Spoiled Facts About Rebekah Harkness, The Last Great American Heiress
For a time in the 1950s, socialite Rebekah Harkness was true American royalty. Wealthy, elegant, and beautiful, Harkness seemed to have it all—from her oil baron husband to her notoriously raucous parties.
But behind her perfect façade lies a chilling history. Discover Rebekah Harkness, the extravagant woman who inspired Taylor Swift's song "the last great american dynasty."
Rebekah Harkness Facts
1. She Grew up Spoiled
Rebekah Harkness was practically destined to become a spoiled little rich girl. Born in 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri, her father Allen Tarwater was a powerful stockbroker, while her mother, also named Rebekah, was a perfectly turned out trophy wife.
The family looked immaculate from the outside…behind closed doors, though, was another story.
2. Her Family Was Totally Dysfunctional
Little Betty had a horrific childhood. For one, her “emotionally frigid” parents wanted absolutely nothing to do with raising her. Instead, she was reared by a series of nannies—and that’s not even the worst part. Rebekah’s parents hired one nanny specifically because the woman had worked in an insane asylum before. Aw, how sweet. And the dysfunction didn’t end there.
3. Her Parents Humiliated Her
Rebekah’s parents might not have cared a whit about loving their daughter, but they sure as heck cared about what she looked like.
When she was still just a young girl, the Harknesses noticed that their Betty was putting on weight, so they signed the “pudgy” girl up for dance and figure skating lessons to help her shed those unsightly pounds. But Rebekah made the most of it…
