After losing her first husband, Jacqueline Kennedy and long-time friend Aristotle Onassis began a romance that would lead to getting married on Oct. 20, 1968. On the anniversary of their short-lived marriage, take a look back at the big day and their life afterward as a couple.
Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis were reportedly long-time friends both before and throughout her marriage to John F. Kennedy. After years of depression and mourning the loss of her husband in November of 1963, she eventually grew close to Aristotle. The couple is pictured together on Oct. 18, 1968, just a couple of days before their wedding.
In the week leading up to the wedding, many people, mostly paparazzi photographers and reporters, crowded around Aristotle Onassis’ yacht to get a glimpse of the ceremony.
On Oct. 20, 1968, Jackie married Aristotle on his private Greek island of Skorpios in the Ionian Sea. They are pictured here disembarking his yacht after the wedding.
This aerial view shows the Greek island of Skorpios, owned by Aristotle Onassis, a shipping magnate who was once one of the world’s richest and most famous men.
Also in attendance at the wedding were Jackie’s children from her previous marriage to John F. Kennedy, John Jr. and Caroline.
The newly married couple was pictured driving away from the harbor after getting married in a small chapel on the Greek island of Skorpios on Oct. 20, 1968.
In the days that followed the wedding, the couple spent their time around the Greek island enjoying the clear waters and sunny beaches. Their relationship and marriage were highly publicized and photographers surrounded the yacht for the entirety of their honeymoon.
Famous photos of Jackie Kennedy Onassis swimming in the waters by her husband’s yacht were taken at the time. Jackie smiled and waved to the nearby photographers, finally happy after suffering from years of depression.
The couple spent a lot of time in Greece but also owned homes in the United States and Europe. They were frequently pictured together outside of Jackie’s Fifth Avenue apartment together in New York City but also owned 5 other residences as a couple, including a farm in New Jersey, an apartment in Paris, the private island of Skorpios, a home in Athens and the yacht Christina.
Aristotle Onassis and Jacqueline enjoyed a life of luxury during their marriage, as they were pictured on board his mega yacht The Christina, named after his daughter, on March 18, 1969. Christina reportedly didn’t like Jackie all too much and believed she carried a curse with her after the deaths of John and Robert Kennedy.
The happy couple celebrated their one-year anniversary on Oct. 20, 1969, with a lavish party at the Neraida nightclub in Greece.
They were even spotted enjoying the 1969 World Series together as the New York Mets took on the Baltimore Orioles. They were accompanied by Jackie’s children John Jr. and Caroline.
Aristotle’s son Alexander died in a plane crash in 1973, an accident that shook the entire family. It was reported that Aristotle’s health began to rapidly decline after losing his son as he developed respiratory problems. The couple is pictured here at a party shortly before the accident.
During their marriage, Jacqueline became known as Jackie O. to the media although she still remained close to the Kennedy family, especially Ted. The couple is pictured here during a tour of Egypt on March 28, 1974.
Aristotle Onassis died of respiratory failure at the age 69 while at his Paris residence on March 15, 1975. Jackie is pictured here at the funeral in Greece accompanied by her two children.
