After inheriting his father's fortune in 1890, Astor fell into a family feud the following year with his aunt, socialite Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn (1830–1908), wife of his uncle, businessman William Backhouse Astor Jr. (1829–1892) and mother of his cousin Jack, over (among other things) who should be the "official Mrs. Astor" in New York society.