Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss-born New York socialite famously known as “Catwoman” due to her extensive cosmetic surgeries, has passed away at the age of 84. Paris Match reports that she died on Tuesday in a Parisian palace from a pulmonary embolism.
Wildenstein’s dramatic feline-like features garnered significant media attention throughout her life. Her 1978 marriage to billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein, and their highly publicized 1999 divorce, cemented her status as a tabloid fixture. The divorce settlement reportedly awarded her $2.5 billion upfront, along with $100 million annually for thirteen years. Ironically, despite this immense wealth, she filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018, claiming to have zero dollars in her bank account.
Wildenstein’s transformation began with an eye lift in the late 1970s, fueling speculation that she sought to emulate the appearance of her pet lynx. While she acknowledged undergoing surgical procedures, she consistently maintained that the extent of her work was significantly exaggerated by media reports.
Further details are pending. Authorities have been contacted, but there has been no response at this time.