How Aristotle Onassis Humiliated Jackie Kennedy in the Media
A lesson on greed, passion, and betrayal
“And right here on your left is Skorpios. It belonged to a Greek magnate Aristotle Onassis who used to throw huge parties there in the 1960s and 1970s.”
“Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra would come. So would Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, and John Wayne. You could even find politicians like Winston Churchill and Yugoslav President Tito. Grace Kelly was also a guest after she married the Prince of Monaco, as well as Maria Callas…”
I was looking at the lush green island and couldn’t make out anything from the trees. Not a single house.
“There is a heliodrome at the top. The island used to be barren until Onassis imported 200 tree species. The sand was brought right from Salamis island west of Athens.”
Of course. The shipping tycoon preferred more vegetation and a sandy beach, so he just had it fixed, I thought.
“Now it belongs to some Russian heiress. You can take a quick dip but don’t get out onto the beach. Tourists are still not allowed.”
“This is the famous spot where Jackie Kennedy was mortified. Let me tell you that story…”
