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94 Rutledge Avenue is one of the most iconic homes in Charleston, South Carolina. The historic house is currently owned by Patricia Altschul and has been featured prominently on the reality TV show Southern Charm. The house isn’t exactly hard to miss, with its six-column pedimented portico standing out with composite capitals carved from cypress and adorned with rams' heads.
The house has a rich history dating back to the Civil War and is currently used by Patricia's fabulous parties on the program. In this article, we'll take a closer look at Southern Charm, the history of the house, and its current value.
The Basics Of Southern Charm
Southern Charm is one of the most distinctive reality TV series currently airing. After several successful seasons since its 2014 Bravo debut, it has spawned a number of spin-offs, including RelationShep, Summer House and Winter House. Southern Charm follows the professional and private lives of various socialites in Charleston, South Carolina; many of whom are from renowned American families. Southern Charm focuses on southern culture and of course, drama. If you're thinking The Real Housewives with southern accents, you haven't watched this show.
Locals didn't know what to expect at first, especially due to some of the cast's obnoxious behavior, but they have reluctantly come to embrace it. Southern socialites negotiate evolving personal relationships, tumultuous friendships, and thriving enterprises, and ancient resentments bubble to the surface.
Featuring best friends Craig Conover and Austen Kroll, the charming Leva Bonaparte, Shep Rose, and Madison LeCroy as the main cast; along with recurring characters Venita Aspen, Taylor Ann Green, and Naomie Olindo, Olivia Flowers, Marcie Hobbs, and Chleb Ravenell who are no strangers to Charleston's social scene, Southern Charm has been a major hit.
Manhattan Socialite Patricia Altschul Owns The Southern Charm House
The estate, also known as the Isaac Jenkins Mikell Mansion, was bought by Manhattan socialite Patricia Altschul after her third [and last] husband passed away for 4.8 million. Patricia, who is worth 50 million herself, refurbished every room in the estate, which has 10 bedrooms and 9,500 square feet.
Four bars, which Altschul claims are a requirement for "southern hospitality," and a round sofa with a concealed ice bucket in the middle for champagne emergencies are a few of her innovations. Altschul's favorite furniture pieces and possessions from her previous residences are included in the interiors of the mansion. A magnificent gilded chinoiserie mirror from the 1760s that previously hung at Keir House in Scotland is one of the library's most noteworthy pieces.
Altschul's inherited collection of outstanding silhouette portraits from the 18th and 19th centuries adorn the grand entrance stairwell. All the best parties take place in the main house. In terms of southern hospitality, Patricia Altschul continuously sets higher standards. Throughout the course of the program, the show's "queen of Southern Charm" has proven herself. She appears to be the best party host in the business. She can always outdo herself in terms of imaginative topics and ostentatious decoration.
Where Does Patricia Altschul’s Money Come From?
In March 2009, Altschul obtained $12.5 million for the sale of her Long Island house. They lived in a lakefront mansion on Centre Island that was ten acres in size with their late spouse. The mansion had 30 rooms, according to Bravo. A library, rose garden, and elevator were also included in the house's amenities. The town's well-known residents included Rupert Murdoch and Billy Joel. Altschul sold the house because she was going to return to Charleston after the passing of her husband.
Altschul is a clever businesswoman. Patricia Altschul is the name of Altschul's HSN line; which was only recently launched in October 2020. Altschul's brand sells items including colorfully embroidered pillows, an animal-themed faux fur blanket, and a faux fur bathrobe. It's unknown exactly how much money Altschul makes from her décor company, but likely it’s more than enough to be worth her time.
Patricia is an author. One of her works is The Art of Southern Charm, published in 2017. According to its summary, the book provides a thorough insider's perspective of Altschul's experiences outside of the spotlight. The description reads, "With the composure of a true grande dame, Patricia delivers advice on every circumstance, from arranging a great cocktail party to dealing with a drunken bozo at the dinner table to delivering the properly articulated insult—like her now iconic "shameless strumpet." The Art of Southern Charm takes readers on a journey into the life of Charleston's most seductive matriarch, who, along with Michael the Butler, serves as a model for how one should curate and celebrate life at its best.
Of course, Patricia gets paid for being on Southern Charm too. Some reports have claimed that the core cast of Southern Charm receives the same salary of $25,000 per episode. This means that each employee might earn up to $400,000 for just one season of work, with previous seasons averaging ten to sixteen episodes. While to the normal person this may seem like a lot, to Patricia and the other cast members who already have a ton of money, $25,000 for each episode probably doesn’t seem like much.
Altschul has been married before, but her most recent union was with Arthur Altschul. According to The New York Times, Altschul was a general partner at Goldman Sachs and the chairman of the company. Bustle reports that Altschul's wealthy husband is supposedly the source of most of her money.
Patricia Altschul’s Previous Butler Lived In A Cottage On Her Property
Altschul's previous butler Michael had lived in a cottage that is separate from the main house, and was built in the 1700s. Patricia had it remodeled for him and added heat and air conditioning for him as well.
Sadly, her butler of 18 years had a spinal cord stroke in 2021 that caused severe nerve damage and impairment. Patricia has found herself a new butler, Randy, but it has not been confirmed that he has taken over the cottage yet; or if he will.
