Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss-born socialite famously dubbed “Catwoman” for her feline-inspired cosmetic surgeries, has died at the age of 79. Her partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein, confirmed she passed away in Paris due to a pulmonary embolism.
Wildenstein, a longtime fixture of New York’s social scene, gained notoriety for her tumultuous personal life, extravagant lifestyle, and dramatically altered appearance. Often the subject of tabloid fascination, she denied the extent of her surgeries, attributing her distinct “cat eyes” to familial traits and clever hairstyling. In a rare moment of candor, she once remarked, “If you feel good with your imperfections, with your aging, then you should do nothing.”
Born Jocelyn Périsset in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wildenstein spent her early years immersed in outdoor activities like swimming and skiing. Her father’s love for African wildlife sparked her lifelong passion for big cats. She later married billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein, whom she met on a Kenyan safari in 1977. Their marriage, marked by immense wealth and controversy, ended in a record-setting divorce settlement of $2.5 billion in 1999.
Despite her opulence, Wildenstein faced financial troubles later in life, declaring bankruptcy in 2018. She maintained a lavish persona, earning admiration as a camp icon in fashion circles, though much of her life remained shrouded in mystery.
In recent years, Wildenstein returned to the public eye, celebrating her distinctive style in outlets like Paper and Interview magazines. Reflecting on her fame, she once said, “I have nothing to prove. In the end, I don’t care.”
Wildenstein is survived by her partner Lloyd Klein and her two children from her marriage to Alec Wildenstein.
