Prompt Cast
The Mysterious Life and Wealth of Ida Wood
TLDR Ida Wood climbed the social ladder, became extremely wealthy, disappeared for 25 years, and then reappeared as the subject of scandal and tabloid fodder. After inheriting an enormous fortune, she withdrew $1 million in cash and secluded herself in a filthy hotel suite, leading to a frenzy of people claiming her fortune upon her death.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Ida Wood, born Ellen Walsh, was a woman who climbed the social ladder and became extremely wealthy before disappearing from public life in 1907, only to reappear 25 years later and become the subject of scandal and tabloid fodder.
01:52
Ida Wood, claiming to be the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, wrote a forward letter to Benjamin Wood offering herself as a mistress, which led to her becoming his mistress and entering elite society.
03:27
After 10 years as Benjamin Wood's mistress, Ida became his third wife and inherited an enormous fortune upon his death.
05:05
In 1907, Ida Wood withdrew $1 million in cash from her bank in anticipation of the 1907 banking crisis, and along with her sisters, booked a suite at the Harold Square Hotel where they remained for years without any contact with the outside world.
06:53
Ida Wood's suite was filled with filth and garbage, but also contained large amounts of money, jewelry, and other valuable items.
08:31
Ida Wood was declared incompetent and taken away by police, leading to a frenzy of people coming forward to claim her fortune, resulting in over 1,000 claimants by the time of her death.
10:11
Ida Wood's estate was divided among her 10 living relatives in Ireland, each receiving over $90,000, making her one of the wealthiest women in the world at the time.
