How Did Patricia Altschul from ‘Southern Charm’ Create Her Fortune?
Patricia Altschul from Southern Charm lives a life that exceeds most people’s dreams. From her lavish clothing and jewelry collection to her endless antiques and gorgeous furnishings in and around her Charleston mansion, who wouldn’t want to be Altschul?
She certainly oozes class and society. Plus her net worth stands at a staggering $20 million. She purchased her gorgeous, expansive mansion in 2008 for $4.8 million and the home has quite an interesting history, the Post and Courier reports.
Like many socialites, Altschul has been married to some powerful and wealthy men. While she’s married well, she’s a force to be reckoned with on her own too.
She had a charmed upbringing
Altschul grew up in Virginia and told Bravo’s The Daily Dish she had an idyllic childhood. “I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and had a charmed childhood not unlike Leave it to Beaver or Happy Days,” she said. “I loved to ride my bicycle, play tennis, swim, and go horseback riding.”
She tasted the good life early in her childhood. Her father was a retired surgeon and diplomat and Altschul’s mother was a homemaker. Before attending boarding high school, Altschul went to a private school.
Her attentive upbringing set her up for more academic excellence. She attended George Washington University where she graduated cum laude. Eventually, she earned a double masters degree in graduate school and became an assistant professor by age 28.
Altschul married at a young age
She married at age 20, while still in college, according to Bravo’s The Daily Dish. But she waited to establish her career to have her son, Whitney Sudler-Smith. “Whitney was an adorable baby and child. He was happy, gregarious, had lots of friends, loved adventure, played with his G.I. Joe’s and big wheel,” she said.
Altschul added that Sudler-Smith was a creative child. He “loved to paint, write, was an avid reader, learned to play the guitar himself but also enjoyed sports such as baseball and football.”
While she doesn’t extensively discuss her first husband, she says he was “intensely private” and a “lovely man.”
She went onto marry again
After her first husband, Altschul married Edward Stitt Fleming. Fleming was a Washington, D.C. psychiatrist who founded the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, according to Bravo’s The Daily Dish. Fleming passed away in 1997 and was also related to Ian Fleming, who created the character, James Bond.
Altschul married to her third husband in 1996, Arthur G. Altschul until he passed away in 2002. Altschul’s husband was a famed New York investment banker, but also an art collector who clearly appreciated the finer things in life.
He served as a member of the chairman’s council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Plus Altschul was a trustee of the Whitney Museum of American Art, as well as being a member of the trustees’ council of the National Gallery of Art.
She’s a savvy businesswoman
Altschul is a leader in the textile business. Her company offers her infamous dog inspired caftan line. Plus she recently partnered with Southern Charm cast member, Craig Conover on pillow designs.
Patricia’s Couture has a number of intriguing offerings which extend into home decor and accessories. Her custom caftans feature the face of the customer’s pet and run about $299. Or you can order a custom pet blanket for $139. The ultimate dog lover can also order custom pajamas for $179.
Beyond business, Altschul also hangs with some pretty famous people. Bravo’s The Daily Dish reports friends include Hamish Bowles, who is Vogue’s international editor-at-large, plus Andre Leon Talley, a Vogue contributing editor. Talley curated an Oscar de La Renta retrospective at San Francisco’s de Young Museum that featured one of Altschul’s gowns.
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