Christie Brinkley was swept up in a fairytale romance with a devastating ending a year before her tumultuous union with hitmaker Billy Joel began.
The supermodel, renowned for her vibrant smile and sunny Californian appearance, had just concluded an eight-year marriage to French artist Jean-François Allaux when she met another Frenchman, champagne heir Olivier Chandon de Brailles, in 1982.
Chandon, the dashing only son of billionaire Frederic Chandon de Brailles, who was the chairman of the Moët-Hennessy group, was making his mark in the world of race car driving.
A chance meeting with the uber-wealthy Moët-Chandon nepo baby at NYC hotspot Studio 54 sparked ‘love at first sight’ for the Sports Illustrated icon.
Quickly becoming one of the 80s’ prominent power couples, tension emerged due to Chandon’s ambition to pursue a career in professional race car driving—despite concerns from both his family and Brinkley regarding his career choice.
On March 2 1983 Brinkley’s worst fears were realized when the high-octane sport claimed Chandon’s life in a freak crash in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He was just 27 years old.
Christie Brinkley was swept up in a fairytale romance with a devastating ending a year before her union with Billy Joel began – pictured with Olivier Chandon de Brailles in 1982 in NYC
They swiftly became one of the power couples of the 80s but friction arose over Chandon’s desire to forge a successful race car career – despite his family and Brinkley’s misgivings – pictured months before his death
Brinkley mended her heart with music icon Billy Joel – they are pictured in 1983 after Chandon’s death
Less than an hour before his death, a heartbroken Brinkley had made plans to meet Chandon that evening.
The pair’s fateful first meeting came at a soiree to promote the 1982 Christie Brinkley calendar.
A smitten Chandon sent her a dozen white roses afterwards with a note: ‘Hope to see you again before the flowers die.’
Brinkley said it was ‘love at first sight’ when she first locked eyes with Chandon, a French citizen who had moved to New York City to study.
Chandon had attended the exclusive Le Rosey School in Switzerland, and had served in the French Air Force.
His passion for racing began in Europe, where he competed in his first race aged just 18.
He moved to New York City in 1979 to study marketing and work in the sales department of United Technologies before resuming his racing career.
Described as being ‘blessed with great charm and poise’ Chandon spoke five languages fluently, had a black belt in Taekwondo and was also an ‘avid skydiver.’
The supermodel, famed for her peppy smile and California girl looks, was fresh off an eight year marriage to French artist Jean-François Allaux (pictured 1973) , when she first connected with Chandon
Chandon was the handsome only son of Frederic Chandon de Brailles, chairman of the Moet-Hennessy group, who was forging a career in race car driving – pictured 1982
They swiftly became one of the power couples of the 80s but friction arose over Chandon’s desire to forge a successful race car career – despite his family and Brinkley’s misgivings – pictured 1982
The pair’s fateful first meeting came at a soiree to promote the 1982 Christie Brinkley calendar – Brinkley pictured 1982 aged 28
Chandon was the handsome only son of billionaire Frederic Chandon de Brailles, chairman of the Moet-Hennessy group – pictured 1987
On March 2 1983 Brinkley’s worst fears were realized when the high octane sport claimed Chandon’s life in a freak crash. He was just 27 years old
Chandon was testing a new Ralt Formula Atlantic car (stock image) on March 2 1983 when he crashed into a barrier, was catapulted into a canal and drowned
Chandon’s team had rented Moroso Motorsport Park – now known as the Palm Beach International Raceway – to test the new 1983 Ralt
Their romance went from strength-to-strength and the high profile pair attended numerous glittering parties together, with Brinkley regularly spotted supporting him at the race track.
The only cloud on the horizon of the romance was concern over Chandon’s vocation.
He dropped the de Brailles from his name due to concern from his family over safety in the sport, per Motorsport Memorial.
Chandon competed professionally only once in the 1982 Formula Super Vee USA with Wilbur Bunce Racing and in a Ralt RT5 (Volkswagen), finishing in 43rd position – but he was determined to prove himself in the ruthless race car world.
His final days were spent preparing for the Formula Atlantic season with the Fred Opert Racing Team of New York.
At a cost of $600 a day, the team rented Moroso Motorsport Park – now known as the Palm Beach International Raceway – to test the new 1983 Ralt and and an older car.
On Tuesday March 1, the day before his death, Chandon drove for more than 100 miles in the older car to acclimatize himself with the track.
The next day Chandon climbed into the new Ralt Formula Atlantic car and began driving around the Park’s B-Line Highway.
More than four decades on from his death, Chandon has remained in a now 71-year-old Brinkley’s thoughts and memories – pictured 1982
On his tenth lap around the track, the car left the road and crashed into a barrier at more than 100mph.
The vehicle catapulted into a canal 12 meters from the track with a helpless Chandon pinned in the car by his feet.
Although his injuries were survivable, he was unable to escape and drowned.
When told of the accident, a distraught Christie stayed in California.
Then Palm Beach Sheriff’s Sgt. J.J. Andersen said the driver’s father, Frederic, who was the owner of the car, was expected to fly to Florida from France.
He said: ‘He will be meeting with the race team to discuss what happened. No one has said there was a mechanical failure, but we will continue to look into it.’
The Palm Beach Medical Examiner confirmed there were no signs of blows to the head or any body injuries that might have contributed to his death. His cause of death was confirmed as ‘asphyxiation by drowning.’
The cause of the accident remains a mystery to this day – with a stuck throttle or driver error touted as possible theories.
Chandon is buried in the Laferte-sur-Aube cemetery, Haute-Marne, France.
Brinkley moved on with musician Joel soon after Chandon’s death.
The pair had met for the first time in January 1983, two months before Chandon’s crash, while they were both on vacation in St. Barts.
The Piano Man singer explained that he reached out to Brinkley after he heard that her boyfriend had died to offer his condolences, they struck up a friendship, and things eventually turned romantic.
The two started dating while he was still in a relationship with Elle Macpherson, as Billy wrote in his 2014 memoir, Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography, that he once brought Christie home while Elle was already asleep in his bed.
Joel and Brinkley were married for nine years, and she famously starred in his Uptown Girl video
The Piano Man singer explained that he reached out to Brinkley after he heard that her boyfriend had died to offer his condolences, they struck up a friendship, and things eventually turned romantic – pictured 1988 with daughter Alexa Ray
More than four decades on from his death, Chandon has remained in a now 71-year-old Brinkley’s thoughts and memories.
She reflects on their relationship in her new memoir, Uptown Girl, and previously revealed that she had to take time off from her modelling career to rebuild after Chandon’s death.
She said: ‘I remember coming close to [starring in Darryl Hannah film] Splash but that was when my boyfriend Olivier was killed in the car accident. And I just had to take a little sabbatical.’
