Inside Lauren Bacall’s Stunning $26 Million Central Park Apartment

The Most Expensive Real Estate in New York

Bacall passed away in 2015, a month shy of her 90th birthday, leaving behind an amazing Central Park apartment. When the home hit the market, insiders and fans finally got an inside look of the apartment Lauren called home. The apartments surrounding Central Park are some of New York City’s most expensive properties. Lauren had the luxury of calling one of these mansions home for 53 years! Following her death, the apartment went up for auction at the price of $26 million!

The Most Expensive Real Estate in New York

A Nine-Room Estate

The flat is located in the historical Dakota building on the Upper West Side. The large nine-room apartment doesn’t feel like an apartment at all, rather an entire house placed inside of the gorgeous architecture of the Dakota Building. As you would expect from a Hollywood star, the master bedroom is 22 feet wide and is connected to a private study, bathroom, and walk-in closet. The apartment’s balcony overlooks Central Park, so you can just imagine what springtime is like in the estate, a total dream!

A Nine-Room Estate

Rustic Red and Royal Blues

Of course, the kitchen is far beyond your average New York City kitchen. It is an eat-in kitchen that opens up into a 24 by 19-foot dining room and family room. Lauren’s dining room brings French elements together with a perfect color palette, both rustic reds and deep blues are found in the small details of the upholstery, furniture, and, the art featured in the room. The wall hanging may seem like a simple poster, but it is The Bell Époque French by Jules Cheret, sold for a whopping $7,000.

Rustic Red and Royal Blues

French-Inspired Design

The actress and singer was a fan of French-inspired design, a preference that is evident in her furniture choices. In addition to the poster hanging in her dining room, Bacall had several other French posters hanging on the room’s other walls. She complemented the posters with fine collectible china that she hung next to the framed posters. The decorative lamps are pieces are scattered throughout the rooms of her home.

French-Inspired Design

An 18th Century Piece

It’s no secret that Lauren was partial to French design, but that doesn’t mean that she didn’t admire art from other countries and periods as well. One of the more important items in her home was her antique George III oak Welsh dresser, from the late 18th century, a piece that held her collection of fine china. Though George III style furniture typically uses mahogany, the dresser was made from oak – a unique choice for pieces from that time.

An 18th Century Piece

The Master Bedroom

It seems as though Bacall saved the pop of color for her own bedroom. Considering most of the rooms in the estate are blue, brown, and white, it’s surprising that Bacall chose lavender and pink tones for her own room – colors that aren’t seen anywhere else in her apartment. Other than the gallery wall behind the bed, the room has a clear view of Central Park. Imagine opening your morning to a panoramic view of the green and beautiful Central Park!

The Master Bedroom

The Master Suite

As you may have already noticed, Bacall liked to fill every inch of a room with collectibles, furniture, and art. Surprisingly enough, the master suite is the only room where something new is placed. Adjacent to her decked out fireplace, there appears to be a very modern-looking tongue. The grey couch adds a cozy touch to this room, and behind it, you’ll see a bookcase full of books and collectibles. We would give anything to relax with some reading while enjoying this fireplace!

The Master Suite

Gallery Walls

To the right side of the fireplace of the master suite, there is the perfect display of Bacall’s collection of decorative candlesticks and artwork. The theme of these framed portraits is ships and floral designs. Bacall loved using accents of color. The walls of the apartment are 13 feet high, so it makes sense that Bacall would want to fill the space with art. The apartment was catered to an art collector seeing as there’s a lot of art that seems synonymous with the house’s existence.

Gallery Walls

The Guest Bedroom

Another interesting, yet the unsurprising choice of color, Lauren chose bright and sunny, yellow walls. Above the bed hangs a very pricey 1920s Spanish art piece. The piece, which depicts a woman holding a basket full of fruit, was painted by Andrew Segovia and sold for a staggering $18,750 at auction. Though the walls are a cheerful shade of yellow, the bedspread and rug are a shade of sky blue. In the right corner of the room, you will notice a unique, shelving piece that adds an interesting touch to the room’s style.

The Guest Bedroom

Palettes of Blue

Even when the styling of a room was formal. Bacall knew how to paint a room the perfect shade to add that extra chic touch. She chose to paint the living room a gorgeous shade of robin’s egg blue — which brightens up the entire room and works with the room’s natural light. The collection of blue accents tie the room together, everything from statutes on the fireplace to her gorgeous couches.

Palettes of Blue

Her Baby Grand-Piano

And of course, what’s a luxurious New York apartment without a grand piano? Bacall’s piano is by Mason & Hamlin, a premier New England based piano company that was founded in 1854. The piano sold for $6,875 through the original value was likely much more. Although we’re sure it sounded great, it doesn’t seem like Lauren was playing much in her old age. The piano became more of a display table for her old family photos.

Her Baby Grand-Piano

Perfectly Accented Couches

These comfortable couches were chosen to accent her living room’s wall color. Patterned furniture is often hard to pull off, but these really pull the room together. The white contrasts the dark wood of the fireplace and coffee table perfectly. Bacall’s apartment holds five working fireplaces, a rare occurrence, especially in a New York City property. This living room fireplace is accented with a deer head above its mantle – a nod to her love of wildlife.

Perfectly Accented Couches

French Style Mirrors & Antique Dressers

Each one of Bacall’s apartment’s rooms is massive, allowing her to hold an impressive collection of antique furniture. This room features an ornate French-style mirror that rests on a Regence Provincial Walnut Commode, a mid-18th-century piece that sold for nearly four thousand dollars. The room also has an antique desk that was sold for $5,000. The Louis XV provincial bureau was crafted from walnut in the mid-to-late18th century and complimented the room’s wooden floors.

French Style Mirrors & Antique Dressers

Her Private Gallery

Bacall lived in her great apartment from when she was about 36 years old until she was 89. Her life’s story is documented throughout the apartment – though art and antiques. Her home is a gallery, full of beauty and character. The perfectly curated art in her house looks like somewhat of a museum. Every inch of wall space is covered in framed art, from expensive paintings and photographs to simple prints.

Her Private Gallery

American White Pelican

Her furniture was worth a fortune but what was even more intriguing was the value of Bacall’s art. This original print of American White Pelican by James Audubon sold for $173,000. Audubon gravitated towards painting birds in their natural habitats, and this print truly showcases his talent. The artist is most widely known for his color-plate book called The Birds of America, which is one of the first ornithological works ever published. Throughout his life, Audubon identified 25 new species of birds!

American White Pelican

Louis XIII Walnut Fauteuils

What is the most you would ever spend on a pair of chairs? Even if you were one of the world’s most avid furniture connoisseurs, you would probably not spend as much as Lauren Bacall did. Her antique Louis XIII-style chairs were in excellent condition, and they made a great addition to her already beautifully styled home. The chairs sold for $1,875 and featured veneer turned wood and moldings. The blue stitching on the upholstery was brought out nicely against her blue walls.

Louis XIII Walnut Fauteuils

Vintage Louis Vuitton Luggage

Every celeb has their selection of Louis Vuitton luggage. The company was founded in 1854 and has become one of the world’s most luxurious designer names. With Bacall’s timeless taste, it comes as no surprise that she had a set of monogrammed Louis Vuitton luggage. A single bag can cost nearly two grand, and considering Bacall’s is vintage, it’s exceedingly rare and costly. Her collection of designer luggage was sold for a whopping $37,500!

Vintage Louis Vuitton Luggage

Betty Joan Perske

Although it may seem like her apartment is filled with art and furniture, it also has pieces of Hollywood history. But of course, she owned her personal director’s chair that was sold for nearly five grand in the auction. Betty Joan Perske who changed her name to Lauren Bacall, debuted in To Have and Have Not — and started her legacy in Hollywood. She’s done it all, from working alongside Marilyn Monroe to acting as a voice in Family Guy — Bacall loved the industry.

Betty Joan Perske

Her Girls

Lauren had an eye for amazing works of art after she passed, three bronze sculptures were auctioned off at more than $30,000. The sculptures were created by Robert Graham, who was famous for his design of the entrance gates for the 1984 Olympics. Bacall and Graham met through actress Anjelica Houston – Bacall’s close friend and Graham’s wife. Bacall fell in love with his portrayal of the female form. The art remained in Lauren’s foyer for years, and she loved referring to them as “her girls.”

Her Girls

Her Favorite Pieces

Towards the end of her life, Lauren Bacall sat down with Vanity Fair as she discussed her outstanding career and how her New York apartment had become a map of memories of times passed. In what would, unfortunately, turn into one of her last interviews, Lauren opened up about her numerous pieces in her home, made by renowned artists, painters, and sculptors. Among her collection were works by John James Audubon, Max Ernst, David Hockney, Henry Moore, and many more.

Her Favorite Pieces

Cozy Wood Furnishings

One of the themes we’ve seen throughout all nine rooms has been unique wood furniture. Every piece looks like it was specially picked out for the room it was placed in. Many may think that the interior of such a big star’s apartment would be flashy and glamorous – but there is something about Bacall’s apartment that is homey and cozy. The apartment looks like a place that has been lived in, Bacall managed to make it a home rather than a stage to be admired from afar.

Cozy Wood Furnishings

Her Views of Central Park

New York City real estate prices increase drastically if you have a view – and few landscapes are more desired than that of Central Park. Bacall’s apartment has approximately 100 feet of Central Park scenery. This means that half of the apartment has one of the best views in all of New York City — an essential part of Lauren’s connection to New York. In a 1978 issue of French Vogue, Bacall said, “Outside that window lies Central Park; my relief from the city, an important reason to live there.”

Her Views of Central Park

Dakota’s Exterior

The exterior of The Dakota building stood tall on the corner of Central Park West and West 72nd Street. As the city progresses, the building stands tall, holding its history. Overlooking Central Park, it’s safe to say that the preserved building may be one of the most beautiful things about New York City — full of history and the essence of possibilities that come with the city. Over the years, the value of the building has gone up drastically, and it’s easy to understand why!

Dakota’s Exterior

Her Passing

On August 12, 2014, Lauren Bacall passed away after suffering a stroke. Just five weeks shy of her 90th birthday, the legend passed away at her Dakota apartment where she lived for more than 50 years. When word of her death spread, fans decorated the iron gate outside of Bacall’s apartment with roses, paying their respects. Over the weeks following her passing, fans from all over the world visited her apartment building, showing their appreciation to one of the Golden Age’s biggest actresses.

Her Passing

Hollywood Walk of Fame

After her passing in 2014, fans decorated her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with flowers, stuffed animals, and other various items that reminded them of Bacall. In 1960, actress Lauren Bacall was honored with a star that can be visited on 1724 Vine Street. The grieving fans were added to hear the news of her passing and made their way to the star to honor one of Hollywood’s last Golden Era actresses.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Vanity Fair Interview

One of the last interviews Lauren ever gave was from her Dakota apartment. She was interviewed in 2011 by Matt Trynauer for Vanity Fair. The actress did not hold back in the interview revealing intimate details of her life, as one of the last-remaining actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Era. In her heartfelt and honest interview, she spoke candidly about the effect of husband, Humphrey Bogart’s fame had on their relationship and children. In addition to talking about her marriage and career, she spoke openly about secrets from her personal life.

Vanity Fair Interview

Whirlwind Romance With Frank Sinatra

During the interview, Bacall revealed that after her husband passed away, she quickly jumped into a relationship with the famous actor and singer-songwriter, Frank Sinatra. They had what you could call a whirlwind romance to the point that Sinatra proposed. However, when rumors of the engagement were leaked to the media, Sinatra became distressed and called off the engagement altogether. According to Bacall herself, it was “an awful time for me, there’s no way I could have been thinking straight. Even then it might have worked if Frank had been more sure of himself…but he wasn’t.”

Whirlwind Romance With Frank Sinatra

Marriage to Jason Robards

Following her short-lived relationship with Sinatra, Bacall met and began dating actor Jason Robards. When they tried to get married in July of ’61, the two of them faced a ton of issues due to Robards’ “quickie” divorce in which the actor signed an affidavit stating he was officially divorced from his former wife on May 22nd, 1961. After traveling to Austria and getting denied a marriage license, Bacall and Robards set out to Las Vegas only for the same thing to happen again. Finally, the couple was able to marry after traveling to Mexico though they divorced eight years and one child later.

Marriage to Jason Robards

Boxer Dogs

When Lauren Bacall married Humphrey Bogart in ’45, she was only 19 years old while he was 45 — 26 years her senior! Naturally, this age gap caused many to wonder what these two could possibly have in common. Well, for starters, they both had an obsession with dogs being that they both had grown up with a variety of pups. Bacall and Bogart actually received a Boxer as a wedding gift and it’s safe to say that the two of them fell in love with that breed of dog.

Boxer Dogs

Meet Harvey

According to the actress herself, she and Bogart named their new pup “Harvey, after the invisible rabbit. He was really smart. He knew he wasn’t allowed to get on the furniture so he would only put two paws on at a time, and he would sit between us if we had a fight.” It wasn’t long before Lauren and Bogart had three Boxer dogs. Here in this photo, Lauren’s relaxing as Bogart and son Stephen read a magazine on the floor. Harvey, George, and Baby — their three dogs — lay together.

Meet Harvey

Pampered Papillion, Sophie

Although Bogart and Bacall shared three boxers together, the actress ended up adopting a Cocker Spaniel after her husband passed away. Just six months after that, their beloved Boxer — Harvey — passed. Bacall’s last dog, though, was a pampered Papillion pup named Sophie. Bacall absolutely worshipped Sophie so much so that she left $10,000 to her canine companion. The money went to Bacall’s youngest son, Sam Robards, to ensure that the beloved pup continues to live in the manner she’s accustomed to. Don’t worry, though. The star also split up her $26 million estate between her three children.

Pampered Papillion, Sophie

Bonhams’ Highest-Profile Auction

In March of 2015, the Bonhams New York auction hall held a two-day, 20-hour marathon auction for Lauren Bacall’s belongings. More than 1,500 bidders from 34 different countries took part in Bonhams’ the highest-profile auction of the season. A few days prior to the auction, however, photographers and videographers began documenting everything that filled her glorious apartment. Anyone who was actually lucky enough to purchase one of Bacall’s possessions was undoubtedly happy to have a piece of history.

Bonhams’ Highest-Profile Auction

“Bogie” Statue

There’s no denying that Bacall had quite a fruitful career in her own right. Still, tons of people gravitated towards her projects with her late husband Humphrey Bogart. With that being said, it doesn’t come as such a shock that amongst Bacall’s eclectic art collection was this statue of ‘Bogie.’ The bronze statue depicts Bogart as Rick Blaine from Casablanca, which was released in 1942. This sculpture was just one of the many pieces that was auctioned off after Bacall’s passing. Although it sold for an undisclosed amount, it was valued at $800.

“Bogie” Statue

Aaron Shikler Portraits

It’s really no secret that actress Lauren Becall loved art. After all, the actress was a cultivated collector of art and antiques, her pursuits often sparked by personal experiences. In any event, this piece — made by artist Aaron Shikler — was inspired by Bacall herself. Shikler, who was famously known for his official White House portraits of John F. Kennedy and Jackie-O, was also popular amongst many elite social groups. With that being said, he also often did portraits of celebrities. Shikler even did portraits of Bacall’s children but they kept those for their personal collections.

Aaron Shikler Portraits

Turkish Carpet

It comes as no surprise that Bacall’s collection of vintage housewares weren’t sold at very cheap prices. While it was clearly in used condition, Bacall’s Turkish carpet was still sold at the auction for $2,250. Despite its name, there’s actually no one culture that can claim these carpets. In turns out that they actually derived from the multi-ethnic, multi-religious traditions of the former Ottoman Empire. With that, it makes sense as to why these carpets have been found everywhere from Siberia to Egypt to Transylvania.

Turkish Carpet

Massive Jewelry Collection

Bonhams New York auction hall was responsible for Bacall’s estate after her death, which included the actress’s massive jewelry collection. There were reportedly 32 lots of jewelry alone that was put up for bid at the auction, drawing the interest from people around the globe. As mentioned before, the auction lasted a record-breaking 20 hours and brought in a whopping $503,625 for the jewelry alone. While Bacall’s jewel collection did garner more than the estimated value, Susan Abeles — Bonham director of jewelry — stated that “the estimates were regular market values. It’s impossible to calculate the value of provenance.”

Massive Jewelry Collection

18-Karat Gold Ear Clips

One of the most valuable and desired pieces from Bacall’s jewel collection was a pair of gem-set, 18-karat gold ear clips. Designed by Montures Schlumberger in France, each ear clip was specially designed as a gold latticework plaque. They were emblazoned with emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts. The award-winning actress famously wore these ear clips the night she accepted an Oscar for her performance in The Mirror Has Two Faces. Although the clips were estimated at $12,000, they were ultimately sold for $52,500.

18-Karat Gold Ear Clips

Personalized Tiffany’s Necklace

Aside from her bedazzled ear clips, Bacall also owned a personalized Tiffany’s necklace. When auctioneers first found the piece, they noticed individual letters engraved on each of the hearts. Since they couldn’t figure out what the necklace said, they handed it over to Bonham’s jewelry department who cracked the code — “To my own beautiful star from her proud director Ron.” While it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s believed that the necklace was a gift from Ron Field, Bacall’s director in the 1970 musical Applause. Although the necklace was estimated to sell for $9,000, it was eventually sold for over $52,5000.

Personalized Tiffany’s Necklace

Her Style Was Her Own

Perhaps one of the most breathtaking pieces of jewelry that Bacall owned was a bracelet made by French designer Jean Schlumberger. Not only is it made from 18 karats of gold but it also features a series of blue paillone enamel panels with polished gold bar detail. Just from looking at Bacall’s collection, it’s clear that the actress had an amazing sense of style. According to Susan Abeles, “Ms. Bacall’s style was unmistakably her own — and it continues to influence design and fashion to this day.”

Her Style Was Her Own

Rosemary Clooney

Lauren Bacall’s apartment in The Dakota was absolutely magnificent but she was hardly the first celeb to reside there. Aunt to Hollywood’s silver fox George Clooney, Rosemary Clooney was a singer and actress. Although she first gained recognition during the ’50s with hits like “Come On-a My House” and “Mambo Italiano,” the singer’s career began to later around the 1960s. In 1977, though, Clooney made a comeback when her White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby asked her to accompany him to a show that was meant to mark his 50th anniversary in show business.

Rosemary Clooney

Judy Garland

Judy Garland was yet another major star that lived in The Dakota at one point. Garland’s former 19th-century home at The Dakota has seven wood-burning fireplaces and is on the market for $16.75 million. The 4,7000 square foot-apartment features three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, 13-foot ceilings, and generously spacious rooms that flawlessly flow from one to the other. Not only does it include a formal dining room that overlooks the building’s central courtyard but the apartment also has a library and an elegant living room with French doors.

Judy Garland

John Lennon

It’s really no secret that one of the most well-known residents of the building was legendary singer-songwriter John Lennon. Regarded as one of the greatest musicians of all time, Lennon was actually living at The Dakota at the time of his tragic death. In December of 1980, the activist and co-founder of the Beatles was killed in the archway of the building by Mark David Chapman. Since then, The Dakota has become a tourist attraction for people to come and pay their respects to the memory of John Lennon.

John Lennon

Maury Povich

Maury Povich, now 81 years old, is a TV personality who’s best known for his tabloid talk show Maury. His career began when he initially became a radio reporter for WWDC. By the late ’80s, though, he gained national fame as the host of tabloid infotainment television show A Current Affair. In 1991, Povich co-produced The Maury Povich Show, which was later rebranded as Maury. Today, he resides in The Dakota with his wife, Connie Chung who’s a television news anchor.

Maury Povich

Gilda Radner

Gilda Radner was an American comedian and actress best known as one of the seven original cast members — “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” — of the hit NBC sketch comedy Saturday Night Live. In 1979, Radner moved to The Dakota and paid $150,000 for her apartment although she only lived there until 1985. A few years later, in 1989, the award-winning actress passed away from ovarian cancer. Still, there’s no denying that her memory has continued to live on throughout the years.

Gilda Radner

John Madden

John Madden, now 84 years old, is a former sportscaster and football coach for the NFL. In 1977, Madden won a Superbowl as coach of the Oakland Raiders and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Once he retired from coaching, Madden moved on to commentating for NFL telecasts. With that kind of career, there’s no denying that Madden’s rolling in the dough so it makes sense as to why he bought Gilda Radner’s Dakota apartment in 1985. Although he bought it for $625,000, Madden ultimately sold it in 2013 for $3.9 million.

John Madden

The Life of Cheryl Tiegs Told Through Rare Vintage Photos

A supermodel, actress, and fashion designer in equal measures, Cheryl Tiegs won the hearts of many over the years through both her looks and talents. Let us take a look at the life of Cheryl Tiegs through a variety of vintage photos.

Small Screen Debut

Besides cover pages, Cheryl Tiegs shined on screen too. She debuted as an actor in ABC’s drama Moonlighting (1986) with a cameo performance. Tiegs also did many guest appearances on shows like NBC’s Just Shoot Me (2000-2002) and the web series Children’s Hospital (2015).

Small Screen Debut

Who’s That Girl?

Cheryl Tiegs was born on September 25, 1947, in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Breckenridge is quite near “The World’s Biggest Catfish,” which is a tourist attraction in North Dakota. She was born to Phyllis and Theodore Tiegs and her father was an auto-assembly lineman. However, he decided to change his career route and become a funeral director. Cheryl’s career as a model only began when she decided to move to California in 1952 and pose for an ad for a swimsuit manufacturer. The rest is history!

Who’s That Girl?

Move to California

Cheryl Tiegs’ family moved to California when she was five years old. They lived in Alhambra, a suburb in Los Angeles. It was only a stone’s throw away from the iconic Sunset Boulevard! This move to California gave Tiegs the opportunity for a glamorous life. Tiegs attended the Alhambra High School there. When she was a senior at high school, she posed for a swimsuit ad for Cole of California, which is a bathing suit company.

Move to California

The Beginning of Her Career

Cheryl Tiegs’ work for Cole of California at the age of 17 literally changed her life. The company ran a massive ad push across many platforms. They also published the ad in several magazines to raise awareness and brand promotion. One of them was Seventeen magazine. This ad appearing in such a popular magazine launched her career and gave her impressive exposure. There was no turning back for Cheryl Tiegs after that!

The Beginning of Her Career

Her Big Break

After she initially dipped her toe in the modeling world with an ad for a swimsuit manufacturer, it was Cheryl Tiegs’ work with Glamour magazine that launched her career for good. An editorial staff member of Glamour magazine took notice of her in the advertisement by Cole Company and requested to hire her immediately. Glamour magazine was, and still is, one of the most esteemed women’s magazines in the world. Tiegs was only seventeen when she got featured on the cover!

Her Big Break

California State University

Like anyone who moves to the dreamy state of California, Tiegs had big dreams! She initially enrolled at California State University in Los Angeles. California State University is actually the largest four-year public university system in the United States. She was majoring in English there. She soon discovered, though, that her passion for the entertainment industry surpassed her love for literature. So, she dropped out of college before her junior year and gave her full attention to her career.

California State University

The Boss Lady

After she gained a stamp of fame in the 1970s, Tiegs turned away from swimsuit modeling full time and channeled her new-found mainstream appeal to designing for her own line for women and girls’ with the American department store Sears in the 1980s. Tiegs was considered to be a multifaceted business woman, who made waves in several industries. Tiegs also had a huge contribution in the retail chain’s turnabout in the 1980s.

The Boss Lady

Starting Young

Tiegs started quite young in the fashion industry and quite by accident. Her friends encouraged her to audition for commercials, which is what helped her jump-start her career. She was also thriving in the entertainment industry when television was still quite young. She appeared on the cover of Glamour magazine at the age of only seventeen. In fact, the staff at the magazine company was so blown away by Tiegs’ beauty that she didn’t even need to do any formal interview before booking her photoshoot for the cover.

Starting Young

Time Magazine Feature

Being featured in TIME magazine is a huge achievement! It was no different for Cheryl Tiegs. TIME magazine hired Tiegs in 1978 to do a cover story about her. It was called “The All American Model.” She went on to be featured in TIME magazine two more times; a total of three features! She also had a total of four People magazine covers under her bag throughout her career.

Time Magazine Feature

The Sports Girl

Cheryl Tiegs is an icon in the sports fashion industry. She was featured four times on the cover of Sports Illustrated throughout her career. Because of her illustrious career with the magazine, Tiegs was added into their “Hall of Fame”. It was the magazine’s 40th anniversary and Tiegs was inducted for modeling in 2004. Men’s Health magazine and People magazine also mentioned her for her immense career in the industry and for her huge contribution.

The Sports Girl

Cover Girl in Her Fifties

Age never managed to stop Cheryl Tiegs from excelling at what she does. Her love for being a cover girl was not limited to her youth. She posed in a bikini for the cover of More magazine even in 2001. She was 54 at that time. Tiegs earned a lot of praise for defying the glaring ageism in the industry and breaking the age barrier in the fashion, beauty and fitness industry.

Cover Girl in Her Fifties

The African Queen

Tiegs sure had a fascinating life. She met legendary photographer Peter Beard in 1978 and decided to travel to Kenya with him in 1979. It was a photographic expedition to study and investigate the devastation of African wildlife. A documentary was made on their journey called Africa: End of the Game. This phenomenal documentary ended up winning an Emmy award. Look magazine crowned Tiegs “The New African Queen” in 1979 when they ran a cover story on her expedition. She also posed for the cover of Outside magazine in 1980.

The African Queen

She Is a Doll!

Cheryl Tiegs was made into a doll! Matchbox Industries created a doll in her honor in 1989. The celebrity doll depicts Tiegs as a model wearing a pink and white dress. It was a part of their “Real Model Collection.” The collection also includes Christie Brinkley and Beverly Johnson. The company sought to boost the self-confidence of young girls. The series was reviewed as “The Most Beautiful Girls in the World.” Tiegs donated 20% of the profits from the doll to Make A Wish Foundation.

She Is a Doll!

Celebrity Apprentice

After her dazzling career in modeling throughout three decades, Tiegs made a return into the lives of the average Americans in 2012 – but this time as a reality TV star. Tiegs appeared in the celebrity reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice as a contestant alongside the likes of comedian, Arsenio Hall. In this show, she used her entrepreneurial business skills to wow the competition. All the proceedings she won during the show were donated to the Farrah Fawcett Foundation.

Celebrity Apprentice

Tiegs the Philanthropist

Tiegs was an earnest supporter of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation. She is a member of the Board of Directors of C.O.A.C.H. for Kids. Tiegs is still an ardent advocate and spokesperson for a private, non-profit clinical research center, graduate medical school and hospital called City of Hope in Duarte, California. Not only that, but she also serves as an ambassador for planned parenthood. Tiegs has also contributed and supported causes such as the Macula Vision Research Foundation and I Am Waters.

Tiegs the Philanthropist

The Environmental Activist

Cheryl Tiegs is a long-time environmental conservationist. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Earth Conservation Corps. The model went on a mission to the Arctic to examine the effects of global warming. She drove a hydrogen-powered car to raise awareness about the concept of zero-energy emission as a part of the General Motors environmental program. She spoke about environmentally conscious living in Planet Green’s reality show Living With Ed, where she made a guest appearance in 2010.

The Environmental Activist

The Fashion Designer

Tiegs wasn’t just good at posing in clothes; she was great at making them too! The model launched a signature collection of clothing and accessories for Sears in 1980. She was the first supermodel to launch her own retail venture. The sales neared $1 billion by 1989! Tiegs also founded “Cheryl Tiegs Sportswear,” which was sold at 700 stores all across America. Revlon also collaborated with Tiegs to develop a line of hair accessories and wigs.

The Fashion Designer

The New York Life

After graduating high school in 1968, Tiegs relocated to the Big Apple in order to further her career in modeling. She had already established herself as a respected model but now wanted to take things to the next level.She definitely bagged some big opportunities! Over the course of her modeling career in the 1960s and 1970s, she’d appear on Seventeen, Elle and Glamour magazines as well as high-fashion publications Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. That’s one seriously impressive portfolio!

The New York Life

Her Bel Air House

Cheryl Tiegs now lives in Los Angeles and has recently listed her first home for sale. Surrounded by ponds and fountains, as well as an array of greenery, the retired supermodel’s Balinese-esque house is one for the ages. Set on 1.44 Bel Air acres, this home, inspired by Balinese decor, is located in a very good neighborhood where some of Hollywood’s finest live. This 4700 square-foot estate, including pool and new amenities, can be yours for only $18.5 million!

Her Bel Air House

Breaking Records

Tiegs set the bar high for all supermodels who came after her! She shined in her career as a model and left everyone starstruck. She made history when she became the first model ever to appear twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. However, she became a pop-culture icon when she posed in a fishnet swimsuit in 1978. She was far from done, though! She also got a $1.5 billion contract with Cover Girl cosmetics, which was the biggest contract ever at that time!

Breaking Records

Early Memories

We all adore our childhood memories. Tiegs is no different. She grew up visiting her grandparent’s farm in Breckenridge, Minnesota. She recalls spending the summer running around barefoot, stealing eggs from the chickens. It looks like her love for nature and adventure stemmed from these very moments spent outdoors! When she is overwhelmed by the spotlight, she enjoys retreating into nature’s beauty and spending time with herself or playing a game of tennis with friends. Nature and Tiegs go a long way back.

Early Memories

Big Screen Debut

As an actress, she made her debut in ABC’s comedy-drama Moonlighting in 1986. Her next appearance was as Lola Valenti in 1995 in an episode of NBC’s The John Larroquette Show but her big-screen debut occurred in the 2003 American independent art-house drama film The Brown Bunny. In the 2016 comedy-horror film Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens, she was cast as Raye Shepard, the mother of Fin Shepard, the male protagonist of the film series.

Big Screen Debut

A Believer of Healthy Lifestyle

A supporter of maintaining peak physical and mental health, Tiegs believes there is a difference between how old you are on paper and how old you actually feel. She remarks, “Chronological age – there’s nothing you can do about that. I’m 52, but I set that number aside.” Tiegs is also a spokesperson for Renewal: A Time for You, a lifestyle program created by Deepak Chopra, as well as for Cambria, a company that produces engineered quartz surfaces.

A Believer of Healthy Lifestyle

MAC Fashion Icon

MAC Cosmetics is probably the most famous makeup brand in the world. Imagine being recognized by this giant company! Cheryl Tiegs did just that. In November 2000, Tiegs was honored as the first MAC Fashion Icon. She received the award at a gala at the Beverly Wilshire for her contributions to the industry and for her role as a pioneer. Being the first Fashion Icon of MAC is quite an achievement!

MAC Fashion Icon

New Mexico Expedition

Tiegs loves traveling. Among her many favorite destinations, she particularly loves going to New Mexico. In the past, the supermodel has spoken of her favorite expedition to New Mexico to visit the Tarahumara Natives. The only way to access the area was to hike in, carrying everything you need on your back. For this, Tiegs hiked for 10 days, which was a hard but wonderful experience. She really does get out there!

New Mexico Expedition

Tiegs’ Net Worth

Tiegs, like many international celebrities, has a taste for the finer things in life. Her extensive career has allowed her to amass a fashion line and other assets, including jewelry – an empire worth over $30 million. In May 1996, Cheryl spent an undisclosed amount to buy a 1.5-acre property in Bel Air, California. As previously mentioned, she has tried to sell the house a number of times over the years. The model first listed it for $12 million in 2013. She then tried offloading it for $15 million in 2015. In September 2019, she listed the property again for $18 million.

Tiegs’ Net Worth

Tiegs’ Love Life

Like so many of her contemporaries, Cheryl Tiegs has been married multiple times in her life. From 1970-79, she was married to advertising executive Stan Dragoti. A couple of years later, she tied the knot with photographer Peter Bear. She was also married to Gregory Peck’s son Anthony as well as yoga instructor Rod Stryker. She doesn’t want to marry again. Tiegs is grateful for the marriages she has had and recognizes her ex-husbands’ contributions in her life. Although she is open to relationships, she says marriage is officially off the table.

Tiegs’ Love Life

Gregory Peck’s Daughter-in-Law

It’s amazing to think that at one point in her career, Cheryl Tiegs was the daughter-in-law of the one and only, Gregory Peck. Out of all of the men she was married to, this was arguably the one that fans remember the most. After tying the knot with Anthony Peck, this meant that Tiegs was part of Hollywood royalty. Gregory Peck, of course, was the star of classic movies such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Twelve O’Clock High.

Gregory Peck’s Daughter-in-Law

Tiegs’ Offsprings

Tiegs has three sons: Zackary, Peck, and the twins Theo and Jaden, who were delivered via surrogacy during her marriage to Stryker. She gave birth to her first child, Zackary Anthony Peck on October 1, 1991 in Los Angeles, at age 44. The child’s father is her now ex—third husband, Tony Peck. At 52 years old, she became mother once again when she had twins Jaden Joseph Stryker and Theo Reid Stryker. They were born in July 2000 via surrogacy. The children’s father is her now ex-fourth husband, Rod Stryker.

Tiegs’ Offsprings

Travel and Adventure

Every once in a while, Cheryl Tiegs goes letter-spacing: 0px;”>on a Sports Travel Adventure Therapy (STAT) trip with like-minded women. This travel company based in Greewich, Connecticut, aims to empower women, while putting on three to four trips annually. Between STAT trips, Tiegs finds her own way into the wild, most recently to the Arctic Circle.

Travel and Adventure

True to Her Roots

“Pretty is as pretty does” is an old adage one rarely hears these days. However, supermodel Cheryl Tiegs still believes it; she lives it too. Though Tiegs has been a top model since she was 17, she never quite forgot her roots. She believes that the type of person one is truly makes a difference. Tiegs said she would get up early and stay late if her job required her to, and she was grateful for the money she was making as well as the great job. She gained the reputation of being friendly and easy to work with over the years because of her humble nature.

True to Her Roots

Tiegs the Author

Cheryl Tiegs has been successful in whatever she set her mind on. Being an author was no different! In 1976, she broke into the publication industry and wrote the book The Way to Natural Beauty. Cheryl’s advice in her book is timeless and is presented in an intelligent and warm manner. She shared her knowledge with her readers on health and wellness, which was very popular among mass consumers at the time.

Tiegs the Author

The Feud With Ashley Graham

Cheryl Tiegs recently came under fire after she criticized plus-sized model Ashley Graham who posed for the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2016. Tiegs who was 68 at that time, and had appeared three times on the cover of the Swimsuit Issue in the 1970s and 1980s, has faced a backlash after she suggested that Graham, a model who is a size 16, was not “healthy.” However, she quickly tweeted an apology to the plus-sized model and her fans.

The Feud With Ashley Graham

Starring in a Web-Series

Broadening her mark on television in 2015, she appeared in a test run web series show called Children’s Hospital. The situation comedy television and web series was created by Rob Corddry, which premiered its first season online on TheWB.com on December 8, 2008. It’s a show about the emotional struggles and relationship dynamics between doctors with healthy drives for romance. While part of the show is dedicated to the treatment of patience, much of it focused on the doctors’ personal lives.

Starring in a Web-Series

A Career Sabbatical

Cheryl Tiegs took a sabbatical in 2017. It was the first time in her life that she didn’t have to set an alarm and get up to go to work. She focused on herself for a change, as she had been working from the age of seventeen. Instead, she chose to stay low and reach out to the friends she was out of touch with over the years. We can all agree Cheryl deserves the break!

A Career Sabbatical

Part-Time Modeling Career

Tiegs started her modeling career very slowly. She worked part-time in high school and college. She would do anything and everything! Tiegs would do fashion shows in the back of parking lot of a department store for free. She was absolutely thrilled with her part-time gigs. Tiegs happily worked for $5 an hour, which was great money for her at the time. She worked hard and relentlessly until she made it big!

Part-Time Modeling Career

Shows Tiegs Frequented

Cheryl Tiegs had multiple standing gigs with different shows throughout her career. She frequently appeared on The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Extra and The Doctor Oz Show. With partner Sports Illustrated, Tiegs created and starred in her own workout video series called Aerobic Interval Training. Tiegs has also appeared on NBC’s Just Shoot Me (1997) and Oxygen’s Girls Behaving Badly (2005). She has been featured a number of times in Fox’s Family Guy (1999), portraying herself in a recurring role.

Shows Tiegs Frequented

A Simple Girl

Although she modeled for many name brands, Tiegs was a very simple girl in real life! She did a lot of catalog modeling, which she totally rocked, but, according to her, she was never a fashion icon. Tiegs dresses very simply in her personal life. She would be seen sporting Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein on many occasions, but she would always return the designer wear after wearing them. She would choose a sweater, a pair of jeans and tennis shoes any day!

A Simple Girl

America’s Swimsuit Sweetheart

While Cheryl Tiegs looked as good as ever when she appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated back in the ’70s, it seems that “America’s Swimsuit Sweetheart” revealed a little bit more than usual. Many celebrities owe thanks to a specific photo for gaining “pin-up” status and this was Cheryl’s ticket to a new level of fame in the ’70s and the ’80s. It would prove to be her first of four appearances on the front cover of the iconic magazine. In 1996, at 49 years of age, Tiegs made her final appearance on Sports Illustrated.

America’s Swimsuit Sweetheart

Her Biggest Accomplishments

Despite her illustrious career, Cheryl Tiegs considers her biggest achievement to be her child and the opportunity to raise him. She takes pride in her parenthood. Tiegs’ son is now a fine young man too. After having accomplished that, she believes her next achievement is simply the fact that she is willing to go as far as she could go. She also takes pride in being the leader of the pack and creating revolutions in the entertainment industry.

Her Biggest Accomplishments