which was a highly audacious move. However, the model married in Colorado after gaining her freedom, and they split up in 1995. In addition, Richard sings and takes pictures.
Peter Halsey Cook (1996-2008)
Christie married architect Peter Cook for the last and most prolonged time. Billy even attended the couple’s lovely 1996 wedding when they walked down the aisle. Nevertheless, the former couple isn’t really close to each other now, despite their lavish wedding.
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Christie Brinkley’s Children
Despite having a fantastic career, Christie Brinkley is most proud of becoming a mother to her three children. Now that Brinkley’s children are adults, some of them have even followed in her footsteps and are working in some capacity in the entertainment world. The National Lampoon’s Vacation actor has taken pleasure in witnessing each of them forge their path throughout the years.
Discover all there is to know about Christie Brinkley’s three children by reading on:
Alexa Ray Joel, 38
In 1985, Brinkley and her second husband, Billy Joel, had their first child, Alexa Ray Joel. They divorced in 1994 and had no additional children. Alexa is a talented singer-songwriter from her father’s music. She has published several songs and performed with her renowned dad. Alexa debuted “Seven Years.” in 2021.
Alexa told PEOPLE her dad was proud of her after the song’s release. “[Joel] called me right away,” Alexa remembered her dad’s song reaction. “He’s quiet, but he said, ‘Honey, this is amazing!’ and I thought, ‘Oh, you sound more like my mother. So excited!”
She also said her parents’ love of Broadway shaped her. “I was the only child when I was young,” they stated. “My parents dressed me like Sound of Music’s Liesl. My dad played. We repeated that all day.”
Alexa produced a vintage-inspired music video for “Seven Years,” a love song to her fiancé Ryan Gleason. She told PEOPLE that on hearing the song, “he started crying.” she said, “It narrates both the highs and lows of my relationship, with an overarching message of hope … and pangs of reeling vulnerability and melancholia throughout.”
Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook, 28
Brinkley and her then-husband Richard Taubman had their second child, son Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook, on June 2, 1995(they married in 1994 and divorced in 1996 when Jack was a few months old). Peter Cook, Brinkley’s fourth husband, adopted Jack.
Jack is more secretive than Brinkley’s daughters, who follow in her footsteps. He rarely publishes on social media and doesn’t work in entertainment. He rarely participates in family photoshoots or press interviews. He participated in his family’s 2017 PEOPLE World’s Most Beautiful spread.
Although he doesn’t enjoy cameras, Jack has his mom’s adventurous attitude. “I think that the main thing I got from my mom was a sense of adventure,” Jack said. The ocean is perhaps my favorite thing. I surf, sail, swim. I guess I’ve learned everything about the water from her since she loves it.”
Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 25
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She posed naked for Sports Illustrated’s “In Her Own Words” campaign in 2018. Working with her friends made her feel comfortable being nude in front of the cameras, she told PEOPLE. “It’s like we’re in the locker room or something.”
The sailor’s supermodel mother gave her lots of good advice when she started modeling. Her best tip for being on set is to be excellent. I introduce myself to everyone in the room. The sailor told PEOPLE in February 2023 that he always acknowledged everyone in the room. “Because I mean, my job is almost pretty much the easiest.”
Adds, “That’s what she taught me, is to really acknowledge my surroundings while I’m in it and not be a diva and have fun with the creatives that I’m working with.”
