Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein dubbed 'Catwoman' dies age 84 as partner speaks out

Swiss socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein has died at the age of 84, her partner Lloyd Klein has confirmed.

The 57-year-old French fashion designer told People that she passed away in her sleep while taking a nap on New Year's Eve (December 31) in Paris.

In a statement sent to AFP, Klein said: "It is with heavy heart and with great sadness that Mr Lloyd Klein announces the unexpected death of his beloved fiancée and longtime companion Jocelyne Wildenstein."

The statement continued: "Mrs Wildenstein died peacefully in her sleep in the late afternoon of December 31st, 2024 in her... suite in Paris where the couple had taken temporary residence since August of 2024."

Klein said he had tried to wake Wildenstein from a nap so she could get ready for New Year's Eve dinner, but she was sadly unresponsive.

Following her passing, he told People: "We had a nice happy hour the same night and we were getting ready for the new year, and we took a little nap just to look good before getting dressed."

When asked about Wildenstein's cause of death, the 57-year-old said: "Because of her phlebitis, the legs were very, very swollen, and the blood was blocked, and there was no oxygen in the brain.

"And we were having a nap and when I wake up, I said, 'Jocelyn, we have to wake up, we have to get dressed,' and she was cold and she was dead."

"It's very sad. It's extremely sad," Klein added. "It's extremely sad to lay down with your other half that I know for 21 years and waiting to celebrate New Year's Eve and to find her cold."

Klein said Wildenstein's condition, something her grandmother also had, did not affect their holidays as her health had been 'perfect' just days before.

"We were at the Ritz two days ago. We were having dinner," he said. "Before that, we had come for Fashion Week at Chanel. Everything was good, everything was good."

Wildenstein, of New York, shot to fame following her 1997 split from ex-husband and art dealer Alec Wildenstein - who she'd been with for 20 years and shared two children with.

Their divorce was finalized two years later and broke headlines for being the most expensive in history at the time, landing her a staggering $2.5 billion - but she didn't get it all in one go.

The courts ruled that Wildenstein would receive $100 million a year, but after Alec died in 2008 his family made claim to his riches.

Although she was still receiving her share of the divorce settlement - that was until 2015 when Alec's family reportedly cut her off.

Three years later, she filed for bankruptcy.

Wildenstein, nee Périsset, was born in Lausanne, Switzerland back in 1940, and despite being known for her drastic use of plastic surgery - becoming known as the 'Catwoman' for her feline appearance - she claimed she had never gone under the knife.

To celebrate her daughter's birthday in August last year, the socialite posted an unexpected throwback photo which revealed what her face used to look like.

The caption read: "Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Diane Wildenstein #oljogi #jocelynwildenstein."

The photo depicts her as a blonde bombshell, one that could be mistaken for a Bond girl, as she cradles her daughter Diane - who is now 45 years old.

While last year in June, Wildenstein took to Instagram to share a picture of her when she was a teenager, and in the caption took aim at people 'photoshopping' her photos.

She wrote: "#tbt that’s me #jocelynwildenstein at ballet classes in Switzerland at 15 years old.

"So maybe you should stop speculating on my image! Press stop! Stop please and stop photoshopping my images because you are all [100 percent] wrong.

"Stop posting fake images of me."