The $1 Million Contract And Tragic End: 7 Shocking Facts About Supermodel Margaux Hemingway

One of the most captivating and tragic figures of the 1970s and 80s, Margaux Hemingway remains an enduring symbol of both extraordinary glamour and profound personal struggle. Born into one of America's most famous literary dynasties, the granddaughter of Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway, she became a global sensation almost overnight, commanding a record-breaking salary that redefined the supermodel era. As of this date, December 12, 2025, her story continues to be revisited in retrospectives and documentaries, offering a fresh, often heartbreaking look at the pressures of celebrity, generational trauma, and the mental health battles she fought largely in private.

Her striking six-foot-tall frame, gap-toothed smile, and undeniable presence catapulted her from a ranch in Ketchum, Idaho, to the covers of *Vogue* and *Elle*. Yet, beneath the veneer of high fashion and Hollywood parties lay a complex life marked by addiction, chronic health issues, and a family history of suicide known chillingly as the "Hemingway Curse." Understanding Margaux's journey requires looking beyond the glossy magazine covers to the deep-seated issues that ultimately led to her untimely death in 1996.

Margaux Hemingway: Complete Biography & Profile

• Full Name: Margot Louise Hemingway (she changed the spelling to Margaux after drinking Château Margaux wine on her 21st birthday).
• Born: February 16, 1954, in Portland, Oregon.
• Died: July 1, 1996, in Santa Monica, California (Age 42).
• Cause of Death: Suicide by overdose (acute phenobarbital intoxication).
• Occupation: Fashion Model, Actress, Writer.
• Height: 6 ft (183 cm).
• Family: Granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway; Older sister of actress Mariel Hemingway.
• Key Career Milestone: First model to sign a $1 million contract.
• Spouses: Erroll Wetson (m. 1975; div. 1978), Bernard Faucher (m. 1979; div. 1985).

The Golden Girl: Breaking the $1 Million Barrier in Modeling

Margaux Hemingway's entry into the fashion world was nothing short of explosive. Arriving in New York City in 1975, she quickly became the darling of the disco era, a fixture at Studio 54 alongside celebrities like Andy Warhol and Liza Minnelli. Her career peaked immediately with a contract that made global headlines and changed the economics of the modeling industry forever.

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In a groundbreaking deal, Margaux signed a contract with Fabergé Inc. to be the spokesmodel for their new fragrance, Babe perfume. The unprecedented value of this contract was a staggering $1 million, a figure that made her the highest-paid model in the world at the time. This single deal cemented her status as the world's first true "supermodel," paving the way for the celebrity model phenomenon that followed in the 1980s and 90s.

Her face graced the covers of every major publication, including *Vogue*, *Elle*, and *Cosmopolitan*, confirming her status as a bona fide fashion icon. She was a symbol of the decade's new, bold glamour, effortlessly blending the aristocratic allure of her name with the modern, statuesque beauty of a six-foot-tall runway star.

The Shadow of the 'Hemingway Curse' and Personal Struggles

Despite her professional success, Margaux’s personal life was a constant, tumultuous battle against a formidable array of challenges. Her struggles were often linked to the pervasive and tragic mental health history of the Hemingway family, which saw multiple suicides across generations, including her famous grandfather, Ernest Hemingway.

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Margaux suffered from severe depression, a condition often exacerbated by her struggles with alcoholism and substance abuse. Her health issues were complex; she battled bulimia and was also afflicted with epilepsy, a condition that reportedly first manifested in 1962 following her grandfather's suicide. These chronic conditions led to highly publicized episodes and multiple attempts at recovery.

In 1988, following a debilitating seizure, Margaux sought treatment at the renowned Betty Ford Clinic, openly addressing her addiction issues. Her acting career, which began with her 1976 debut film *Lipstick* (co-starring her younger sister Mariel), never reached the heights of her modeling career, which added another layer of professional disappointment. Her filmography included roles in movies like *Killer Fish* (1979), *They Call Me Bruce?* (1982), *Over the Brooklyn Bridge* (1984), *Inner Sanctum* (1991), and *Double Obsession* (1992), but her fame often overshadowed her craft.

A Tragic End and Enduring Legacy in Mental Health Advocacy

The final chapter of Margaux's life was a descent into isolation and despair. She was found dead in her Santa Monica apartment on July 1, 1996, the day before the 35th anniversary of her grandfather’s suicide. The Los Angeles County Coroner officially ruled her death a suicide due to an overdose of the barbiturate phenobarbital.

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However, her legacy is not solely defined by tragedy. In the years since her death, her story has become a touchstone in the conversation about mental health and generational trauma, largely through the work of her sister, Mariel Hemingway. The 2013 documentary “Running from Crazy,” produced by Mariel, explicitly explores the mental illness and suicide that plagued the Hemingway family, using Margaux's life as a central, poignant example.

The documentary also revealed the existence of 43 hours of archival footage from an unfinished documentary project Margaux herself had attempted, offering a rare, intimate glimpse into her own struggles and self-awareness. Today, Margaux Hemingway is remembered as more than just a 1970s supermodel; she is a powerful, cautionary figure whose life illuminates the brutal contrast between public glamour and private pain. Her story continues to influence discussions on addiction, eating disorders, and the critical need for mental health advocacy, ensuring that the former fashion icon's struggles were not in vain.