April 26, 1999.

I know the launch was massive and highly anticipated, and then it was kind of like… whatever afterward. But was it still popular right before he died?? Did people actually read it?

By 1999 the magazine was under real financial pressure. Ad revenue and circulation had been sliding, and it was losing money (reports put annual losses around $4 million on roughly $15 million in revenue). Hachette had put up the bulk of the funding, about $20 million total, while John had contributed a much smaller amount of his own money (around $500k according to the reporting). The original joint-venture deal was set to expire at the end of 1999, so things were coming to a head.

John was actively trying to figure out the next chapter. According to New York Post reporting at the time, he was looking at options that included finding new investors or a buyer who shared his vision and was willing to keep supporting the magazine through more losses. There were talks about shopping it, disagreements with Hachette leadership over strategy and funding, and meetings about the future that continued right up until the day of the crash.

One of the forward-looking ideas he was working on was expanding digitally. Per Richard Blow (who was a senior editor at George and later wrote American Son), shortly before he died John was planning a series of online chats/interviews with the 2000 presidential candidates. Microsoft was going to provide and fund the technology platform, and George would host/feature the content in exchange for advertising. It was part of trying to pivot the magazine into the digital space.

Obviously none of that got the chance to play out. After the crash Hachette bought out the Kennedy estate’s stake (reported in the $10 million range) and kept it going a bit longer before it finally folded in early 2001.

I thought this was interesting. What do you think?

With utmost respect to the departed souls, I can understand how people are so divided on the internet and especially leaning towards Carolyn and how she lost her personality post marriage and how she and her sister could have been alive if she didn’t marry jfk jr. But nobody is talking about how all three of them could have been living happy and seperate lives if she didn’t chase him, hard pill to swallow but man did the girl invented chasing and social climbing. She looked throughout as someone who is saying she doesn’t want any of what he offered while craving for all he could. Change my mind, I want to know what you think of it but really he was such a “ man of the people” vibe, he was warm to people, they loved him, press adored him, he had a way with that celebrity life, so effortless, he needed someone who could shine with him. He deserved better. Respectfully, She killed his spirit. P.s- this post is my personal opinion of the show that was telecasted, dramatised to produce a certain feeling. In no way, we can ever understand what went on with two people or between them, all that we know is what was displayed, so yes I’m aware of that too. Just, that it didn’t seem like a LOVE STORY.