Richard Taubman, also known as “Ricky” Taubman, is an American real estate developer, singer, and photographer best known as Christie Brinkley’s third husband.
Born in 1948 to real estate mogul S. Morris Taubman, Richard built a career in property development, aviation, and the arts long before a whirlwind romance sparked by a near-fatal helicopter crash in Telluride, Colorado, thrust him into the global spotlight.
Their marriage in December 1994 lasted less than a year and produced a son, Jack Paris Brinkley Cook, before ending in divorce in 1995. Since then, Taubman has lived entirely off the radar, making his story one of the most intriguing in celebrity history.
Richard Taubman Quick Bio Table
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Richard “Ricky” Taubman |
| Date of Birth | 1948 (exact date not public) |
| Age (2026) | Approximately 77–78 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Real Estate Developer, Photographer, Singer |
| Father | S. Morris Taubman (real estate billionaire) |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| First Wife | Elizabeth Freeman (m. ~1988–1991) |
| Second Wife | Christie Brinkley (m. Dec 22, 1994 – Dec 1995) |
| Son | Jack Paris Brinkley Cook (b. June 2, 1995) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $2 million – $5 million |
| Social Media | Essentially none (private Facebook) |
| Current Status | Lives privately in the United States |
Early Life and Family Background
Richard Taubman was born in 1948 into a wealthy American family with deep roots in real estate. His father, S. Morris Taubman, was a powerful real estate figure whose business empire shaped Richard’s career. Growing up in this environment gave Richard early exposure to property deals, financial strategy, and the kind of high-stakes decision-making that defines successful developers.
Very little is known about his childhood, schooling, or early personal life. Taubman has never publicly shared details from his formative years, and even the most thorough research turns up only fragments. What is clear is that he grew up privileged, developed a bold and adventurous personality, and pursued multiple creative outlets, including music and photography, alongside his business interests.
Some sources confirm that Richard is the son of S. Morris Taubman. Other sources, however, suggest that Taubman may have exaggerated or invented his connection to the Taubman real estate dynasty to impress Christie Brinkley. This unresolved question has only added to the mystery surrounding him.
Richard Taubman’s Career: Real Estate, Music & Photography
Taubman built his career across three distinct areas, each reflecting a different side of his personality.
Real Estate Development
His primary profession was real estate development. He is noted as a member of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, its Zoning and Land Use Committee, the Michigan Association of Planning, the Community Associations Institute, and holds a license as a real estate broker with the Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors. These credentials suggest a legitimate, well-established career in property law and development, not just a wealthy heir coasting on family money.
During his marriage to Christie Brinkley, Taubman owned personal jets and helicopters, signaling serious financial resources. His lavish spending became a point of contention. Court documents from his first divorce revealed that he was spending up to $61,000 per month without regard for budgeting.
Music & Photography
Beyond real estate, Taubman recorded music and pursued photography. He made several albums as a singer, though none reached commercial success.
He also worked behind the camera, building a portfolio that reflected his passion for capturing landscapes and people.
These artistic interests made him a well-rounded, compelling person and likely contributed to his initial attraction to Christie Brinkley.
How Richard Taubman Met Christie Brinkley
In early 1994, Christie Brinkley travelled to Telluride, Colorado, accompanying a mutual friend. She was already separated from her second husband, Billy Joel, though that fact hadn’t yet been made public.
She stayed at Taubman’s home in the mountain town, and from the very first meeting, their connection was electric.
Taubman showed Brinkley his adventurous world ski slopes, his Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, and the breathtaking scenery of the Colorado Rockies.
Brinkley left Telluride, then returned just ten days later. They held hands for the first time. The very next day, their lives changed forever.
The Helicopter Crash That Changed Everything
On April 1, 1994, Richard Taubman and Christie Brinkley were aboard a helicopter during a skiing trip in the Colorado mountains when it went down. The crash was severe.
Taubman suffered a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone, and twelve broken ribs. Brinkley escaped with minor injuries. Both, along with four others, were stranded in freezing winds for five hours before a rescue helicopter arrived.
The shared trauma had a profound effect on the couple. In the aftermath, their bond deepened rapidly. Brinkley later reflected that after nearly dying together, they wanted to be with each other constantly.
This “trauma bond,” where intense shared experiences accelerate emotional closeness, became the engine that drove their relationship forward at full speed.
Taubman proposed to Brinkley in May 1994. They waited until after her divorce from Billy Joel was finalised in August 1994 before setting a wedding date.
The Wedding and Short-Lived Marriage
| Event | Date | Detail |
| First meeting | Early 1994 | Telluride, Colorado ski resort |
| Helicopter crash | April 1, 1994 | Colorado mountains; Taubman was seriously injured |
| Engagement | May 1994 | Proposed while Brinkley is still finalizing Joel’s divorce |
| Wedding | December 22, 1994 | Telluride, Colorado; Brinkley, 4 months pregnant |
| Son Jack born | June 2, 1995 | Jack Paris Brinkley |
| Divorce filed | July 1995 | Just 7 weeks after Jack’s birth |
| Divorce finalized | December 1995 | Out-of-court settlement |
The wedding took place in the very mountains where their story began. It was lavish and romantic, but beneath the surface, serious problems were already forming. Financial disputes, allegations of unpaid debts totalling $1.5 million owed to Brinkley, and concerns about Taubman’s volatile temperament created a fault line that the marriage couldn’t survive.
Christie Brinkley filed for divorce in July 1995, just seven weeks after their son Jack was born. The legal proceedings were contentious. Brinkley sued for $2 million, claiming she had loaned it to Taubman.
Taubman fought for joint custody of Jack. They ultimately settled out of court in December 1995. Brinkley reportedly dropped the loan debt in exchange for full sole custody of Jack. Taubman waived all visitation rights.
Richard Taubman’s First Marriage to Elizabeth Freeman
Before Christie Brinkley, Taubman was married to Elizabeth Freeman for approximately three years. Their divorce was not amicable. Elizabeth’s court filings painted a picture of a man with a serious temper and an inability to control his spending.
She cited his monthly expenditures of up to $61,000 as a central issue. These same patterns of financial recklessness and volatile behavior would resurface in his marriage to Brinkley.
His Son: Jack Paris Brinkley Cook
Richard Taubman’s only known child is Jack Paris Brinkley Cook, born June 2, 1995. Jack grew up primarily with his mother, Christie Brinkley, and has had little to no public connection with his biological father.
When Brinkley married architect Peter Cook in 1996, Cook adopted Jack, giving him the surname he carries today.
Jack has grown into a successful model, entrepreneur, and surfer. He bears a striking physical resemblance to his father, Richard. Jack has been romantically linked to model Nina Agdal, keeping the family’s connection to the fashion world alive into the next generation. Despite Richard’s absence from his life, Jack has spoken about his upbringing with warmth and maturity.
What Is Richard Taubman’s Net Worth?
Pinning down Richard Taubman’s exact net worth is difficult because he has lived off the public radar since 1995. However, drawing from his family background, professional credentials, property assets, and aviation holdings, credible estimates place his net worth between $2 million and $5 million.
Some sources have offered more speculative figures in the $200–$300 million range, citing possible inheritance from the Taubman real estate dynasty.
However, those estimates are unverified, and the question of whether Richard is genuinely connected to the billionaire Taubman family remains disputed. The conservative $2M–$5M figure reflects what can be reasonably substantiated from available records.
His ex-wife Christie Brinkley, by contrast, has a confirmed net worth of approximately $80 million, built through modeling, acting, real estate holdings in the Hamptons, and product lines including Bellissima Prosecco, Christie Brinkley Authentic Skin Care, and Hair2Wear extensions.
Richard Taubman’s Personality and Lifestyle
By all accounts, Taubman was a man of two extremes. On one side: adventurous, charming, creative, and deeply confident. He flew planes, skied expert slopes, recorded music, and could walk into any room and command attention. On the other side: financially reckless, reportedly quick to anger, and difficult to live with in close quarters.
His aviation interests were more than a hobby; he owned and piloted his own aircraft, including a Cessna Grand Caravan 12-seater.
He took Brinkley and her daughter, Alexa Ray Joel on a flight in it early in their relationship. This blend of thrill and romance was intoxicating at first, but it also reflected a lifestyle that ran at full throttle, with little regard for caution or consequences.
Where Is Richard Taubman Now in 2026?
Since his 1995 divorce from Christie Brinkley, Richard Taubman has remained almost entirely invisible. He does not appear in celebrity media, has no active public social media presence (a private Facebook account is his only confirmed digital footprint), and has not given any public interviews or statements. He has not been photographed in any confirmed capacity in decades.
Most reports suggest he continues to live in the United States, possibly still involved in real estate or in a semi-retired capacity.
His decision to vanish from public life stands in stark contrast to his once-high-profile existence as the husband of one of the world’s most famous supermodels.
Whether by design or by circumstance, Taubman has achieved something remarkable in the age of social media: true privacy.
Christie Brinkley After Richard Taubman
After the divorce, Christie Brinkley moved forward quickly. In September 1996, she married architect Peter Cook, with whom she had a daughter, Sailor Brinkley-Cook, in 1998.
Cook also adopted Jack. That marriage ended in 2008 after Cook’s affair with an 18-year-old employee became public in a high-profile trial. As of 2026, Brinkley is single, casually dating, and focused on her business ventures and family.
Richard Taubman vs. Christie Brinkley’s Other Husbands
| Husband | Married | Duration | Children Together |
| Jean-François Allaux (1st) | 1973 | 8 years | None |
| Billy Joel (2nd) | 1985 | 9 years | Alexa Ray Joel |
| Richard Taubman (3rd) | Dec 1994 | 1 year | Jack Paris Brinkley Cook |
| Peter Cook (4th) | Sept 1996 | 12 years | Sailor Brinkley-Cook |
Frequently Asked Questions About Richard Taubman
Who is Richard Taubman?
Richard Taubman is an American real estate developer, singer, and photographer. He is best known as the third husband of supermodel Christie Brinkley, whom he married in December 1994 and divorced in late 1995.
How old is Richard Taubman in 2026?
Richard Taubman was born in 1948, making him approximately 77 to 78 years old in 2026. His exact birth date has never been made public.
What is Richard Taubman’s net worth?
Estimates place his net worth between $2 million and $5 million, based on his real estate career and family background. Some sources speculate higher figures, but these remain unverified.
What happened in the helicopter crash with Christie Brinkley?
On April 1, 1994, Taubman and Brinkley were in a helicopter that crashed in the Colorado mountains. Taubman suffered a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone, and twelve broken ribs. They were stranded for five hours before rescue. The shared trauma accelerated their romance.
Why did Richard Taubman and Christie Brinkley divorce?
The marriage collapsed due to financial disputes, including allegations that Taubman owed Brinkley $1.5 million, as well as reports of emotional volatility and incompatibility. Brinkley filed for divorce in July 1995, just seven weeks after their son Jack was born.
Does Richard Taubman have a relationship with his son, Jack?
Taubman waived all visitation rights to Jack as part of the 1995 divorce settlement. Jack was later adopted by Christie Brinkley’s fourth husband, Peter Cook, and goes by the name Jack Paris Brinkley Cook.
Where is Richard Taubman today?
Taubman lives privately somewhere in the United States. He has no confirmed public presence, does not give interviews, and has not been photographed publicly in many years.
Was Richard Taubman a billionaire?
This is disputed. Some sources connect him to the billionaire Taubman real estate dynasty through his father, S. Morris Taubman. Other sources suggest he may have exaggerated this connection. His actual wealth is estimated to be in the millions, not the billions.
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