Who

The third (and final) wife of Randolph Hearst, Veronica is a well-preserved socialite and the mother of socialite Fabiola Beracasa. Holding on to real estate, however, is not her forte.

Backstory

Born in Monte Carlo to a Dutch aristocrat and a Persian princess, Veronica was raised and educated in Switzerland and moved to Latin America after tying the knot with her first husband, Venezuelan tycoon Alfredo Beracasa. The marriage produced two kids—Maria Fabiola and Carlos Alejandro—before the couple divorced; Veronica soon moved on to husband No. 2, a Colombian coffee magnate. In 1987, she struck matrimonial gold when, at the age of 42, she settled down with her third husband, publishing tycoon Randolph Hearst, who was 72 at the time.

Moving to Hearst's penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue with her two kids in tow, Veronica spent 13 years as his trophy bride until his passing in 2000. The publishing magnate's will stipulated that Veronica receive $4 million in cash as well as possession of their Manhattan apartment and Palm Beach mansion, which amounted to a relatively small percentage of his near-billion-dollar fortune. But it's given Veronica plenty of time over the past few years to tend to her voluminous collection of haute couture, schedule appointments with her plastic surgeon, and make occasional appearances at gala events around town.

Family ties

Veronica's marriage to Randolph Hearst made her the step-mom to Anne, Patty, Catherine, Virginia, and Victoria Hearst as well as the step-grandmother of social scenesters Lydia, Gillian, and Amanda. Her daughter, of course, is A-list socialite Fabiola Beracasa.

Habitat

Until recently, Veronica occupied the two homes Hearst had left her, the penthouse at 4 East 66th Street and the 40-room mansion in Palm Beach. In 2007, she put the latter on the market for $27 million amid speculation that she was forced to sell it due to a cash crunch. The news was confirmed several months later when the home went into foreclosure and was sold at auction for $22 million. To keep solvent, Veronica's since given up her New York apartment as well, selling it for an estimated $30 million in 2008.