Ariana Rockefeller Explained

Ariana Rockefeller
Birth Date:26 May 1982
Alma Mater:Columbia University
Occupation:Fashion designer, equestrian
Parents:David Rockefeller Jr.
Diana Newell Rockefeller
Relatives:See Rockefeller family
Signature:Ariana Rockefeller signature.jpg

Ariana Rockefeller (born May 26, 1982) is an American heiress, model and amateur equestrian. She is a granddaughter of banker David Rockefeller, a great-granddaughter of financier John D. Rockefeller Jr., and a great-great-granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil.

Early life and education

Ariana Rockefeller was born to David Rockefeller Jr. and Diana Newell Rockefeller. Her hometown is Cambridge, Massachusetts, but she was raised in New York and Maine.

Her father served as the chair and remains a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation. Her sister, Camilla Rockefeller, a fellow Columbia University graduate, is the chairwoman of David Rockefeller Fund.[1] [2] She is a niece of ecologist Abby Rockefeller, economist Neva Goodwin, philanthropists and businesswomen Peggy Dulany and Eileen Rockefeller Growald, and family physician Richard Rockefeller.

Her paternal grandfather, David Rockefeller, was a billionaire businessman and the former chairman of Chase Bank from 1969 to 1981 as well as chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations from 1970 to 1985. He was the youngest son of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and grandson of Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller.[3]

She attended the Ethel Walker School, an all-girls boarding school in Connecticut. She graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Political Science in 2009.[4] [5] As a college student, she interned at the United Nations.

Career

Fashion and lifestyle business

Rockefeller launched her own fashion line in 2011. In 2014, she opened a pop-up shop in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. She added a line of handbags in 2016 after hiring handbag designer Bassam Ali.[6] In January 2021, she reported that she closed her fashion business "a couple of years ago".[7]

Equestrian career

Rockefeller began riding horses when she was three years old. She competed on the equestrian team in high school, during which time she took an interest in show jumping. She took a break from riding in college, and resumed by partaking in competitive show jumping in 2012. In 2015, Rockefeller placed fourth in the Hampton Classic.[8]

Modeling

In May 2021, Rockefeller signed with Marilyn Agency in New York to work on special projects in their talent division.[9]

Philanthropy

Rockefeller has served on the board of the nonprofit David Rockefeller Fund. Rockefeller supports the Humane Society of the United States.[10] She is a board member of God's Love We Deliver[11] [12] and a Junior Associate of the Museum of Modern Art.[13] Rockefeller has chaired the New York Botanical Garden's Winter Ball for several years.[14] She also continues her family tradition of involvement and interest in ancient Greek culture and archaeology.[15]

Views on family legacy and fossil fuel divestment

In a 2016 interview on CBS This Morning, she spoke out against the #Exxonknew campaign that was started by members of the Rockefeller family, among them her cousin David Kaiser, son of Neva Goodwin Rockefeller, and distant relative, Valerie Rockefeller Wayne, daughter of former Senator Jay Rockefeller, revealing a sharp divide within the family over its legacy in the petroleum industry and fossil fuel divestment.[16] [17] She also criticized the ongoing campaign to target ExxonMobil, a company that her family founded, as "deeply misguided" and "counterproductive" to ''Exxon's ongoing good work in clean and renewable energy'' in a New York Times piece.[18]

Personal life

On September 4, 2010, Rockefeller married entrepreneur Matthew Bucklin. Their divorce was filed in April and finalized in October 2019.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Board and Staff . July 29, 2020 . David Rockefeller Fund . en-US.
  2. Web site: Camilla . Rockefeller . Fall 2006 . Growing Up in Acadia – John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s great-granddaughter reflects on family legacy . July 28, 2020 . Friends of Arcadia Journal.
  3. The 10 Most Intriguing People in Maine 2018 . May 22, 2020 . Portland Magazine.
  4. Family Tradition. Nelson. Karin. W. November 26, 2018.
  5. Web site: Just Married!. Spring 2019. Columbia College Today. May 22, 2020.
  6. Ariana Rockefeller Launches Handbag Line. Sidell. Misty White. February 10, 2016. Women's Wear Daily. May 22, 2020.
  7. News: Seeking Solace in Art. January 31, 2021. The New York Times. January 31, 2021.
  8. News: This American Heiress Turned Fashion Designer Wants to Bring a Touch of Royal Style to Women Everywhere. Clinton. Leah Melby. November 12, 2015. Glamour. November 26, 2018. en.
  9. Lockwood . Lisa . Ariana Rockefeller Signed by Marilyn Agency in New York . Women's Wear Daily . June 7, 2021 . May 19, 2021.
  10. News: Free Range in Paradise: The "Wild" Horses of the Caribbean Attract Tourists and Research. Fran. Jurga. January 16, 2017. Equus. December 3, 2018. en.
  11. News: Ferla. Ruth La. January 29, 2021. Seeking Solace in Art. en-US. The New York Times. June 7, 2021. 0362-4331.
  12. Web site: Board of Directors. June 7, 2021. God's Love We Deliver. en.
  13. Web site: November 1, 2019. Ariana Rockefeller Vows to Continue Family Interest in Greek Issues. June 7, 2021. GreekReporter.com.
  14. New York Botanical Garden, Bottega Veneta Create Winter Wonderland for Annual Ball. Wally. Maxine. December 16, 2018. Women's Wear Daily. February 14, 2019.
  15. Web site: Ariana Rockefeller Vows to Continue Family Interest in Greek Issues. GreekReporter.com. Kokkinidis. Tasos. November 2019. May 22, 2020.
  16. Web site: Rockefeller descendants speak out against company to which they owe their prosperity. December 2, 2016. cbsnews.com. May 22, 2020.
  17. Web site: Fighting Over A Dynasty's Soul. Shearn. Ian T.. fa-mag.com. May 22, 2020.
  18. News: Schwartz. John. November 21, 2016. Exxon Mobil Accuses the Rockefellers of a Climate Conspiracy. The New York Times. May 22, 2020. 0362-4331.