Patricia Altschul Net Worth: Southern Comfort and a Hefty Price Tag
Her wealth primarily comes from her late husband Arthur Altschul, who was a partner at Goldman Sachs and a prominent art collector.
Patricia Altschul is an American socialite, art collector, and television personality known for her appearances on the reality series, Southern Charm.
Born on April 16, 1941, in Jacksonville, Florida, she grew up in Richmond, Virginia.
Altschul earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art history and archaeology from George Washington University.
She worked as an instructor and assistant professor in art history at George Washington University before becoming an art dealer, owning and running Arcadia, a private art dealership that handled major paintings by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Winslow Homer.
Net worth
Altschul has an estimated net worth of $100 million.
Her wealth primarily comes from her late husband Arthur Altschul, who was a partner at Goldman Sachs and a prominent art collector.
Altschul also earns income from her appearances on the reality TV show, Southern Charm, where she is estimated to make around $25,000 per episode.
She has appeared in over 60 episodes since the show began in 2014.
Additionally, Altschul launched a home decor line called the Patricia Altschul Luxury Collection on the Home Shopping Network in 2020.
She also published a book called The Art of Southern Charm in 2017.
In 2009, Altschul sold her 30-room mansion in Long Island, New York for $12.5 million.
She currently resides in a historic 10-bedroom home in Charleston, South Carolina that she purchased for $4.8 million in 2008.
Career
Altschul’s career has been marked by various roles in art history, education and entrepreneurship.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in art history and archaeology from George Washington University in 1964 and her master’s degree in the same field in 1965.
After completing her education, she started as an instructor and later became an assistant professor in art history at George Washington University, where she taught for several years.
Altschul’s passion for art led her to own and run Arcadia, a private art dealership in Washington, D.C.
She handled major paintings by artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Martin Johnson Heade and Winslow Homer, showcasing her expertise in the art world.
In addition to her work in art, Altschul published the book, The Art of Southern Charm, in 2017, which includes her story, etiquette tips, styling tips and dating advice.
In 2020, Altschul expanded her entrepreneurial ventures by launching The Patricia Altschul Luxury Collection on the Home Shopping Network.
This move further solidified her presence in the world of luxury goods and home decor.
Her most recent and notable role is as a cast member on the reality TV series, Southern Charm, where she is known for her witty remarks and strong personality.
Altschul Luxury Collection
The Altschul Luxury Collection is a high-end home collection launched by Patricia Altschul in collaboration with HSN.
This collection offers luxurious, well-made, and unique home decor items at an accessible and affordable price range of $29.95 to $350.
It reflects Altschul’s design philosophy based on classical principles infused with whimsical elements, aiming to create a luxurious and comfortable home environment.
The collection includes a variety of items such as faux-fur trimmed robes, luxe faux-fur throws and house wraps, providing an attainable means of emulating Altschul’s sophisticated design aesthetic.
The Art of Southern Charm
The Art of Southern Charm is a lifestyle guide written by Patricia Altschul, a breakout star of the Bravo reality show, Southern Charm.
The book offers a glimpse into Altschul’s world of etiquette, entertaining and living well.
Altschul shares her stories, tips, and advice on topics such as fashion, dating and hosting dinner parties.
The book reflects her design philosophy, which combines classical principles with whimsical elements to create a luxurious yet comfortable home environment.
While some readers found the book entertaining and appreciated Altschul’s advice on manners and hosting, others felt it was pretentious and out of touch with modern times.
The author’s use of complicated vocabulary and footnotes was seen by some as talking down to the reader.
Real estate
In 1997, Altschul purchased a 30-room mansion in Long Island for an undisclosed amount.
She sold it in 2009 for $12.5 million.
In 2008, Altschul bought the historic Isaac Jenkins Mikell House in Charleston, South Carolina, for $4.8 million.
The 10-bedroom, 9,500 square foot home was built in 1853 and was formerly a library.
She spent over $5 million on renovations, which were completed in 2013.
The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and is frequently featured on the reality TV series, Southern Charm
Altschul had a historic cottage built in the 1700s on her property for her long-time butler, Michael.
She renovated it and added heat and air conditioning for him.
Unfortunately, Michael suffered a spinal cord stroke in 2021, and it is unclear if the new butler, Randy, will occupy the cottage.
Personal life
Altschul has been married three times.
Her first husband was L. Hayes Smith, an investment banker and financial advisor who retired from Morgan Stanley in 2004.
They had one son together, Whitney Sudler-Smith. This marriage lasted from 1962 to 1979.
Her second husband was Dr. Edward Stitt Fleming, a prominent psychiatrist who founded the Psychiatric Institute of Washington and the Psychiatric Institutes of America in 1969.
This marriage lasted from 1989 to 1995.
Her third and wealthiest husband was Arthur Altschul, an investment banker, art collector and philanthropist.
They lived in an eight-bedroom mansion on Long Island called Southerly and owned an apartment on Fifth Avenue overlooking the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This marriage lasted from 1996 to 2002.
