Richard Taubman is an American real estate developer best known as Christie Brinkley’s third husband. The couple married in Colorado in December 1994, welcomed a son in 1995, and separated later that year.
His name also appears in reports about a serious helicopter accident near Telluride. The event came before their marriage and led to a rescue high in the Rocky Mountains.
In this article, you’ll learn about his property career, the 1994 accident, his marriage and children, the divorce proceedings, and his life after the headlines.
Who Is Richard Taubman?
Taubman worked in real estate development in Colorado. News reports from the 1990s placed him in Telluride, a ski town in the state’s southwest corner.
He was also called Rick or Ricky Taubman in coverage from that period. Those shorter names refer to the same developer who married Brinkley.
He was 45 when the helicopter accident took place in April 1994. Reports the following summer described him as 46, placing his birth in the late 1940s without giving an exact birthday.
Unlike his former wife, he did not build his public identity through modeling, acting, or television. His wider fame grew out of events in his personal life.
His Work in Colorado Real Estate
Property development was his established line of work when national news outlets began covering him. Reports called him both a real estate developer and a real estate executive.
His professional base was tied to Telluride, where mountain tourism and homes for seasonal visitors were major parts of the local economy. He was described as a local developer in later coverage of the town.
The town was more than a place for his work. He also skied in the area and chose its mountains for his wedding.
His job was not in show business. Yet his link to Brinkley brought his name into celebrity news.
The 1994 Helicopter Crash Near Telluride
A Ski Trip That Turned Into a Mountain Rescue
On April 1, 1994, Taubman was aboard a helicopter taking skiers into the mountains near Telluride. Brinkley was another passenger, along with Sandra Carradine and other members of the group.
The aircraft crashed close to Ophir, south of Telluride, at roughly 12,800 feet. High winds, snow, and steep ground made it hard for rescuers to reach the passengers.
The group spent about five hours waiting for help. Rescue teams used helicopters to lift people away from the crash site before a storm moved in.
Different Injuries for the Two Survivors
Taubman was the most seriously injured passenger. He suffered several broken ribs and a punctured lung, and he was taken to a hospital in Grand Junction for care.
Brinkley had minor injuries and left a nearby hospital the next day. She was still married to singer Billy Joel when the accident happened; Joel had not been on the flight.
The crash left injuries that needed care. It also led to a court case after their marriage ended.
From a Fast Engagement to a Mountain Wedding
A Relationship in the Spring of 1994
By September 1994, the pair were engaged. In a news interview that month, Brinkley said they had decided to marry only a few weeks after meeting.
The timing came during a major change in her life. She and Joel had separated after nine years of marriage, and their divorce became final in August 1994.
Brinkley already had a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, from that marriage. Taubman would become her third husband, after artist Jean-François Allaux and the singer.
A Wedding Above the Colorado Snow
The couple married on December 22, 1994, on Telluride’s ski mountain. They said their vows close to 12,000 feet above sea level, with snow all around.
Brinkley wore a mohair wedding gown. They chose a spot near the area where their helicopter had crashed that spring.
The relationship also appeared in public photographs. On October 6, 1994, the engaged couple attended the opening of Cirque du Soleil’s Alegría at Santa Monica Pier in California.
Richard Taubman’s Children and Family Connections
Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook
Brinkley gave birth to their son on June 2, 1995. He was first reported as Jack Paris Brinkley Taubman, a name that reflected both parents.
Today, he is known as Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook. After Brinkley married architect Peter Cook in 1996, Cook adopted Jack, which explains the surname used in later family coverage.
Jack grew up alongside two maternal half-sisters. Alexa Ray Joel is Brinkley’s daughter with Billy Joel, while Sailor Brinkley-Cook is her daughter with Peter Cook.
A Child From an Earlier Marriage
Jack was not Taubman’s first child. A Washington Post report published in June 1995 said the developer already had an eight-year-old son from a previous marriage.
That report establishes that he was a father before his relationship with Brinkley. It did not name the older boy, so that part of his family has remained outside the celebrity spotlight.
Jack’s Own Path as an Adult
Although his mother and sisters have worked in the public eye, Jack has followed a different path. He has shown an interest in business and outdoor sports.
In 2019, he and a business partner launched Rove, a passenger-van service connecting New York City with Hamptons destinations. The venture aimed to offer an option between public buses and costly private travel.
He has also spoken about enjoying the ocean, including sailing, swimming, and surfing. These interests have become part of his public profile rather than a career in modeling.
The 1995 Separation and Custody Case
Seven Months After the Wedding
On July 26, 1995, Brinkley announced that she had decided to separate from her husband. Their baby was only weeks old, and the marriage had lasted about seven months.
The split led to court proceedings in two states. The divorce was being handled in Colorado, while a separate case concerning their child moved through a New York court.
What Happened in Court
In November 1995, New York judge Phyllis Gangel-Jacob granted Taubman temporary visits with Jack twice a month. Brinkley was seeking sole custody at the time.
The hearing drew press attention because the parents disagreed about access to their infant son. The order was an interim decision, not a final public account of the family’s arrangements.
By December, the parties had reached agreements in the divorce and custody matters. The court sealed the terms, so the private settlement should not be confused with the earlier temporary visitation order.
The Accident Led to a Separate Lawsuit in 1996
One unusual part of the timeline came after the separation. In March 1996, Taubman and Brinkley joined fellow passenger Sandra Carradine in a lawsuit against the helicopter tour operator.
Their claim concerned the accident from two years earlier. It was a civil dispute about the ski flight, not an extension of their divorce case.
The company, Telluride Helitrax, disputed the negligence claims. It argued that passengers had been aware of the risks involved in the trip.
Though the pair had split, both were part of the same suit. The case dealt with the flight and its effects.
Why Christie Brinkley Discussed Him Again in 2025
Interest in the relationship returned when Brinkley published her memoir, Uptown Girl, on April 29, 2025. The book covers her modeling career, family history, marriages, and major turning points.
She reflected on how the helicopter crash affected her view of life and relationships. In her account, a traumatic event helped shape decisions she made during a time of personal change.
The memoir also describes pain connected to her brief marriage. Brinkley said she felt betrayed when Taubman contacted her estranged biological father, with whom she had a difficult childhood history.
Her account brought new press interest to a marriage that had ended decades before.
Richard Taubman’s Life Away From Public Attention
His best-documented public period remains the middle of the 1990s. News stories from those years follow his real estate career, the Colorado accident, the wedding, and the legal cases.
Later coverage has focused mainly on Brinkley’s memoir and on Jack as an adult. Taubman has not maintained the same highly visible entertainment profile as other members of the extended family.
His real estate background is well established, but it does not provide a sound basis for calculating his personal wealth. No dependable public figure confirms a current net worth.
His current home, work, and relationship status are not clear from recent coverage. His past marriage does not tell us how he lives today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Was Richard Taubman Christie Brinkley’s third husband?
Yes. She was previously married to Jean-François Allaux and Billy Joel. Her marriage to Taubman came before her later marriage to Peter Cook.
How old is Richard Taubman?
He was reported to be 45 in April 1994 and 46 in July 1995. Those accounts place his birth around 1948 or 1949, but they do not establish an exact birthday.
How many children does Richard Taubman have?
Reports from 1995 name at least two sons: Jack and an older boy from a prior marriage.
Why does Jack use the surname Brinkley-Cook?
Jack was adopted by Peter Cook, the architect who later married his mother. The name reflects his place in that family.
Where is Richard Taubman now?
He has kept a low profile since the 1990s. No recent mainstream report gives a clear account of where he lives or works.
Final Thoughts
Taubman worked in Colorado real estate before his marriage made news. A mountain crash, a short marriage, and two court cases marked his most public years.
His son Jack later joined the Brinkley-Cook family through adoption. Taubman, meanwhile, stepped out of the spotlight as the rest of the family built lives of their own.
You may also read: Zulekha Haywood: Iman’s Daughter, Body Image and Life Today
