THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO KNOW

In 1977 Helen Brach disappeared and was never seen again. The wealthy widow and candy fortune heir may have met her end because of horse trade. No trace of Helen Brach has ever been found and no one ever took punishment for her possible murder. Helen Brach was born into humble circumstances in 1911. She married and divorced her high school sweetheart. She worked at a Palm Beach nightclub and met Frank Brach, heir to the Brach's candy company (shout out to bridge mix!) Frank sold the company in 1966 for $136 million. When Frank died in 1970 Helen netted a $160 million fortune. She gave money to animal charities, drove around in pink and lavender cars ( Brach  company colors) and partied with a suave con man 20 years her junior, Richard Bailey. Bailey sold Helen  Brach  bum racing horses for $98 million then tried to sell her more horses. Helen hired an appraiser who confirmed the horses were worthless. Helen planned to consult an attorney...

In May 2011 a 104-year-old woman died. In her span of life she witnessed the birth of aircraft flight, and the moon landing, World War I, World War II, and the September 11th attacks. She witnessed the beginning of radio, film, television, and the internet. 19 men - Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama, had been president, and five states joined the union. Women earned the right to vote. She narrowly missed perishing on the Titanic. She survived on the millions of dirty dollars her father earned by lying and cheating before the 20th century even began. She had two luxurious homes she never lived in. Instead she preferred to live in a hospital, safe from the outside world.  Huguette  Clark was one of the world's most famous recluses. Huguette's  father, William Clark was born in a log cabin in Montana. He made his money in mining copper. He built a settlement in the Nevada desert that would come to be known as Las vegas. He ran for senate, bribing anyone who could help him a...

Filled the pool with champagne and swam with the big names And blew through the money on the boys and the ballet And losin' on card game bets with Dalí Sounds like a pretty fun gal. Taylor Swift wrote The Last Great American Dynasty about Rebekah Harkness, socialite and Bitch Pack member who shocked society by marrying the heir to Standard Oil. Once one of the wealthiest women in America, Harkness partied and patronized, much to the chagrin of her contemporaries. Rebekah Harkness would have been forgotten had the legend that is T- Swift not brought her back to life in song form. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1915, Rebekah West grew up the daughter of a wealthy midwest family. Her parents left the care of their children to nannies. Rebekah attended two schools for girls as a young woman. She and her friends called themselves the Bitch Pack. Rebekah did not abide by society's rules for proper young debutants. She spiked the punch at her sister's coming out ball with mineral...

These wealthy women had troubles for every dollar they had... Rebekah inspired a T-Swift song Huguette became a recluse with only her dolls to keep her company Helen was a sweets empire heiress whose love of horses got her into a sour situation