Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born to John Vernou Bouvier III, a Wall Street stockbroker, and Janet Norton Lee. Her birth marked the beginning of a life steeped in privilege and social expectations.

Jacqueline developed a love for horses early on, excelling in equestrian competitions. This passion would remain a constant throughout her life. She grew up in a wealthy Long Island community, experiencing a comfortable, upper-class lifestyle.

The divorce of her parents had a significant impact on Jacqueline. It is said that she became more introverted and sensitive to the feelings of others. Her mother remarried Hugh D. Auchincloss Jr. in 1942, bringing Jacqueline and her sister Caroline into a new, even wealthier, family dynamic.

Jacqueline attended Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut, a prestigious boarding school for girls. This experience further cultivated her social graces and intellectual pursuits.

Jacqueline attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York for two years. This was a time of exploration and intellectual growth.

After a year abroad in France, Jacqueline transferred to George Washington University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Literature. Her time in France significantly impacted her worldview and fostered her love for European culture.

Jacqueline won Vogue magazine's Prix de Paris contest, which offered a position at Vogue in New York City and a period in Paris. She only worked there for a short time.