Jocelyne Wildenstein Dies Aged 79

Swiss Socialite and Cosmetic Surgery Aficionado Passes Away

Jocelyne Wildenstein, also known as ‘catwoman,’ has died at the age of 79, her partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein, announced on Wednesday.

A Peaceful Passing

Klein stated that Wildenstein died peacefully in her sleep in the late afternoon of December 31, 2024, in her suite in Paris, where the couple had taken temporary residence since August 2024. He attempted to wake her from a nap so she could get ready for New Year’s Eve dinner, but she was unresponsive. Early reports from the doctors called to the scene indicate that she had endured heart failure and passed peacefully in her sleep.

A Life of Plastic Surgery and Luxury

Born in Switzerland in 1945, Jocelyne Perisset became a New York socialite after marrying art dealer Alec Wildenstein, with whom she had two children. She kept his name after their messy divorce in the late 1990s. Some media reports gave her age as five years older, which she attributed to people mixing up her birth year with that of her ex-husband, 1940.

A Passion for Plastic Surgery

The cosmetic surgery aficionado, with more than a million followers on Instagram, became known as ‘catwoman’ in the tabloids for the feline-like shape of her eyes. She had been living between New York and Miami, as she told French media in recent months. In a recent interview, she had blamed the confusion on people mixing up her birth year with that of her ex-husband, 1940.

A Billion-Dollar Divorce

Wildenstein last posted a video of herself and Klein posing for photographers outside the Ritz Paris on December 23, to the soundtrack of Wham’s “Last Christmas.” She received US$2.5 billion from her divorce, making it one of the most expensive at the time, according to Klein.

A Love Story

Klein and Wildenstein met during New York Fashion Week in 2001 when Klein was presenting his fashion collection on the runway. She was a front-row guest, and after that show, the two became romantically involved and had remained inseparable since that time. “Jocelyne was my best friend, my partner, my fiancé,” Klein said. “She had a zest for life, and had a wicked sense of humour.”

Conclusion

Jocelyne Wildenstein’s life was marked by her extensive plastic surgery and her luxurious lifestyle. She was a true original, and her passing leaves a void in the lives of those who knew her.

FAQs

Q: What was Jocelyne Wildenstein’s age at the time of her death?
A: 79

Q: What was Jocelyne Wildenstein’s nickname?
A: ‘Catwoman’

Q: How much did Jocelyne Wildenstein receive in her divorce settlement?
A: US$2.5 billion

Q: Who was Jocelyne Wildenstein’s partner?
A: Fashion designer Lloyd Klein