GREAT FORTUNE TO BE DIVIDED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 22 August 1907, Page 4

GREAT FORTUNE TO BE DIVIDED.

SHARING THE VANDERBILT MILLIONS. New York, July 2, Miss Gladys Vanderbilt, the youngest daughter of the late Mr Cornelius Vanderbilt. wiil come of age in August, when she will inherit £2,500,000, thus becoming the richest eligible young woman in America.

The coming-of-age festivities held in her honor at the houie of Mrs Alfred O. Vanderbilt, her sister-in-law, at Newport, will be made the occasion of the official distribution of the Vanderbilt fortune, one of the greatest in the world.

Miss Gladys Vanderbilt is the youngest of five direct heirs to the estate of the late Cornelius Vanderbilt. Her direct inheritance under her father's will was £1,500,000, which has increased since her father's death to £2,000,000. She also possesses a fourth interest in her mother's estate, valued at £2,000,000, making her total forutne, of which she is absolute mistress, £2,500,000. lfr Cornelius Vanderbilt, juu., the eldest of the family, gets nothing. He married Miss Grace Wilson, the daughter of a well-known New Yorker, some years ago against his father's wishes, and was consequently cut off. He has a modest income, and his wife is also moderately wealthy. Mr Reginald Vanderbilt, the youngest son, inherits about £500,000, the surplus accumulated front legacies which were Hot paid because of the death o£ the beneficiaries.

Mrs Harry Payne Whitney, who was Miss Gerttrude Vanderbilt, receives a, asm somewhat less

Mr Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, the second son, who is recognised as the head of the junior branch of the family —the head of the Vandcrbilts being Mr \V. K. Vanderbilt, father of the Duchess of Slarlborougii—will receive half of the residuary estate. This is properly due to him on his thirtieth birthday next October, but arrangements have been, made to give him his share at the August birthday fetes. When he is thirty-five Mr Vanderbilt will lie awarded the other half of the residuary estate. The total is valued at about £0,225,000.