Jocelyn Wildenstein, the New York socialite famously dubbed “The Catwoman” due to her extreme cosmetic surgery, has passed away at the age of 84.
Her partner, Lloyd Klein, confirmed to AFP that she died of a pulmonary embolism in Paris on Tuesday, December 31.
Wildenstein first garnered media attention in the late 1990s when she divorced her wealthy art collector husband, Alec Wildenstein, after discovering him in an affair with a 19-year-old Russian model. Her divorce settlement made her one of the wealthiest women in the world, receiving $2.5 billion in assets and an additional $100 million in annual payments for 13 years.
However, by 2018, her fortune had dissipated, and Wildenstein filed for bankruptcy in New York. In an affidavit, she revealed, “I am not employed and my only income is Social Security,” and noted that she frequently relied on friends and family to cover her ongoing expenses.
Wildenstein was known for her obsession with plastic surgery, though in February 2024, she claimed to have never undergone any procedures. “I haven’t had plastic surgery,” she told The Sun. “I am scared of what can happen, and I don’t like to have something heavy.”
Her surgeries reportedly began during her marriage to Alec, who she once claimed “hated old people.” It was believed that she wanted to resemble a feline due to her husband’s love for cats, with some speculating she aimed to look like a lynx, which she had as a pet.
In a 1998 Vanity Fair interview, Wildenstein denied that her distinctive features were the result of plastic surgery, attributing them to her family genetics. “If I show you pictures of my grandmother, what you see is these eyes—cat eyes—and high cheekbones,” she said.
Despite rumors that Alec pressured her into the procedures, he denied this, telling Vanity Fair, “She was crazy. I would always find out last. She thought she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. But she wouldn’t listen.” Wildenstein supported Alec’s version, saying he never pushed her into surgery and always complimented her youthful appearance—until the day she no longer looked “young enough.”
Wildenstein is survived by her daughter, Diane, and son, Alec Jr.
