Part 4/14:
Following his departure from Du Pont, Alfred turned his energies outward—investing in newspapers, establishing new ventures, and, notably, building a luxurious residence to rival the grandest homes of his era. His personal life was equally dramatic, characterized by tumultuous marriages and high-profile divorces. He first married Bessie Gardner in 1887, with whom he had four children, but their marriage ended in a scandalous divorce in 1906. The next year, Alfred stunned society by marrying his second cousin, omitting that detail from many in his social circle.