Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - Onassis Marriage

Onassis Marriage

In June 1968 when her brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, she came to fear for her life and that of her children, saying "If they're killing Kennedys, then my children are targets...I want to get out of this country." On October 20, 1968, she married Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy Greek shipping magnate, who was able to provide the privacy and security she needed for herself and her children.

The wedding took place on Skorpios, Onassis's private island in the Ionian Sea, Greece. Following her marriage, Kennedy-Onassis lost her right to Secret Service protection and her franking privilege, both of which are entitlements to a widow of U.S. president. The marriage brought her considerable adverse publicity and she became the target of paparazzi who followed her everywhere and was nicknamed "Jackie O" by the press.

Then tragedy struck again, as Aristotle Onassis's only son Alexander died in a plane crash in January 1973. Onassis's health began deteriorating rapidly and he died in Paris, on March 15, 1975. Kennedy-Onassis' financial legacy was severely limited under Greek law, which dictated how much a non-Greek surviving spouse could inherit. After two years of legal battle, she eventually accepted from Christina Onassis, Onassis's daughter and sole heir, a settlement of $26 million, waiving all other claims to the Onassis estate.

During their 7 year marriage the couple resided in 5 different residences: her New York City 15 room Fifth Ave. apartment, her horse farm in New Jersey, his Avenue Foch apartment in Paris, his private island in Greece named Skorpios, and his 325 ft yacht "The Christina."