The Hamptons Tragedy That Still Leaves Questions

Plus: Meet the Empire State Building Climbers

View in browser | Update preferences SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL ACCESS You may think you know the story of Brandon Miller, a New York real estate developer who worked tirelessly to maintain a lavish lifestyle—and died by suicide in 2024 after amassing an enormous amount of debt. But as Hannah Seligson’s thorough reporting into Brandon and his wife, Candice Miller, reveals, there’s a lot more to them than what’s been printed in The New York Times and The Real Deal. Interviews with people close to the couple, as well as text messages and documents like credit card records—many of which haven’t been previously reported—indicate that a multitude of factors may have contributed to Brandon’s decline: mental health issues, poorly timed real estate ventures, and the couple’s attempts to keep up the lavish lifestyle that Candice chronicled on her Instagram. They also suggest that Candice may not have been completely blind to Brandon’s downward spiral. (For the record, Candice didn’t respond to a list of detailed questions from Vanity Fair.) It’s the perfect deep dive for a long weekend—or a long ride on the jitney. HILLARY BUSIS, SENIOR EDITOR Why this ad? Could Candice Miller Have Known Her Husband’s Secret? BY HANNAH SELIGSON Brandon Miller went broke, then took his own life. His friends, family, and neighbors are still debating how much his wife, Candice, knew about their financial situation, and when she knew it. READ MORE Get more as a Vanity Fair subscriber Exclusive offer: Subscribe to get one month of Vanity Fair free START YOUR FREE TRIAL Culture Watch CELEBRITY What Taylor Swift’s Fourth of July Obsession Could Mean for the Wedding of the Summer BY SAVANNAH WALSH Star-spangled—and -studded—bashes at Swift’s Rhode Island mansion, plus the singer’s interest in Kennedy-dynasty ephemera, foretold that she’d wed Travis Kelce on America’s birthday, as a recent report indicates. READ MORE TELEVISION Becoming Elle: Meet the Gen Z Star Portraying a Millennial Icon BY SAVANNAH WALSH Lexi Minetree’s first major role involved reinventing a popular character, learning ’90s vernacular, and stepping into Reese Witherspoon’s shoes. What, like it’s hard? READ MORE From the Archive Meet the Death-Defying Couple Who Fell in Love While Climbing Skyscrapers BY SAVANNAH WALSH On Wednesday, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus were arrested after climbing the Empire State Building, where the pair displayed a statement flag—and got engaged. In 2024, VF’s Savannah Walsh spoke to the thrill-seeking couple about their Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. WATCH NOW Why this ad? Royal Report The Spencer Sisters Sparkle at Wimbledon The stylish royals turned heads with their matching outfits at Wimbledon on the second day of competition. What Prince William Asked Prince Harry Not to Do at Eton College After Kensington Palace announced that Prince George will attend the hallowed institution, we revisit the Duke of Sussex’s memoir, Spare, where he recounts an incident at Eton that may have forever altered his relationship with his older brother. MORE FROM VANITY FAIR POLITICS BUSINESS HOLLYWOOD STYLE ROYALS CELEBRITY This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2026. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.