Who Is Zelda Fitzgerald? Age, Biography and Wiki
Zelda Fitzgerald was born on July 24, 1900, and lived until March 10, 1948. In 2025, she would have been 124 years old if she were still alive today. An American novelist, painter, and social icon, Zelda was married to the famous writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and played a significant role in the literary world of the 1920s. Her vibrant personality and tumultuous life story have cemented her place in American culture and literature.
| Occupation | Playwright |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 24, 1900 |
| Age | 47 Years |
| Birth Place | Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 10 March, 1948 |
| Died Place | Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. |
Popularity
Zelda Fitzgerald's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Although specific measurements from Zelda's era are not easily accessible, historical accounts note that she was known to have a slender figure typical of flapper style. A rough estimate puts her height at around 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) with an estimated weight of 120 lbs (54 kg). Zelda maintained a fashionable appearance reflective of her time, embodying the flapper movement that celebrated women's independence and style.
In November 1947, Zelda returned for the last time to Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. Because of insulin treatments her weight increased to 130 pounds. Acquaintance Edna Garlington Spratt recalled Zelda's grim appearance in the final months before her death: "She was anything but pretty when I saw her.
She acted normal, but she looked so dreadful. Her hair was stringy and she had lost all pride in herself." Early in March 1948, her doctors told her she was better and she could leave, but she allegedly stayed for further treatment.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status (Boyfriend / Girlfriend / Husband / Wife)
Zelda Fitzgerald was married to the renowned author F. Scott Fitzgerald from 1920 until her untimely death in 1948. Their relationship was characterized by both passion and turmoil, influencing much of Scott's writing. Despite their tumultuous relationship marked by mental health struggles and infidelity, they shared a profound bond that shaped their creativity. Zelda did have brief romantic interests outside of her marriage, but none garnered the same enduring significance as her relationship with Scott.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, to a wealthy Southern family, she became locally famous for her beauty and high spirits. In 1920, she married writer F. Scott Fitzgerald after the popular success of his debut novel, This Side of Paradise.
The novel catapulted the young couple into the public eye, and she became known in the national press as the first American flapper. Because of their wild antics and incessant partying, she and her husband became regarded in the newspapers as the enfants terribles of the Jazz Age.
Alleged infidelity and bitter recriminations soon undermined their marriage. After Zelda traveled abroad to Europe, her mental health deteriorated, and she had suicidal and homicidal tendencies, which required psychiatric care. Her doctors diagnosed her with schizophrenia, although later posthumous diagnoses posit bipolar disorder.
Net Worth and Salary
While Zelda Fitzgerald's exact net worth at the time of her death is difficult to ascertain, it is estimated to be around $2 million in today’s dollars, largely due to her literary works and shared income with her husband. Today, her legacy continues to earn money through book sales, adaptations, and various endeavors that celebrate her life and influence, ensuring her enduring presence in the literary landscape.
Following the financial failure of Scott's play The Vegetable, the Fitzgeralds found themselves mired in debt. Although Scott wrote short stories furiously to pay the bills, he became burned out and depressed.
During this period, while Scott wrote short stories at home, the New York Police Department detained Zelda near the Queensboro Bridge on the suspicion of her being the "Bobbed Haired Bandit," an infamous spree-robber later identified as Celia Cooney.
Following this incident, the couple departed in April 1924 for Paris, France, in the hope of living a more frugal existence abroad in Europe.
Career, Business and Investments
Zelda Fitzgerald was much more than a mere muse for her husband. She was a writer in her own right, publishing novels, short stories, and a significant volume of letters. Her most notable work, "Save Me the Waltz," was published in 1932 and is often acclaimed for its vivid portrayal of her struggles with identity and creativity. Zelda also dabbled in painting, creating works that have gained recognition in the art community. Although she did not accumulate considerable wealth through investments, her artistic contributions remain influential.
Soon after, Scott employed two maids and a laundress. Zelda's complete dependence upon servants became the comedic focus of magazine articles. When Harper & Brothers asked Zelda to contribute her favorite recipes in an article, she wrote: "See if there is any bacon, and if there is, ask the cook which pan to fry it in.
Then ask if there are any eggs, and if so try and persuade the cook to poach two of them. It is better not to attempt toast, as it burns very easily. Also, in the case of bacon, do not turn the fire too high, or you will have to get out of the house for a week. Serve preferably on china plates, though gold or wood will do if handy."
Social Network
Zelda was a prominent figure in the literary and artistic circles of her time, befriending notable contemporaries such as Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway. Her vibrant social life was enhanced by her bohemian spirit, which often placed her at the center of the Jazz Age's cultural revolution. Today, social media showcases her life and legacy, with dedicated pages on platforms like Instagram and Twitter celebrating her influence, life, and works.
In addition to inspiring the character of Rosalind Connage, Scott used a quote from Zelda's letters for a soliloquy by the narrator at the conclusion of The Romantic Egotist, later retitled and published as This Side of Paradise. Zelda wrote Scott a letter eulogizing the Confederate dead who perished during the American Civil War.
"I've spent today in the graveyard... Isn't it funny how, out of a row of Confederate soldiers, two or three will make you think of dead lovers and dead loves—when they're exactly like the others, even to the yellowish moss," she wrote to Scott.
In the final pages of his novel, Fitzgerald altered Zelda's sentiments to refer to Union soldiers instead of Confederates.
Education
Zelda Fitzgerald attended St. Vincent’s Academy and then went on to the prestigious Montgomery Female College. Her education provided her with a solid foundation for her literary pursuits, although her unconventional lifestyle often led her to seek experiences outside formal academic settings. Her literary talents were largely self-taught, reflecting her passionate pursuit of writing and creativity.
In July 1918, Zelda Sayre first met aspiring novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald at the Montgomery Country Club. At the time, Fitzgerald had been freshly rejected by his first love, Chicago socialite and heiress Ginevra King, due to his lack of financial prospects.
Heartbroken by this rejection, Scott had dropped out of Princeton University and volunteered for the United States Army amid World War I. While awaiting deployment to the Western front, he was stationed at Camp Sheridan, outside Montgomery.
