Anderson Cooper chronicles the rise and fall of a legendary American dynasty--his mother's family--the Vanderbilts.

Color illustrations on endpapers.

Prologue. The Breakers: March 30, 2018 -- The tycoon: January 4, 1877 -- Van der Bilt: c. 1660 -- The Blatherskite and the namesake: April 2, 1882 -- Society as I have found it: October 22, 1883 -- Venetian princesses: March 26, 1883 -- American royalty: November 6, 1895 -- Failure is impossible: May 4, 1912 -- Down with the ship: May 1915 -- Standing in a cold shower, tearing up hundred-thousand-dollar bills: September 15, 1934 -- Living a Roman à Clef: November 21, 1934 -- Gloria at La Côte Basque: November 28, 1966 -- The last Vanderbilt: October 28, 1978, and June 17, 2019 -- Epilogue. Christmas Eve, 1930.