'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein dies at 84, plastic surgery queen's partner reveals cause of her death
PARIS, FRANCE: Jocelyn Wildenstein, the New York socialite and cultural icon known as “Catwoman," has died at the age of 84.
Her partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein, confirmed her death on Tuesday, December 31, in a Parisian palace.
She was last seen publicly on December 18, during an outing in Paris with Klein.
How did Jocelyn Wildenstein die?
Jocelyn Wildenstein's partner Lloyd Klein attributed her death to a pulmonary embolism, reported Daily Mail.
According to Mayo Clinic, a pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks, causing to stop blood flow to an artery in a lung.
Typically, the blood clot forms in a deep vein in an individual’s leg and then travels to the lung.
Wildenstein, whose leonine features garnered both fascination and criticism, had over a million Instagram followers and was often described as an art dealer.
Born Jocelyne Perisset, Wildenstein rose from modest beginnings to global fame through her marriage to Alec N Wildenstein, a billionaire art dealer and horse breeder.
The couple met on a safari in Kenya, bonding over their shared love for wildlife.
They married in the 1970s, building a life that revolved around art, luxury, and high society.
However, their marriage ended in a tumultuous divorce in 1999, marked by Alec’s infidelities and Jocelyn’s dramatic physical transformation through cosmetic surgeries.
The divorce settlement granted her a staggering $2.5 billion, with an additional $100 million annually for 13 years.
Inside Jocelyn Wildenstein's 'Catwoman' legacy
Jocelyn Wildenstein’s striking cat-like eyes, high cheekbones, and exaggerated features became her signature.
Despite widespread speculation, she alternated between denying and acknowledging her plastic surgeries.
Alec famously remarked that she treated her face “like a piece of furniture,” a sentiment she later contested.
Her transformation, while polarizing, solidified her status as a pop culture figure.
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Wildenstein herself attributed her love for feline features to her fascination with Africa’s wildlife.
Despite her vast divorce settlement, Wildenstein’s fortune dwindled due to lavish spending on art, jewels, and high-end living.
In 2018, the Swiss native claimed that much of her wealth was lost due to art forgeries and lower-than-expected auction prices for valuable pieces.
"I am not employed and my only income is Social Security,” Wildenstein wrote in an affidavit when she filed for bankruptcy in New York, according to the New York Post.
Jocelyn Wildenstein's long-term relationship with Lloyd Klein
Following her divorce, Jocelyn Wildenstein began a long-term relationship with Lloyd Klein in 2003.
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Their relationship, though marked by public disputes, including a 2016 altercation, ultimately endured.
Klein remained by her side until her final moments.
