Christie Brinkley is an American supermodel, actress, entrepreneur and author whose career has remained prominent for more than five decades. Born on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan, she is 72 years old in 2026. Brinkley became internationally famous through her consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers and a landmark CoverGirl career. She later expanded into acting, Broadway, publishing, beauty, eyewear, fitness and business. With hundreds of magazine covers and decades in the public eye, she remains one of the most recognizable names in American fashion.
Christie Brinkley Age: Quick Bio
| Profile | Full Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christie Lee Brinkley |
| Birth Name | Christie Lee Hudson |
| Date of Birth | February 2, 1954 |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Christie Brinkley Age | 72 years old |
| Birthplace | Monroe, Michigan, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Model, Actress, Entrepreneur, Author, Designer and Television Personality |
| Famous For | Three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers and her long-running CoverGirl career |
| Nickname | Christie |
| Parents | Marjorie Bowling and Herbert Hudson |
| Sibling | Greg Brinkley, younger brother |
| Marital Status | Divorced / Not currently married |
| Husbands | Jean-François Allaux, Billy Joel, Richard Taubman and Peter Cook |
| Children / Kids | Three |
| Children | Alexa Ray Joel, Jack Paris Brinkley Cook and Sailor Brinkley-Cook |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Education | Paul Revere Junior High School; Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles; later studied art in Paris |
| Career Began | 1973 |
| Years Active | 1973–present |
| Modeling Breakthrough | Discovered by photographer Errol Sawyer in Paris in 1973 |
| Sports Illustrated Achievement | Three consecutive swimsuit covers in 1979, 1980 and 1981 |
| CoverGirl Career | Signed a landmark 25-year contract with CoverGirl |
| Magazine Covers | Appeared on more than 500 magazine covers |
| Acting Debut | National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) |
| Major Film Roles | National Lampoon’s Vacation and Vegas Vacation |
| Television Work | Mad About You, Parks and Recreation, The Goldbergs and other television projects |
| Broadway Role | Roxie Hart in Chicago |
| Broadway Debut | 2011 |
| Business Ventures | Beauty, skincare, eyewear, hair extensions, fitness and real estate |
| Total Gym | Longtime spokesperson for Total Gym |
| Book | Uptown Girl, published in 2025 |
| Activism | Animal welfare, environmental causes and anti-nuclear advocacy |
| Diet | Became vegetarian as a teenager |
| Net Worth | Estimated around $100 million |
| Main Sources of Wealth | Modeling, endorsements, real estate, business ventures, television, publishing and licensing |
| @christiebrinkley | |
| Hobbies / Interests | Art, photography, fitness, gardening, animals, travel and family time |
| Career Highlight | Built a five-decade career spanning fashion, entertainment, business and publishing |
| Current Status | Active model, entrepreneur, author and media personality |
Christie Brinkley Images
A Timeline Christie Brinkley Public Career
| Year | Career Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Discovered in Paris by photographer Errol Sawyer and began pursuing professional modeling. |
| 1974–1978 | Built her international modeling career and appeared in major fashion campaigns and magazines. |
| 1979 | Appeared on the first of three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers. |
| 1980 | Returned to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover for a second consecutive year. |
| 1981 | Made history with her third consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover. |
| 1983 | Made her film debut in National Lampoon’s Vacation. |
| 1985 | Married musician Billy Joel and continued her highly successful modeling career. |
| 1989 | Became one of the faces of the Real Model Collection dolls. |
| 1990s | Expanded into television, beauty, publishing and business while continuing major modeling work. |
| 1992 | Hosted her own CNN television program, Living in the 90s — With Christie Brinkley. |
| 1997 | Returned as a character from National Lampoon’s Vacation in Vegas Vacation. |
| 2005 | CoverGirl renewed its relationship with Brinkley, extending one of the longest-running modeling partnerships in the industry. |
| 2011 | Made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago. |
| 2012 | Continued her television and stage career and appeared in several entertainment projects. |
| 2019 | Returned to the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago in Las Vegas. |
| 2022 | Competed as the Lemur on The Masked Singer. |
| 2025 | Published her memoir Uptown Girl, reflecting on her life, relationships and career. |
| 2026 | Continues working in modeling, business, publishing and entertainment, while remaining active in fashion and lifestyle projects. |
Christie Brinkley Family
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Herbert Hudson |
| Mother | Marjorie Bowling |
| Brother | Greg Brinkley |
| Adoptive Father | Donald Brinkley, who adopted Christie and her brother Greg |
| First Husband | Jean-François Allaux |
| Second Husband | Billy Joel |
| Third Husband | Richard Taubman |
| Fourth Husband | Peter Cook |
| Daughter | Alexa Ray Joel, with Billy Joel |
| Son | Jack Paris Brinkley Cook, with Richard Taubman |
| Daughter | Sailor Brinkley-Cook, with Peter Cook |
| Children | Three |
| Current Marital Status | Not currently married |
| Family Connection | Her daughters Alexa Ray Joel and Sailor Brinkley-Cook have also pursued careers in the public eye. |
Christie Brinkley Social Media Accounts
| Platform | Account |
|---|---|
| @christiebrinkley | |
| Christie Brinkley | |
| Social Media Content | Fashion, family, travel, lifestyle, beauty, gardening, charity work and personal updates |
| Instagram Focus | Modeling, family moments, lifestyle projects and professional appearances |