Madeleine Astor Biography: Spouse, Cause of Death, Engagement Ring, Net Worth, Age, Wiki, Children, Parents

Madeleine Talmage Force Astor was an American socialite.

She gained worldwide attention as the young wife of millionaire John Jacob Astor IV, especially after surviving the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic, which made her a lasting figure in American history and high society.

Profile

• Full Name: Madeleine Talmage Force Astor
• Stage Name: Madeleine Astor
• Born: June 19, 1893
• Age: 46 years (Died: March 27, 1940)
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Socialite, Actress
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
• Parent: William Hurlbut Force (father), Katherine Arvilla Talmage (mother)
• Siblings: Katherine Emmons Force
• Spouse: John Jacob Astor IV
• Children: John Jacob Astor VI, John Henry Dick, William Force Dick, William Karl Dick Jr.
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $3 million

Early Life and Education

Madeleine Talmage Force Astor was born on June 19, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. She was 46 years old at the time of her passing away on March 27, 1940. She was the daughter of William Hurlbut Force, a successful shipping magnate, and Katherine Arvilla Talmage. She had one sibling, an older sister named Katherine Emmons Force.

Madeleine grew up in a wealthy and influential family and practiced Christianity. She was of White American ethnicity, with deep roots in prominent New York society.

For her education, Madeleine attended Miss Ely’s School and later Miss Spence’s School in Manhattan, both prestigious institutions that catered to the daughters of wealthy families. Her schooling emphasized languages, social etiquette, arts, and other subjects seen as essential for women of her social class.

Career

Madeleine Talmage Force Astor did not have a traditional career in business, arts, or politics. Instead, she was known primarily as a high-society figure and socialite in early 20th-century America. Her marriage to John Jacob Astor IV, one of the wealthiest men in the country, brought her significant public attention, especially after she survived the Titanic disaster in 1912.

Following her husband’s death, Madeleine remained active in elite social circles, attending charity events and maintaining her societal influence.

Although she occasionally participated in private stage performances later in life, she never pursued a formal career in acting or any other professional field. Most of her life was dedicated to managing her estate, raising her son, and navigating public life as a widow and later as a divorcee.

Personal Life

Madeleine Talmage Force Astor lived a life deeply connected to some of the most prominent families in America. She married John Jacob Astor IV in 1911 when she was just 18 years old, and together they had one son, John Jacob Astor VI, born after Madeleine survived the Titanic tragedy. After Astor’s death, Madeleine remarried banker William Karl Dick in 1916, with whom she had three more children:

• John Henry Dick
• William Force Dick
• William Karl Dick, Jr.

In 1933, she entered her third marriage with Italian boxer and actor Enzo Fiermonte, but they divorced in 1938. At the time of her death in 1940, Madeleine was divorced and not remarried.

Madeleine Astor had two known grandchildren through her son John Jacob Astor VI:

• Mary Jacqueline Astor
• William Backhouse Astor

She stood approximately 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall and was admired for her beauty, elegance, and poise throughout her life.

Net Worth

At the time of her death, Madeleine Talmage Force Astor had an estimated net worth of around $3 million. Her wealth largely came from the inheritance left to her by her first husband, John Jacob Astor IV, who was one of the richest men in the world during his lifetime.

In his will, John Jacob Astor IV left Madeleine a significant trust fund, properties, and annual income, ensuring her financial security even after his death.

Additionally, Madeleine received financial support from her later marriages, though her primary source of income remained her inheritance from the Astor fortune. Her lifestyle, filled with luxury and social influence, was sustained by careful management of these assets.