Ariana Rockefeller

American fashion designer and equestrian (born 1982)

Ariana Rockefeller

Born|  (1982-05-26) May 26, 1982 (age 41)
Alma mater| Columbia University
Occupation(s)| Fashion designer, equestrian
Spouse|

Matthew Bucklin

(m. 2010⁠-⁠2019)​

Parent(s)| David Rockefeller Jr.
Diana Newell Rockefeller
Relatives| See Rockefeller family
Signature

Ariana Rockefeller (born May 26, 1982) is an American heiress, model and amateur equestrian. She is a granddaughter of banker David Rockefeller, a great-granddaughter of financier John D. Rockefeller Jr., and a great-great-granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil.[1][2][3]

## Early life and education[edit]

Ariana Rockefeller was born to David Rockefeller Jr. and Diana Newell Rockefeller.[4] Her hometown is Cambridge, Massachusetts,[5] but she was raised in New York and Maine.[4]

Her father served as the chair and remains a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation.[6] Her sister, Camilla Rockefeller, a fellow Columbia University graduate, is the chairwoman of David Rockefeller Fund.[7][8] She is a niece of ecologist Abby Rockefeller, economist Neva Goodwin, philanthropists and businesswomen Peggy Dulany and Eileen Rockefeller Growald, and family physician Richard Rockefeller.

Her paternal grandfather, David Rockefeller, was a billionaire businessman and the former chairman of Chase Bank from 1969 to 1981 as well as chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations from 1970 to 1985. He was the youngest son of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and grandson of Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller.[9]

She attended the Ethel Walker School, an all-girls boarding school in Connecticut.[4] She graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Political Science in 2009.[10][11][12] As a college student, she interned at the United Nations.[4]

## Career[edit]

### Fashion and lifestyle business[edit]

Rockefeller launched her own fashion line in 2011.[1][3] In 2014, she opened a pop-up shop in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.[5] She added a line of handbags in 2015 after hiring handbag designer Bassam Ali.[3][13] In January 2021, she reported that she closed her fashion business "a couple of years ago".[14]

### Equestrian career[edit]

Rockefeller began riding horses when she was three years old.[10] She competed on the equestrian team in high school, during which time she took an interest in show jumping.[10] She took a break from riding in college, and resumed by partaking in competitive show jumping in 2012.[3] In 2015, Rockefeller placed fourth in the Hampton Classic.[15]

### Modeling[edit]

In May 2021, Rockefeller signed with Marilyn Agency in New York to work on special projects in their talent division.[16]

## Philanthropy[edit]

Rockefeller has served on the board of the nonprofit David Rockefeller Fund.[6] Rockefeller supports the Humane Society of the United States.[17] She is a board member of God's Love We Deliver[18][19] and a Junior Associate of the Museum of Modern Art.[20] Rockefeller has chaired the New York Botanical Garden's Winter Ball for several years.[21] She also continues her family tradition of involvement and interest in ancient Greek culture and archaeology.[22]

## Views on family legacy and fossil fuel divestment[edit]

In a 2016 interview on CBS This Morning, she spoke out against the #Exxonknew campaign that was started by members of the Rockefeller family, among them her cousin David Kaiser, son of Neva Goodwin Rockefeller, and distant relative, Valerie Rockefeller Wayne, daughter of former Senator Jay Rockefeller, revealing a sharp divide within the family over its legacy in the petroleum industry and fossil fuel divestment.[23][24] She also criticized the ongoing campaign to target ExxonMobil, a company that her family founded, as "deeply misguided" and "counterproductive" to ''Exxon's ongoing good work in clean and renewable energy'' in a New York Times piece.[25]

## Personal life[edit]

On September 4, 2010, Rockefeller married entrepreneur Matthew Bucklin.[5][26] Their divorce was filed in April and finalized in October 2019.[5]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Hoffower, Hillary (September 30, 2018). "16 heirs to some of America's best-known brands who are poised to inherit millions". Business Insider. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
2. ^ Ell, Kellie (May 10, 2018). "Ariana Rockefeller says her family taught the value of hard work and giving back". CNBC. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
3. ^ a b c d Rossingh, Danielle. "Ariana Rockefeller on fashion, family and horses". CNN. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
4. ^ a b c d Wright, Jennifer Ashley (May 28, 2014). "Rockefeller Style". Observer. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
5. ^ a b c d Plummer, Todd (April 27, 2016). "Ariana Rockefeller on Her Preppy Fashion Label and Famous Last Name". The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
6. ^ a b Conley, Kevin (May 11, 2016). "How the Name Rockefeller Came to Mean More Than Just Wealth". Town & Country. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
7. ^ "Board and Staff". David Rockefeller Fund. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
8. ^ Camilla, Rockefeller (Fall 2006). "Growing Up in Acadia – John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s great-granddaughter reflects on family legacy" (PDF). Friends of Arcadia Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
9. ^ "The 10 Most Intriguing People in Maine 2018". Portland Magazine. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
10. ^ a b c Shorr, Kerry (May 1, 2018). "21 Things To Know About Ariana Rockefeller". Palm Beacher Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
11. ^ Nelson, Karin. "Family Tradition". W. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
12. ^ "Just Married!". Columbia College Today. Spring 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
13. ^ Sidell, Misty White (February 10, 2016). "Ariana Rockefeller Launches Handbag Line". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
14. ^ "Seeking Solace in Art". The New York Times. January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
15. ^ Clinton, Leah Melby (November 12, 2015). "This American Heiress Turned Fashion Designer Wants to Bring a Touch of Royal Style to Women Everywhere". Glamour. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
16. ^ Lockwood, Lisa (May 19, 2021). "Ariana Rockefeller Signed by Marilyn Agency in New York". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
17. ^ Jurga, Fran (January 16, 2017). "Free Range in Paradise: The "Wild" Horses of the Caribbean Attract Tourists and Research". Equus. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
18. ^ Ferla, Ruth La (January 29, 2021). "Seeking Solace in Art". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
19. ^ "Board of Directors". God's Love We Deliver. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
20. ^ "Ariana Rockefeller Vows to Continue Family Interest in Greek Issues". GreekReporter.com. November 1, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
21. ^ Wally, Maxine (December 16, 2018). "New York Botanical Garden, Bottega Veneta Create Winter Wonderland for Annual Ball". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
22. ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (November 2019). "Ariana Rockefeller Vows to Continue Family Interest in Greek Issues". GreekReporter.com. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
23. ^ "Rockefeller descendants speak out against company to which they owe their prosperity". cbsnews.com. December 2, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
24. ^ Shearn, Ian T. "Fighting Over A Dynasty's Soul". fa-mag.com. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
25. ^ Schwartz, John (November 21, 2016). "Exxon Mobil Accuses the Rockefellers of a Climate Conspiracy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
26. ^ Sipher, Devan (September 17, 2010). "Ariana Rockefeller and Matthew Bucklin". The New York Times.

*[m.]: married