Early Life
Alexander Onassis was born in Harkness Pavilion, a clinic in New York City. He had the same name as his father's uncle, who was murdered during World War I.
Apart from four hours at Le Rosey, Onassis had no formal schooling nor did he have friends of his own age, and, despite not being gifted academically, he was very knowledgeable about automobiles and motors, which impressed Gianni Agnelli from Fiat. Onassis also fostered vocational ambitions of becoming a pilot, but extremely poor eyesight prevented this from materializing.
His closest friends were his house employees like Christian Cafarakis.
Onassis and his sister Christina were extremely close. Their bond exceeded the normal ties of a brother and sister. They were bonded further by the shared traumas caused by a workaholic, obsessive, sometimes abusive father. Furthermore, it has been said that Tina had difficult relationships with her children, especially with Christina, from whom she expected particular perfection. Nonetheless, Alexander and Christina were loyal and loving to their parents but seem never to have accepted or liked their stepmother, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.
Despite having an intense dislike for Jacqueline, they did warm up to her children, Caroline and John. One of John's fondest memories was riding in Alexander's Piaggio plane.
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Famous quotes related to early life:
“... business training in early life should not be regarded solely as insurance against destitution in the case of an emergency. For from business experience women can gain, too, knowledge of the world and of human beings, which should be of immeasurable value to their marriage careers. Self-discipline, co-operation, adaptability, efficiency, economic management,—if she learns these in her business life she is liable for many less heartbreaks and disappointments in her married life.”
—Hortense Odlum (1892–?)