Peter Halsey Cook is best known as the ex-husband of supermodel Christie Brinkley. He is an architect based in the Hamptons on New York’s Long Island. He and Brinkley married in 1996, had a daughter named Sailor in 1998, and separated in 2006 after his affair became public. Their 2008 divorce trial drew national headlines. In 2023, he married Alba Jancou in Capri, Italy.
Christie Brinkley has been one of the world’s most famous models since the late 1970s. Her marriage to Billy Joel and the “Uptown Girl” video made her a pop-culture icon. Her fourth marriage, to Peter Cook, became famous for very different reasons.
This article covers who Peter Cook is, how he and Christie met, the family they built, the public end of their marriage, and where his life has gone since.
Quick Facts: Peter Halsey Cook
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Halsey Cook |
| Known as | Christie Brinkley’s fourth husband |
| Profession | Architect |
| Based in | The Hamptons, Long Island, New York |
| Married Christie Brinkley | September 21, 1996 |
| Separated | July 2006 |
| Divorce settled | July 2008 |
| Daughter | Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook (born July 2, 1998) |
| Stepson | Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook (born 1995), adopted, per reports |
| Current wife | Alba Jancou (married 2023) |
| Birth date | Not confirmed here |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Who Is Peter Halsey Cook?
Peter Halsey Cook is an architect who works in the Hamptons, the wealthy beach towns on the eastern end of Long Island. Christie Brinkley’s Wikipedia page lists him as Peter Halsey Cook.
His name became widely known through his marriage to Christie. Before that, he was a working architect, not a public figure.
His story is tied to one of the most publicized celebrity divorces of the 2000s.
The Supermodel Peter Cook Married
Christie Brinkley was born Christie Lee Hudson on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan. She became the first model to appear on three straight Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers, in 1979, 1980, and 1981.
She also held a record 25-year contract with CoverGirl, according to Wikipedia.
Before Peter, she had been married three times: to French artist Jean-François Allaux (1975 to 1981), to Billy Joel (1985 to 1994), and to real estate developer Richard Taubman (1994 to 1995).
How Peter and Christie Met
Wikipedia says Christie and Peter first met in 1979, when he was modeling. Years later, a mutual friend reintroduced them.
They announced their engagement in August 1996 and married on September 21, 1996.
For Christie, it was her fourth marriage. For fans, it seemed like a fresh start after two quick, difficult years.
Becoming a Stepfather
When Peter married Christie, she already had two children. Her daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, was born in 1985 to Christie and Billy Joel.
Her son, Jack Paris Brinkley-Cook, was born on June 2, 1995, during her brief marriage to Richard Taubman. The List reports that Peter adopted Jack after marrying Christie.
So Peter stepped into a ready-made family with two young children, one of them still a baby.
The Birth of Sailor
On July 2, 1998, Christie and Peter welcomed a daughter, Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook. Wikipedia notes that Christie was 44 and that Sailor was conceived through IVF.
Sailor grew up to follow her mother into modeling. In 2019, she joined Dancing with the Stars after her mother was injured during rehearsals.
She is Peter’s only biological child with Christie.
Life in the Hamptons
The family lived in the Hamptons, where Peter worked as an architect. Christie had long owned property there.
The area is known for grand beach houses, many designed by local architects. It was a natural home base for a designer and a supermodel.
During the divorce, the couple’s Hamptons properties became part of the settlement.
The Affair That Ended the Marriage
In July 2006, Christie’s representative announced that she and Peter would separate, according to Wikipedia.
The reason soon became public. CBS News reported that Peter had had an affair with a teenager who worked as his assistant, and that the affair became public in 2006. Reports identified the assistant as Diana Bianchi.
CBS also reported that Peter apologized for the affair and for his online behavior. It was a painful, public breach of trust.
The 2008 Divorce Trial
The divorce went to trial on Long Island in July 2008. Much of it played out in the press, with daily coverage.
On July 9, 2008, CBS reported the trial was on hold as the two sides talked. Christie told reporters a settlement was what she hoped and prayed for.
The intense coverage made it one of the most closely followed celebrity divorces of the decade.
The Settlement
The couple reached a settlement in July 2008, on the sixth day of the trial, after an all-night session, TODAY reported.
Christie received custody of Sailor, then 10, and Jack, then 13. Peter received parenting time every other weekend and on Wednesday nights. Christie kept the couple’s Hamptons properties and agreed to pay Peter $2.1 million. The rest of the deal was confidential.
Christie called it a bittersweet moment and “the death of a marriage.” Peter told reporters, “It’s everything I asked for.”
Peter Cook’s Side of the Story
In October 2008, Peter gave an interview to Barbara Walters, according to The List, citing ABC News.
He said that he had wanted some acknowledgment and appreciation for his efforts in the marriage. Many viewers saw this as an attempt to explain, not excuse, what happened.
It remains the most public account he has given of the marriage’s end.
Christie Brinkley’s Life After Peter
Christie moved on to new chapters. In 2011, she made her stage debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, later playing the role on Broadway, according to Wikipedia.
She has stayed close to her three children, all of whom have been involved in modeling or entertainment.
She has not remarried since her divorce from Peter.
Peter Cook’s Engagement and Second Marriage
In September 2019, Peter proposed to Alba Jancou in front of a church in Santorini, Greece, Fox News reported. She was 21, and he was 60.
Peter said they felt incredibly lucky to have found their soulmate in each other. The age gap drew wide comment.
Their planned 2020 wedding in Turks and Caicos was delayed by the pandemic. In 2023, they married in Capri, Italy, in what they called an “over-the-top elopement” with six guests, according to Just Jared, citing People. Alba works as a real estate agent.
Clearing Up the Confusion About Peter Halsey Cook
Many websites share details about Peter that aren’t confirmed. Here is what to keep in mind.
His birth date and education. Sites list schools and birthdays without trusted sources.
His firm. He’s confirmed as a Hamptons architect, but many sites name firms or projects without proof.
Earlier marriages. Some sites claim other marriages before Christie. Trusted sources don’t confirm any.
Trial details. Many sites repeat graphic claims from tabloids. This article sticks to what mainstream outlets reported.
Net worth. Any figure online is a guess.
Why Peter Cook Became So Well Known
Most architects never make national news. Peter did because of his marriage to one of the world’s most famous women, and because of how it ended.
Christie’s fame meant the divorce was covered like a major news story. Every court day became a headline.
Since then, his engagement and second marriage have also drawn attention, mostly because of his history with Christie.
Peter Halsey Cook Today
As of 2026, Peter is married to Alba Jancou. He continues to be linked with the Hamptons architecture world.
His daughter Sailor is in her late twenties and has built a modeling career. His stepson Jack, whom reports say he adopted, is in his thirties.
Christie remains one of America’s best-known models, now in her seventies.
Final Thoughts
Some marriages end quietly, and others end in courtrooms with cameras outside. Peter Cook and Christie Brinkley’s ended the second way. Years later, that public ending still shapes how many people see him.
But a life is more than its worst chapter. Peter has also been a father to Sailor and, by many reports, to Jack. He went on to build a new marriage, one that critics questioned but that he and his wife clearly celebrate.
His story raises a hard question about second chances. Can people move beyond the mistakes the world remembers most? The answer often depends less on headlines and more on how someone lives in the years that follow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Peter Halsey Cook?
Peter Halsey Cook is a Hamptons architect best known as Christie Brinkley’s fourth husband. They were married from 1996 to 2008.
Do Peter Cook and Christie Brinkley have children together?
Yes. Their daughter, Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, was born on July 2, 1998. Peter also reportedly adopted Christie’s son, Jack.
Why did Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook divorce?
They separated in 2006 after Peter’s affair with his teenage assistant became public. The divorce was settled in July 2008.
What did Peter Cook get in the divorce?
Under the 2008 settlement, Christie paid him $2.1 million and kept their Hamptons properties. She received custody of the children.
Who is Peter Cook married to now?
He married Alba Jancou in Capri, Italy, in 2023, four years after their engagement in Santorini.
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