“Vanity of vanities, all things are vanities” are the words found in the Bible’s book of Ecclesiastes. Jocelyn Wildenstein, the New York socialite widely known for both her extreme plastic surgery and record-setting divorce settlement, died after a life that seemed to live up to her principles.
The Swiss-born 84-year-old, nicknamed “Catwoman” by her critics after undergoing numerous surgeries to look like a cat, died at a Paris palace on Tuesday after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He is said to have passed away. Local report.
According to AFP, “Her partner Lloyd Klein is saddened to announce the death of Jocelyn Wildenstein in Paris.”
Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein poses for a photo in New York City on February 10, 1999. Wildenstein is the wife of wealthy art dealer Alec Wildenstein. (Photo credit: Evan Agostini/Liasion)
Born Jocelyn Perisset in 1940 in Lausanne, Switzerland, she eloped with art dealer Alec Wildenstein in 1977. They have two children, Diane and Alec Jr.
The couple made headlines when they divorced in 1997, but the divorce was finalized two years later. She kept his name for many years after that.
Tabloids dubbed her the “Bride of Wildenstein” and “Catwoman” for her beauty adventures and surgically altered appearance. report.
Alec, who died in 2008, ultimately paid his ex-wife $2.5 billion in divorce settlements and $100 million a year.
FILE/Amanda Report and Jocelyn Wildenstein attend Honey Birdette celebrating Halloween at Virtuland on October 28, 2021 in New York City. (Craig Barritt/Honey Birdette Getty Images)
During their divorce, Jocelyn claimed that she had undergone numerous cosmetic surgeries because her husband “didn't like being around old people”. But she also denied that her cat-like features were all due to plastic surgery.
she said vanity fair In 1998, she wrote, “Lynx has perfect eyes. When I show you a picture of my grandmother, all you see are these eyes, cat eyes, and high cheekbones.'' She also maintained her family's lifestyle. He told the outlet that he spent $1 million a month to do so.
Alec had a different perspective on his surgery, claiming to the outlet: She wondered if she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin doesn't work that way. But she didn't listen. ”
CNN report Much of Wildenstein's life remains a mystery shrouded in myth. Her real age, the origin of her cat-like appearance, and where her money actually goes.
She had promised to further tell her story in an HBO series that she claimed would air in 2023, but that project has yet to materialize and she didn't think it was important to her. .
