Jocelyn Wildenstein, famously nicknamed “Catwoman” due to her extensive cosmetic surgeries, has passed away.
Wildenstein quietly left this world on Tuesday, December 31, while resting, as detailed by her long-term partner Lloyd Klein in an interview with People.
Klein, renowned in the fashion industry, painted a vivid picture of their final moments together.
“On that fateful night, we shared a joyful evening preparing for the New Year, indulging in happy hour festivities before stealing a short nap,” he recounted fondly.
According to Klein, the cause of Wildenstein’s untimely death was phlebitis, more specifically thrombophlebitis, a medical condition where blood clots form and obstruct veins, commonly in the legs, as aptly described by the Mayo Clinic.
“Her condition caused extreme swelling in her legs, cutting off blood flow and oxygen to her brain,” Klein explained. “As we napped, I could sense something was off. When I woke up and called her name, she was cold—gone.”
“It’s incredibly tragic. To lie down beside someone you love for over two decades, anticipating a New Year celebration, only to awaken and find them no longer with you is beyond comprehension,” he added, his voice filled with sorrow.
Klein noted that her health had been “perfect” leading up to the festivities, and he reminisced about how Wildenstein’s grandmother also suffered from phlebitis.
“Just two days prior, we dined at the Ritz, celebrating an exquisite Fashion Week with Chanel. Everything felt right in the world,” he reflected.
“We attended parties, and she was radiant. Her health was impeccable,” he emphasized.
Klein vividly recalled the excitement surrounding Wildenstein just a couple of months earlier, as she graced the front row at a Chanel show, welcomed with admiration and flashes from paparazzi. “We were on top of the world. Everything seemed perfect,” he reminisced.
Wildenstein’s face, altered through numerous surgeries, became a symbol of her quest for beauty, earning her the moniker “Catwoman.” Her journey began as Jocelyne Perisset, a Swiss socialite who first captured public attention during her tumultuous divorce from billionaire Alec Wildenstein.
After parting ways with Alec, Wildenstein found her partner in Klein, and they spent nearly 15 years together before announcing their engagement.
Interestingly, her divorce settlement, which soared to an astounding $2.5 billion, positioned her among the wealthiest individuals globally, alongside substantial annual payments from her ex-husband.
However, by 2018, her fortunes dwindled, ultimately leading her to file for bankruptcy. In her affidavit, she candidly revealed, “I am not employed, and my only income is Social Security. I often rely on family and friends for day-to-day expenses.”
Despite the changes to her appearance, Wildenstein vehemently refused to attribute her looks to plastic surgery, instead attributing them to her Swiss lineage, claiming, “I have naturally high cheekbones and long hair.” When approached by DailyMailTV about any surgical enhancements, she dismissed the notion. “Looking back at my photos, I feel I was perhaps more beautiful then,” she had stated. “Youth brings its own freshness, and I still see the same eyes and cheekbones in my reflection.”
Her tumultuous personal life also included a 2016 arrest for allegedly scratching Klein during a heated argument. Klein faced his own legal troubles after Wildenstein claimed he pushed her, but both were later cleared of charges.
This complex figure leaves behind two children, Diane and Alec Jr., who carry on her legacy against the backdrop of her remarkable, albeit controversial, life.
