Jocelyn Wildenstein Obituary, Paris – Jocelyn Wildenstein, the New York socialite whose striking appearance earned her the nickname “The Catwoman,” has passed away at the age of 84. Her partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein, confirmed the news to AFP, revealing that Wildenstein died on Tuesday from a pulmonary embolism at her residence in a Parisian palace. Her death marks the end of a life that captivated the public’s attention for decades, both for her beauty and her turbulent personal journey.
Born Jocelyne Périsset in 1940 in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wildenstein rose to fame not just as a socialite but as a figure whose face became as iconic as the controversies that surrounded her. Known for her catlike features, Wildenstein underwent multiple plastic surgeries over the years, which she admitted were an attempt to keep her husband, the wealthy art dealer Alec Wildenstein, interested in her. The result, however, became one of the most discussed and debated transformations in celebrity culture.
Her marriage to Alec, who was known for his art collection and high-profile social circle, ended dramatically in the late 1990s when Wildenstein discovered her husband in bed with a 19-year-old Russian model. The divorce, one of the most expensive in history, resulted in a $2.5 billion settlement, making Jocelyn one of the wealthiest women in the world at the time. She also received an additional $100 million in annual payments for 13 years, which ensured her a life of financial security.
However, by 2018, Wildenstein’s fortune had vanished. She filed for bankruptcy in New York, revealing in an affidavit that she was living on a fixed income from Social Security. “I am not employed and my only income is Social Security,” she wrote, adding that she relied on the help of friends and family to cover her ongoing expenses. It was a striking fall from grace for a woman who had once lived a life of unparalleled luxury.
The years following her divorce from Alec Wildenstein were marked by both public spectacle and private turmoil. After the breakdown of her marriage, she began a relationship with Lloyd Klein, a fashion designer whom she met in 2003. Their relationship was a stormy one, and they were often in the headlines for reasons unrelated to fashion or luxury. In 2016, Wildenstein was arrested after an altercation at her Trump Tower apartment, where she was accused of stabbing Klein with scissors during a heated argument.
Just days later, Klein was arrested on charges of robbery and assault with intent to cause physical injury after allegedly attempting to retrieve his belongings from the apartment. The legal drama ultimately ended with the charges against Klein being dropped in January 2017 due to lack of evidence, and Wildenstein’s charges were dismissed a month later. The couple reconciled, and in the following months, they became engaged, continuing their complicated love story.
Despite the turbulence of her personal life, Jocelyn Wildenstein remained a fixture in the New York social scene, often spotted at high-profile events and galas. She and Klein reportedly remained a couple up until her death, with Klein by her side in Paris when she passed away.
Wildenstein’s life was a mixture of fame, wealth, and heartache, and she will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most eccentric and enigmatic figures in the world of socialites and celebrities. Her appearance, which sparked endless fascination and debate, symbolized her struggle to hold onto her place in a world where beauty, wealth, and status were often fleeting.
In the end, Jocelyn Wildenstein’s life serves as both a cautionary tale and a reminder of the complexities that underlie the lives of those who live in the public eye. Despite the controversies and the challenges she faced, she will always remain a larger-than-life figure—part of the fabric of New York’s high society and a symbol of the price that some are willing to pay for fame and love.
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