In a world where opulence often takes centre stage, the story of Candice Miller, widow of the late Brandon Miller, reveals the hidden costs behind a lavish lifestyle. Known for her extravagant spending and high-profile social life, Miller's name has become synonymous with the dark side of luxury and excess.
Her indulgent habits were reportedly intertwined with her husband's staggering $17 million debt, which tragically culminated in his suicide. But who is Candice Miller, and why is she being blamed for her family's misfortunes? This article explores the rise and fall of the Hamptons socialite and the potential consequences of living beyond one's means.
Who Is Candice Miller?
Candice Miller is a prominent social media personality and co-founder of the parenting blog Mama & Tata with her sister, Jenna Crespi. Despite the tragedy, she has not made public comments regarding her husband's passing, and her Instagram account @mamaandtata has been deactivated, presumably for privacy reasons. However, the Mama & Tata website remains active.
According to their website bio, the sisters express their love for their city and its cultural, fashion, and lifestyle offerings. They aim to share their experiences and insights on maintaining beauty, style, and glamour in everyday life while navigating motherhood.
Founded in 2016, Mama & Tata quickly became a go-to resource for many mothers, featuring interviews with notable figures such as former Victoria's Secret supermodel Miranda Kerr, stylist Karla Welch, and novelist Joy Bauer.
Candice once credited her husband for his unwavering support. "I have the most supportive husband who encourages me to do whatever I love and always lifts me up. I attribute a lot of my courage and strength to his unconditional love and support, as well as that of my children," she told Mini Magazine in 2019.
Indebted to a Luxury Lifestyle
According to MailOnline, Brandon Miller allegedly owed $17 million and faced mounting legal problems as he struggled to sustain his family's opulent lifestyle. Reports reveal that Miller's financial woes were exacerbated by the need to keep up appearances and maintain an extravagant lifestyle, a burden that ultimately became too heavy to bear.
"Candice spent money like water. She would get an $800 facial once a week and had a private chef. She spent thousands on flowers for each of her dinner parties," a source close to the family revealed. "Her wardrobe was filled with Miu Miu, Prada, and accessories from The Row. She spent another thousand every month on her Tracy Anderson membership and private training sessions."
To maintain her lavish lifestyle influencer persona on social media, the source added, "Everything she did was captured by a professional photographer to project this perfect lifestyle. All of that costs an absolute fortune."
According to News.com.au, Candice documented her extravagant lifestyle on Mama & Tata and social media, showcasing lavish vacations, including visits to the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, where suites start at USD 2,500 a night, and La Residencia Hotel in Mallorca, at USD 2,000 a night. Her posts also featured dinners prepared by personal chefs and appearances at countless high-society charity events.
Candice and Brandon Miller's Relationship
Candice and her late husband had a long history, dating back to their childhood days in the Hamptons. They married in 2009 and purchased a $9 million house in Tribeca and a $3 million property in Southampton. The couple welcomed two daughters before Brandon's untimely death.
"On most days, what I really look forward to is arriving home and sitting for dinners with my husband and my girls, followed by some very yummy snuggles before bedtime, where we all profess our love for one another over and over again," Candice once said.
Before his death, Brandon Miller, 43, was a Brown University alumnus living with his family in Manhattan's affluent Tribeca district. He was a principal partner at his father's Real Estate Equities Corporation, founded in 1978. Brandon will be remembered as a second-generation developer with significant experience in New York City real estate development.
The Aftermath and Ongoing Struggles
Following Brandon's death, News.com.au reported that the family has been grappling with the fallout. The pressures of their high-profile lifestyle have only intensified, with public scrutiny adding to the family's emotional and financial turmoil.
"After his death, reports surfaced detailing the extent of Brandon's financial troubles and the lavish spending habits that contributed to his downfall. They were spending way beyond their means to keep up with the Joneses".
A prominent member of the Southampton social set highlighted the transactional nature of many marriages in affluent circles, though he clarified that the Millers' marriage did not fall into that category as they had known each other since childhood. "There's a lot of people renting big houses or going into debt to throw parties in an effort to get into the really rich circles with billionaires," he said.
