Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last few decades, you know the face. It’s unmistakable. Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss-born socialite famously (or infamously) dubbed "Catwoman" by the tabloids, became a living symbol of the excesses of the 90s. But lately, the question is Jocelyn Wildenstein still alive has been trending for a reason that isn't just curiosity—it’s because we actually lost her quite recently.
She passed away on December 31, 2024.
She was 84 years old. The news hit the headlines just as the world was gearing up for New Year’s Eve celebrations. It felt like a strange, quiet end for a woman whose life had been anything but quiet. She died in her sleep while taking a nap in her hotel suite in Paris.
The Reality of Her Final Moments in Paris
Her longtime partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein, was the one who shared the details, and they’re honestly pretty heartbreaking. They were in Paris—a city she loved—staying at the Ritz. They had just spent time at Chanel’s Fashion Week. According to Klein, they had a "nice happy hour" and decided to take a nap to look refreshed for their New Year’s Eve dinner.
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When he went to wake her up to get dressed, she was cold.
The official cause of death was a pulmonary embolism. This happened because of a condition she’d been dealing with called phlebitis, which is basically inflammation of the veins. In her case, her legs had become severely swollen, a blood clot formed, and it eventually traveled to her lungs. It was sudden. One minute they were laughing over champagne, and the next, an era of New York high society had officially ended.
Why We Couldn't Stop Looking
Why do people keep asking is Jocelyn Wildenstein still alive? Well, she was a ghost of the tabloid era. She was the woman who reportedly spent over $2 million on plastic surgery to look like a lynx because her husband, billionaire Alec Wildenstein, loved big cats.
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That story has been disputed by her over the years—she once claimed her "cat-like" features were just her Swiss heritage and high cheekbones—but the public never really bought it. Her husband certainly didn't. He famously told Vanity Fair back in the 90s that she thought she could fix her face like a piece of furniture.
The divorce was a spectacle.
- The Payout: She walked away with a $2.5 billion settlement.
- The Catch: The judge literally forbid her from using any of that money on more plastic surgery.
- The Aftermath: By 2018, she claimed the billions were gone and filed for bankruptcy.
It’s a wild arc. From $2.5 billion to asking friends for help with rent. She was a woman who lived in the extremes. Even in her 80s, she was active on Instagram, posting photos that were often heavily filtered, keeping the "Catwoman" myth alive until the very end.
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The Misconceptions and the Legacy
A lot of people think she was just a "surgery addict," but those close to her described someone much more complex. Lloyd Klein always defended her, saying she was "ahead of her time" and that today, every influencer in L.A. or Palm Beach is trying to get the look she pioneered.
Whether you see her as a victim of the beauty industry or a pioneer of self-reinvention, her death marks the end of a specific kind of celebrity. The kind that didn't need a reality show to be famous—they just needed a headline and a look that no one could look away from.
She is survived by her two children, Diane and Alec Jr.
While she's no longer with us, the fascination clearly hasn't died. If you're looking to understand her better, Klein has mentioned a potential documentary series about her life. There's even talk of a movie—he once mentioned wanting Jennifer Lawrence to play a young Jocelyn.
Actionable Insight for Readers:
If you are following the Wildenstein estate or curious about the upcoming documentary, keep an eye on official announcements from Lloyd Klein’s fashion house or major streaming platforms. Given the complexity of her bankruptcy filings and the Wildenstein family art dynasty, the legal aftermath of her passing will likely be as complicated as her life was.