Kristin Cabot, the head of human resources at the tech company Astronomer, was thrust into the spotlight after a viral “kiss cam” moment during a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Captured in an intimate pose with CEO Andy Byron, both of whom are married to other people, Cabot’s sudden internet fame triggered not just workplace gossip but deeper interest in her background. What surprised many was her deep-rooted connection to American aristocracy. Kristin is married into the Cabot family, a name synonymous with Boston’s elite “Boston Brahmins,” a term that signals old-money wealth, colonial lineage, and a legacy of social dominance.
Kristin Cabot: Married into elite ‘Boston Brahmin’ family
Kristin Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, the sixth-generation owner of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based distillery with deep roots in the state’s mercantile history. The Cabot family fortune dates back to the early 1800s, beginning with the soot or “carbon black” industry, before expanding into maritime trade, real estate, and later philanthropy. A 1972 New York Times article valued their fortune at $200 million, which would be equivalent to roughly $15.4 billion today. Their influence spans financial and social spheres alike, making them one of the wealthiest and most prestigious old-money dynasties in America.According to The New York Post, Kristin and Andrew recently bought a $2.2 million waterfront home in New Hampshire. Both are believed to have had previous marriages, with Kristin finalizing her divorce in 2022. Until the scandal, she largely maintained a discreet public profile, aligning with the quiet decorum typically expected from Boston Brahmin families.
The Cabots: A Brahmin dynasty worth billions
Kristin Cabot married into the Cabot family, one of the foremost Boston Brahmin clans. Originating ten generations ago, their wealth began with the soot business and later diversified into the rum trade, real estate, and philanthropic ventures. Their social capital has grown alongside their financial assets, and their prominence is reinforced through strategic marriages within the Brahmin class and enduring support of institutions like Harvard University, MIT, and the Perkins School for the Blind.A well-known local verse underscores their social exclusivity:And this is good old Boston The home of the bean and the cod Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots And the Cabots talk only to GodTheir aristocratic image remains a cultural symbol of Boston’s historical upper crust, blending privilege with public service and discretion.
What it means to be a ‘Boston Brahmin’
The term “Boston Brahmin” was coined by author Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in the 19th century to describe Boston’s ruling class, white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant families who held sway over the city’s political, financial, and educational institutions. The Cabots, alongside families like the Lowells and the Saltonstalls, epitomized this class. They were known for their understated wealth, Puritan values, and devotion to civic duty.This social stratum valued propriety, privacy, and restraint, which is why Kristin Cabot’s entanglement in a viral scandal strikes many as especially ironic and newsworthy.
The Coldplay kiss cam moment that sparked the scandal
The now-viral moment occurred when the Coldplay concert’s stadium kiss cam landed on Kristin Cabot and Andy Byron. The pair awkwardly ducked and looked away, despite clearly appearing close. Chris Martin, the band’s frontman, added fuel to the fire with a cheeky remark: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” The crowd laughed, but online viewers quickly began speculating and digging.Within days, both individuals were identified, and social media erupted with criticism, not only because of the apparent intimacy between two married executives but also due to the revelation of Cabot’s elite lineage. As one social media user posted, “When the Cabots talk only to God, they probably don’t expect TMZ to be listening.”
