Dollar Princesses Trivia Quiz

Answer: Winston Churchill

Jennie Jerome was born in 1854 in New York into a very wealthy family. Her father, Leonard Jerome, was a partial owner of the "New York Times" and was often known as "The King of Wall Street". Jennie grew up in luxury during the Gilded Age and made many trips to Europe. She was known not just for her beauty but for her lively and fun personality, and fit into society well in both America and Europe.

In 1874, she married Lord Randolph Churchill, the son of a duke, after a very quick (less than a week) courtship in Paris followed by a lengthy engagement. The Churchills desperately needed Jennie's money at the time of her marriage. The family was cash poor, with the 7th Duke of Marlborough heavily in debt and their historic home in disrepair. After a negotiated large dowry (hence the lengthy engagement as both sides argued) and the wedding, Jennie got the title Lady Randolph Churchill. Together, they had two sons, one of whom was Winston. She would be instrumental in helping him launch his career. After Randolph's death, Jennie would go on to marry two more times and lead a life filled with a mixture of scandal, philanthropy, and power.

Answer: India

Mary Leiter was born in 1870 in Chicago, Illinois to a very wealthy family. Her father, Levi, was a co-founder of the Marshall Field's department store empire, giving Mary a life of leisure and travel. However, while most debutantes focused solely on social graces, Mary's father ensured she had a serious education. Alongside music, dancing, and French lessons from a governess, she was tutored by a Columbia University professor in history, arithmetic, and chemistry.

George Curzon had high political ambitions but limited personal wealth. Their wedding with its attached large dowry, and her aid to him "behind the scenes", helped propel him forward to be appointed Viceroy of India, making Mary a Vicereine and one of the most important women in the British Empire. During her time in India, she brought her own brand of style (a famous "peacock dress" as an example) but also focused on medical reform for women and animal conservation. Unfortunately, she died very young and her grief-stricken husband built her a beautiful memorial on their estate.

Answer: He squandered almost all of it on luxury

Anna Gould was born in 1875 in New York into one of the richest families in the Gilded Age. Her father, Jay, had built a vast fortune in railroads and finances and was known as a "robber baron". Anna was one of the richest heiresses of the time. She was known for her very quiet personality, however, especially compared to some of her flashier heiress counterparts.

In 1895, she married the Frenchman Paul Ernest Boniface de Castellane, elder son and heir apparent of the Marquis of Castellane. He was known as "Boni". Despite appearances, Boni's family were far from rich, however, and very much needed her huge dowry. Boni immediately set about going through her huge fortune, including building a massive pink marble mansion and filling it with art. After eleven years of an unhappy marriage, he had used up almost all of her money and had several affairs. After a very, very bitter divorce, Anna would later remarry happily to another French member of the peerage and, at the end of her life, settle back in New York in her family estate.

Answer: Nancy Astor

Nancy Langhorne was born in Virginia to a wealthy American family and grew up during the Gilded Age. After her first marriage to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who had commanded the 54th Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War, ended in divorce, Nancy moved to England. There she married 2nd Viscount Waldorf Astor in 1906. As a wedding gift, her father-in-law gave them a family estate.

When Waldorf inherited his title and moved to the House of Lords, Nancy ran for his seat in the House of Commons and won in 1919. She ended up holding her seat for over 25 years and was often regarded as the "first lady of British politics". Nancy was heavily recognized for her fiery campaigning spirit and enthusiasm and championed many causes on behalf of underprivileged women and children. After a somewhat-forced retirement in 1945, she gradually withdrew from the public eye.

Answer: False

Consuelo Vanderbilt was born in 1877 in New York to the incredibly wealthy Vanderbilt family, whose fortune came from transportation. Her mother, Alva, was totally focused on seeing Consuelo marry into European royalty. Ignoring her own daughter's love interests, Alva held a debutante ball for Consuelto in the gold ballroom of their Marble House (room seen in photo) where she introduced her to Charles Spencer-Churchill, one of England's most prominent aristocrats.

The huge and elaborate wedding was held in 1895. It was reported that the Duke himself had no interest in the marriage but his estate desperately needed the $2.5 million (in 1895 value) dowry that came with Consuelo. She cried going down the aisle. Not surprisingly, the marriage was unhappy from the start and, years later, Consuelo finally obtained an annulment after producing the two "required" sons and heirs. She would go on to remarry later for true love and became an admired figure later in life.

Answer: Grover Cleveland

Pauline Payne Whitney was born in 1874. Her father was a wealthy financier and political leader and her mother was sister to Col. Oliver Payne, a board member of Standard Oil. In 1885 the family was living in Washington, DC as Pauline's father was Secretary of the Navy for the Grover Cleveland administration. During a steamship trip, Pauline met and fell in love with Almeric Hugh Paget (1st Baron Queenborough), a member of an aristocratic British family. In 1895, the two married in a hugely elaborate wedding in New York which was attended by celebrity guests, including the President and his wife.

Moving into their new Manhattan residence, Pauline led the life of a young society matron, her attendance noted at the annual horse show, operas, and society events. However, by 1902 the Pagets moved to London, ostensibly due to Pauline's fragile health. They had two daughters before they started spending more and more time apart in Europe. WWI brought them back together again as they aided wounded soldiers and helped the war effort. Her declining health catching up with her, Pauline tragically died in November of 1916, at the young age of 41.

Answer: Ireland

Frances Work (aka "Fanny") was born in 1857 in New York, the daughter of Franklin Work, the personal stockbroker to Cornelius Vanderbilt. She was a regular at society parties in New York and Newport, Rhode Island, and frequently turned heads wearing the latest fashions of the Gilded Age. She fell in love with handsome James Burke Roche (3rd Baron Fermoy of Ireland) who, unfortunately, was broke and had a gambling problem. Fanny and Jim were married in September of 1880, and though not disinherited altogether, Fanny's allowance was reduced greatly by her upset father.

In 1886, after just six years of marriage, their house in London was stripped bare by bailiffs and Fanny finally saw the light, returning to New York with their children. Their son, Edmund, would be the maternal grandfather of Princess Di while his sister was the great-grandmother of Oliver Platt. By 1891, the divorce was finally secured. Another brief marriage to a riding instructor happened before Fanny was again accepted by her father and put into the will. Fanny spent the rest of her long, single life traveling between New York, Newport, and Paris.

Answer: Floors Castle

Mary Goelet was born in 1878 into one of the richest families of the Gilded Age. Her father, Ogden, had made a fortune in real estate. Mary became one of the most sought after heiresses. She traveled in high circles in both American and European societies. After several rumored engagements to different people, she married a Scottish duke in 1903.

After a massive wedding, they settled in at the ancient home of Floors Castle in Scotland. Mary soon began renovation work (such as electricity) with her dowry money. She also added extensive art collections to the castle. Mary (known as May) and Henry were said to have a very close relationship and they joyfully had one child after ten years of marriage. For most of their lives, they were close friends with royalty such as King George V and King Edward VII.

Answer: Matchmaking

Minnie Stevens went to Europe in 1872, having inherited the fortune of her father, the New York hotelier, Paran Stevens. She was nicknamed the "Great Heiress" as she was called upon by many titled men. She chose Arthur Paget and they were married in London in 1878. The future King Edward VII gave his seal of approval when he personally visited the bride to offer his best wishes.

Minnie often appeared in balls and is well known for her very expensive Cleopatra gown at the Devonshire House Ball of 1897. However, she was best known as the primary "fixer", or matchmaker, for other American heiresses looking to break into the British aristocracy during the Gilded Age. She helped broker many of the "dollar princesses" marriages. It was rumored that she didn't do this out of the kindness of her heart. She often received gifts or had her substantial debts paid off by the grateful families she helped.

Answer: Jewelry

Margaretta was the daughter of Anthony Joseph Drexel II, heir to a massive banking fortune, and she was raised in a world of extreme wealth and social expectation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married a viscount in 1906 in a ceremony led by the Bishop of London. Her reception gifts started her lifelong collection of fine jewelry. Among the presents was a massive diamond chain from J.P. Morgan (her grandfather's business partner).

Margaretta reigned as a prominent hostess at Haverholme Priory, the family's Lincolnshire estate, which was famous for its vast library and ancient history (and was revived with the lucrative dowry that Margaretta brought to the marriage). To her credit, she became very involved with the local community and was much beloved there. Over the years, Margaretta was rarely seen without her signature rows of pearls, a symbol of "old" bought with "new".