Kaylah Walton
Jocelyn Wildenstein, a well-known socialite and celebrity often referred to as “Catwoman,” has died at 84. She passed away on Tuesday in Paris, suffering from a pulmonary embolism. Her partner, the fashion designer Lloyd Klein, confirmed her death, expressing his grief. Wildenstein was last publicly seen on December 18 in Paris, appearing healthy as she smiled at those around her while dressed in stylish attire.
Initially known as Jocelyne Périsset, she came from modest roots before becoming the wife of French-American billionaire Alec N. Wildenstein in the late 1970s. Their relationship began after they met on a safari in Kenya, where they were introduced by the arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, bonding over a shared love for wildlife.
Reflecting on their early days together, she shared a story about Alec hunting a lion that threatened local antelope, highlighting a ritual of eating a part of the lion’s heart as a way to absorb its power.
Their romance quickly progressed, leading to a spontaneous wedding in Las Vegas in 1978, plunging Jocelyn into a world of luxury and extravagance. The Wildenstein family operated a prestigious art dealership in Paris, enabling her to live in opulence. However, their marriage fell apart by 2000 due to accusations of Alec’s infidelity. Their divorce was infamously costly, resulting in Jocelyn receiving a monumental $2.5 billion settlement along with $100 million annually for 13 years.
A life filled with luxury and transformation
Despite her immense wealth, Jocelyn’s financial situation declined over the years. Her extravagant lifestyle and ongoing cosmetic procedures left her nearly unrecognizable by the 1990s, ultimately leading to bankruptcy. Jocelyn fondly remembered her early experiences in Africa as her “first love story,” noting her role in developing the ranch at Ol Jogi, where she helped create the establishment from nothing. In a nostalgic photo she posted, she wrote: “My early years at Ol Jogi building this beautiful ranch from scratch before having my children.”
Even with her dramatic changes, Jocelyn remained influential in elite social circles. At the time of her passing, she boasted over a million followers on Instagram, identifying as an “art dealer” and holding onto a link to her once-glamorous life.
