NEW YORK - Many are trying to figure out what happened to "The Millers," the seemingly perfect New York influencer family who lived in The Hamptons.
The buzz comes weeks after father, husband and real estate developer BrandonMiller, 43, was found unresponsive inside his Porsche while his wife and daughter were on vacation.
According to multiple reports, including one from The New York Times, Brandon reportedly had many botched investments and dealings that tanked the family's riches.
Jump to: | Candice and Brandon Miller's relationship | What happened to Brandon Miller | Timeline of events
A business person familiar with the Southampton social scene told The Post, that "a lot of people are renting big houses [and] going into debt to throw parties in an effort to get into the really rich circles with billionaires like Michael Rubin and Michael Loeb, and the Millers were like that."
They also added that "they [the Millers] weren’t quite in the top tier."
Nonetheless, the couple was well known within The Hamptons social scene.
"Mama & Tata"
The couple was most known for Candice Miller's "Mama & Tata" platform, the lifestyle mommy-blog that has since been taken down.
She is also the founder of the fashion label, Black Iris.
"Mama & Tata" started as a way to provide fashion and decorating tips to wealthy women.
On the platform, Candice would show off her expensive vacations, lavish dinners, and high-society social events--including the couple's exorbitant wedding and vow renewal in The Hamptons.
Candice and Brandon Miller's relationship
Many considered Brandon and Candice Miller millennial royalty; making their own means by way of social media.
Most of the couple's income came from Brandon's real estate dealings, after taking over his father's firm.
Despite reports of Candice marrying for money, the couple had known each other since childhood.
The couple dated for one year before Brandon proposed, according to a lifestyle blogger who wrote about the party. Once married, they then had two daughters together.
The couple's lavish lifestyle was no secret.
The couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary themed party in the backyard of their 5,500-square-foot vacation home in The Hamptons in 2019.
The event was raved about by blogs, entertainment outlets and other influencers.
Guests reportedly arrived to a romantic setting on the grass by the pool, with fairy lights and candles everywhere amid the sunset.
Brandon Miller's financial problems
Some say Candice made it harder for Brandon and his financial problems because she flaunted their wealth online so much.
When the pandemic hit, his real estate business suffered as the market plunged. He then began borrowing more than he could handle.
In one transaction, according to the New York Times, he took over a land lease near the High Line in Manhattan that would require annual payments of more than $2 million, (according to a person familiar with the transaction).
He then borrowed $1.5 million against it, according to public filings and people familiar with the transaction.
Brandon Miller quickly found himself in a financial free-fall.
The Times reports that by last fall, he was in so much debt, that he started to cry at a conference table during a business meeting in Midtown.
The report also noted that a private equity firm lent Miller’s company $36 million, however, and never received a repayment.
His financial problems quickly began to snowball, and he found himself in a financial crunch.
In another instance, a friend reportedly invested $1 million with Miller for a Brooklyn real estate development, but he never paid him back and the deal flopped.
Eventually, Miller stopped paying some of the family’s bills and leveraged the family’s Hampton home by taking on multiple mortgages.
What happened to Brandon Miller?
According to the New York Times, Miller died by suicide while his wife and children were on vacation on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Suffolk County officials told the Times that Miller wrote an email explaining that a business deal he had hoped would ease the family’s financial strain had failed.
Candice allegedly confronted her husband about the financial documents before the incident, but he had assured her things were under control.
Despite reports that Candice could somehow be to blame for her family's misfortune, one socialite told the Post that none of what happened was Candice's fault, saying "No way. Brandon clearly thoughthe was going to jail for embezzlement, and he decided this was his way out."
Several reports say that the couple maintained a traditional separation of duties--she took care of the children, and he handled the money.
Timeline of events according to the New York Times
June 28: Brandon Miller texted his wife to tell her the deal intended to ease their money crisis had closed, according to two people familiar with the situation.
June 30: Police were notified that a carbon monoxide alarm had gone off at the Millers’ home. Officials found Mr. Miller unconscious in a white Porsche Carrera that he had rigged to poison himself.
They also found a photo of him, his wife and their children in the car next to him.
July 3: After being rushed to a hospital and placed on life support, Miller passed away.
In an email left for his wife, Miller admitted he had lied about the business deal. The Times reports that he expressed his love for his wife and children, writing that he believed he was doing what was best for them and that he had always had dark feelings.
The note also mentioned two life insurance policies he left behind totaling about $15 million.
It's unclear what Candice Miller is up to these days since the loss of her husband, but it is likely that the next chapter will look a lot different from the past.
If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741- 741 (Crisis Text Line). CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide. Call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential emotional support.
