Peter Halsey Cook has lived several lives in one. He’s worked as an architect designing luxury homes in the Hamptons. He married supermodel Christie Brinkley. He survived one of the most talked-about celebrity divorces of the 2000s. And today, at 65, he’s married to a woman 40 years his junior while maintaining a successful career in real estate and design.
His story goes beyond tabloid headlines. Cook comes from a family that’s been part of the Hamptons’ history for over 350 years. He’s built a respected architectural practice. He’s the father of rising model Sailor Brinkley Cook. But he’s also someone whose personal mistakes became very public, forcing him to rebuild his reputation from scratch.
Who Is Peter Halsey Cook?
Peter Halsey Cook was born on January 1, 1959, in New Jersey. Some sources list 1960, but most agree on 1959. He grew up knowing he wanted to work with buildings and design. His family roots trace back to three founding families of the Hamptons—the Cooks, Halseys, and Ludlows. This heritage gave him a deep connection to the area where he’d eventually build his career.
Before becoming an architect, Cook actually tried modeling. That’s how he first met Christie Brinkley in 1979. They crossed paths again years later, long after both had moved on to different careers. By then, Cook had established himself in the architectural field, and Brinkley was already a household name.
Early Life and Hamptons Heritage
Cook didn’t just move to the Hamptons to work there. His family history in the area spans more than three centuries. The Cook, Halsey, and Ludlow families were among the first European settlers in what’s now one of America’s most expensive real estate markets.
This heritage shaped his understanding of the region’s architectural style. He studied the historic homes and learned traditional building techniques. He even apprenticed at Colonial Williamsburg, where he got hands-on experience with period-appropriate construction methods. Later, he worked as a carpenter for William G. Thompson, learning the practical side of building before designing his own projects.
Career as a Hamptons Architect
Cook runs his own firm called Peter Cook AIA, Architect, based in Water Mill. The AIA designation means he’s a member of the American Institute of Architects, a mark of professional standing in the field. He specializes in custom residential homes, particularly the shingle-style architecture that defines traditional Hamptons buildings.
His designs blend classic East End aesthetics with modern living needs. Think big porches, natural wood siding, and interiors that bring in lots of light. He works with wealthy clients who want homes that look like they’ve always been part of the landscape, not flashy mansions that scream new money.
His architectural work focuses on creating spaces that respect the area’s history while meeting today’s comfort standards. Each project requires understanding local building codes, working with contractors, and translating what clients want into actual blueprints. It’s detail-oriented work that doesn’t get much public attention unless you’re building for celebrities.
Real Estate Development Work
Beyond architecture, Cook works as a real estate agent with Saunders & Associates, one of the top brokerages in the Hamptons. This dual role makes sense. He understands properties from both the design side and the sales side. He can walk clients through what makes a home valuable and how to improve it.
The East End real estate market is competitive and expensive. Properties regularly sell for millions. Having architectural knowledge gives Cook an edge when showing luxury homes or advising clients on potential renovations. He knows what’s structurally possible and what’s just wishful thinking.
Meeting Christie Brinkley
Cook and Brinkley first met in 1979 when both were modeling. Nothing romantic happened then. They reconnected years later through mutual friends in the Hamptons social scene. By that time, Brinkley had been married twice before—first to artist Jean-François Allaux, then to musician Billy Joel, with whom she had a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.
Cook and Brinkley started dating in the mid-1990s. Their relationship seemed solid. He fit into her world, and she appreciated his roots in the community where she’d made her home. They got engaged in 1996.
Marriage to Christie Brinkley
They married in September 1996. Cook became stepfather to Alexa Ray Joel and Jack, whom Brinkley had adopted with her third husband, Rick Taubman. In 1998, when Brinkley was 44, she gave birth to their daughter, Sailor, through IVF. Cook adopted Jack, making him the boy’s father.
For about a decade, they seemed like a picture-perfect Hamptons family. Brinkley continued her modeling and business ventures. Cook focused on his architectural practice. They attended charity events together and raised their kids in Bridgehampton.
The 2008 Divorce Scandal
Everything fell apart in 2006 when Brinkley discovered Cook was having an affair with Diana Bianchi, his 18-year-old assistant. Brinkley filed for divorce. What could have been a quiet separation turned into a media circus.
The divorce trial revealed uncomfortable details. Cook had paid thousands for internet pornography. He’d carried on the affair for months. The age gap between him and Bianchi drew particular criticism. Brinkley wanted the proceedings to be public to protect their children’s interests. Cook wanted privacy but didn’t get it.
The settlement gave Cook about $2.1 million and shared custody of Sailor. It was a fraction of Brinkley’s wealth, but it also meant years of public humiliation. He’d gone from respected architect married to an icon to tabloid villain overnight.
Life After Divorce
Cook largely disappeared from public view after 2008. He kept working in architecture and real estate, though his name recognition now came with baggage. In 2012, he briefly married Suzanne Shaw, but they divorced in 2014. He maintained his relationship with his children, particularly Sailor, who was just 10 when her parents split.
Rebuilding his reputation meant focusing on work and staying out of gossip columns. The Hamptons design community is small, but Cook kept his client base by delivering quality work. People who needed an architect cared more about his skills than his personal life.
Daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook
Sailor has followed her mother into modeling. She’s appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue and walked runways for major fashion brands. At 26, she’s built her own career separate from her famous mother, though the connection obviously helped open doors.
Cook and Sailor maintain a close relationship. She’s spoken publicly about loving both her parents despite their difficult divorce. Having a father who understands architecture and design has influenced her appreciation for aesthetics, even if her career took a different direction.
Relationship with Alba Jancou
In 2017, Cook met Alba Jancou at Le Bilboquet, a Manhattan restaurant popular with the Hamptons crowd. She was 25. He was 58. The 40-year age gap raised eyebrows, especially given Cook’s history. But they continued dating seriously.
In 2019, Cook proposed to Jancou in Santorini, Greece. She said yes. They defended their relationship against criticism, saying age didn’t matter when two people connected genuinely. Jancou works as a real estate agent, so they share professional interests beyond their personal connection.
Marriage to Alba Jancou
Cook and Jancou married in August 2023 in Capri, Italy. It was an intimate ceremony, nothing like the high-profile wedding to Brinkley. At 64, Cook was starting over for the third time. Jancou brought stability and a shared understanding of the real estate world. They live together in the Hamptons, where she also works in property sales.
The marriage seems to have stuck. Unlike his brief second marriage, this relationship has lasted several years. Whether it’s maturity, better compatibility, or lessons learned from past failures, Cook appears more settled now than in previous decades.
Peter Halsey Cook’s Age and Appearance
Cook is 65 or 66, depending on whether his birth year was 1959 or 1960. He stands 6’2″ and has maintained his fitness over the years. He presents himself as well-groomed and professional, necessary in a business where appearance matters to wealthy clients. His height and bearing still suggest the model he once was, decades ago.
Peter Halsey Cook Net Worth
Estimates of Cook’s net worth vary widely. Some sources claim $3 million, others say $20 million. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. His income comes from his architectural firm, real estate commissions from Saunders & Associates, and the divorce settlement from Brinkley.
The Hamptons real estate market is lucrative for those with connections and expertise. A single home sale can net tens of thousands in commission. Architectural projects for custom luxury homes can run into six figures. Over decades, those numbers add up, even after expensive divorces.
Current Life and Work
Today, Cook continues working in architecture and real estate development. He’s not chasing publicity anymore. His firm handles residential design projects throughout the East End. He shows properties for Saunders & Associates. He spends time with Alba and maintains relationships with his children.
He’s become someone who survived public disgrace and kept working. The scandal will always be part of his story, but it’s not the whole story. His architectural work stands on its own. His family connections remain, even with ex-wives and children from complicated relationships.
The Christie Brinkley Connection Today
Cook and Brinkley share custody and co-parenting responsibilities for Sailor, though she’s now an adult. They attend family events separately but manage to stay civil for their daughter’s sake. Brinkley’s 2025 memoir reportedly mentions the marriage and divorce, though Cook hasn’t commented publicly about it.
Their connection through Sailor means they’ll always be linked. Jack, whom Cook adopted, also ties them together legally if not personally. It’s not friendship, but it’s functional co-existence for the sake of their kids.
Peter Halsey Cook’s life shows how someone can be known for their worst moment while still having decades of other work and relationships that matter more. He’s an architect with real skills, a father to successful children, and someone who’s rebuilt after a very public failure. The headlines focused on scandal, but the actual person kept building houses, selling properties, and moving forward.
