Big Spender
Although Wright was a rising star in the architecture world, his inability to manage his spending habits plagued him. He loved the finer things, fine suits, fast cars, and a large house for his family. Because he refused to accept less than the best, he was always on the verge of bankruptcy. When he married Catherine Tobin in 1889, they built a home in Oak Park, Illinois with a loan from Sullivan.
In exchange, Wright entered a five-year contract with Sullivan’s firm. He had a stable job, a wife, and a house, but he was borrowing hundreds – even thousands – of dollars from friends and patrons. Yet he was always struggling for money, even after he started getting big-name commissions. He was slow to pay bills, was constantly in debt, and had to make paid public appearances for extra income.
