Wendy Burden

Wendy Burden is a descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt and the author of "Dead End Gene Pool." Born into wealth, she has led a diverse career, working as an illustrator, zookeeper, taxidermist, and art director for a pornographic magazine.

Burden also owned and operated a small French restaurant called Chez Wendy.

Her varied experiences and blue-blood background inform her writing, which often focuses on the decline of wealthy families.

Despite her New York roots, Burden currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

She approaches her family history with humor and candidness, using her unique perspective to provide insight into the world of the ultra-rich.

Burden's future plans include attending mortuary school, further expanding her eclectic resume.