PARIS, France – Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss-born socialite famous for her feline-inspired cosmetic surgeries and record-breaking $2.5 billion divorce settlement, passed away on Tuesday at her residence in Paris. She was 84.
Her partner, Lloyd Klein, confirmed that the cause of death was a pulmonary embolism.
Known in the media as “Catwoman” for her surgically altered appearance, Wildenstein was a staple of tabloids for decades.
Her distinctive looks, opulent lifestyle, and tumultuous personal life made her both a figure of fascination and a symbol of excess.
A Life of Glamour and Intrigue
Born Jocelyne Périsset on August 5, 1940, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wildenstein grew up in a middle-class family.
Her father, a department-store buyer, instilled in her a love for African wildlife, which would later influence her personal and social life.
Wildenstein’s early years saw her mingling with European elites in Paris and cultivating a passion for art and adventure.
She had relationships with Swiss movie producer Cyril Piguet and European filmmaker Sergio Gobbi before meeting Alec Wildenstein, the billionaire art dealer, on a Kenyan safari in 1977.
The two married a year later, and Wildenstein’s life transformed into one of unimaginable wealth and luxury.
The ‘Bride of Wildenstein’ and a Record-Breaking Divorce
During her marriage to Alec Wildenstein, Jocelyn became known for her love of African big cats, even installing a bulletproof enclosure for tigers at the family’s Ol Jogi ranch in Kenya.
The couple’s extravagant spending reportedly included $1 million monthly expenses and couture gowns costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Her marriage soured in the late 1990s. In 1998, she claimed to have discovered Alec in bed with another woman, an event that led to a highly publicised and contentious divorce.
Alec was charged with menacing his wife after allegedly pointing a loaded pistol at her.
The divorce settlement awarded Jocelyn $2.5 billion upfront and $100 million annually for 13 years, making it one of the largest in history.
Despite the windfall, financial difficulties followed; by 2018, she had filed for bankruptcy.
A Face That Defined a Legacy
Wildenstein’s transformation into her feline-inspired visage began during her marriage. Initially seeking cosmetic enhancements alongside Alec, her surgeries became more extreme, giving her the trademark “cat eyes” that tabloids relentlessly scrutinised.
She often denied the extent of her procedures, attributing her looks to natural traits and styling choices.
“If you feel good with your imperfections, with your aging, then you should do nothing,” she told Paper magazine in 2018.
Despite public ridicule in her early years, Wildenstein’s features later earned her a cult following in fashion and pop culture.
Her dramatic style and unapologetic embrace of glamour made her a camp icon celebrated in photoshoots and fashion shows.
A Tumultuous Relationship with Lloyd Klein
In the years following her divorce, Wildenstein began a long-term relationship with French designer Lloyd Klein, nearly 30 years her junior.
The couple’s relationship was often fraught; Wildenstein was arrested twice for altercations with Klein.
Despite their ups and downs, they remained together until her death.
A Legacy of Mystery and Myth
While much of Wildenstein’s life was lived in the public eye, she maintained an air of mystery.
Her true age, the origins of her appearance, and the fate of her fortune were subjects of speculation.
She had promised to share more of her story in an HBO series, which never materialised.
Reflecting on her life in 2018, Wildenstein said, “I have nothing to prove. In the end, I don’t care.”
Jocelyn Wildenstein leaves behind two children from her marriage to Alec Wildenstein, a legacy of fascination and controversy and an indelible mark on the worlds of fashion, society, and pop culture.
