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Jocelyn Wildenstein, an 84-year-old Swiss-born billionaire socialite famously nicknamed the "Catwoman" for her feline-inspired facial surgeries, has revealed she now survives on $900 a month in Social Security benefits. Once synonymous with wealth and glamour, Wildenstein’s dramatic financial downfall has become a stark cautionary tale.
Wildenstein’s life was once steeped in luxury. Married in the 1970s to Alec Wildenstein, a billionaire art dealer and heir to the renowned Wildenstein art dynasty, she enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle. The couple maintained properties like the Ol Jogi ranch in Kenya, while Wildenstein indulged in luxury goods, lavish travels, and high society life.
Their marriage ended in a high-profile divorce in 2000, with Wildenstein receiving a staggering $2.5 billion settlement and $100 million annually for 13 years — one of the largest divorce settlements in history. However, the payments reportedly ceased in 2015, leaving her finances in dire straits.
Jocelyn’s fortune evaporated due to unchecked spending. She reportedly racked up phone bills of tens of thousands of dollars annually, splurged on luxury items, and maintained her expensive cosmetic surgeries to craft her signature feline look. Her controversial image was further amplified by her tumultuous relationship with fashion designer Lloyd Klein. The couple, who began dating in 2003, faced multiple publicized domestic disputes, including arrests for assault, though they remain together and now reside in Miami.
In 2018, Wildenstein alleged she had been defrauded out of her trust funds, citing forged artworks and undervalued sales of famous paintings, including one attributed to Cézanne. Despite these claims, she filed for bankruptcy, admitting she could no longer sustain her previous lifestyle.
Once a symbol of unimaginable wealth, Wildenstein now lives in stark contrast to her former opulence, relying solely on Social Security. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of wealth without financial prudence, captivating public attention as one of the most striking examples of riches-to-rags in modern times.
