October 1991 — in the heart of Houston, amid flashing neon lights and the pulsing rhythm of a strip club, an 86-year-old oil tycoon entered a world far from his usual boardrooms and mansions. This was J. Howard Marshall — a man whose fortune soared over $1 billion, a titan of oil and industry. But fate had a different kind of power waiting for him that day.
There, under the glaring spotlight, Marshall’s eyes locked with those of a 23-year-old aspiring model working the day shift — Anna Nicole Smith. The attraction was electric, instant, and unstoppable. By the very next day, Marshall’s grand gesture stunned all: he handed Anna Nicole a thick envelope stuffed with $1,000 in cash, commanding, “Don’t go to work, my Lady Love. You don’t have to ever go back to work.”
From that moment, a whirlwind romance ignited. The billionaire lavished Anna Nicole with extravagant gifts — a red Mercedes convertible gleaming like a jewel, access to a bungalow once graced by the iconic Marilyn Monroe, and over $1 million in glittering jewelry that symbolized a love many found unbelievable.
As Anna Nicole’s star rose to fame, eventually gracing the covers of Playboy, the two sealed their bond in marriage in 1994. But their fairytale was heartbreakingly brief — just 14 months later, Marshall passed away, leaving behind a tangled legacy of love, fortune, and controversy.
Truth Check: This story is TRUE. The relationship between J. Howard Marshall and Anna Nicole Smith is well-documented, including their meeting in 1991, the lavish gifts, their 1994 marriage, and Marshall’s death 14 months later.
The Unlikely Romance of J. Howard Marshall and Anna Nicole Smith
