Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, known for her drastic transformations and love of big cats, has died in Paris due to a pulmonary embolism. Born into a Swiss family, Wildenstein spent her early life in Lausanne before moving to Paris in her early 20s. She married billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein on a Kenyan safari in 1977 and inherited his vast property Ol Jogi.
Wildenstein’s extravagant lifestyle, including spending millions of dollars each month, and extensive cosmetic surgery have made her infamous. Despite her reported wealth, she claimed to be broke, filing for bankruptcy in 2018. Her marriage to Alec ended in a highly publicized divorce, with him ordered to pay her $2.5 billion.
Wildenstein’s most enduring project was her face, undergoing numerous surgeries that gave her distinctive feline features. She often downplayed the extent of her procedures, but occasionally shared witty remarks about plastic surgery. The socialite posed for high-profile photoshoots and maintained a flamboyant style despite facing financial difficulties. Wildenstein’s life remains shrouded in mystery, with unanswered questions about her true age, the origins of her feline looks, and where her vast fortune truly went.
Despite the rumors and tabloid attention surrounding her life, Jocelyn Wildenstein seemed to have taken it all in stride. “I have nothing to prove,” she said in 2018, showing a sense of detachment from the public’s perception of her.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/style/jocelyn-wildenstein-death-cec/index.html