"A 'cat'-astrophe!" — Internet reacts as "Catwoman" Jocelyn Wildenstein reduced to $900 monthly social security down from $2.5B divorce money

Billionaire and socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, popularly known as Catwoman for her feline facial features, has revealed that she survives on $900 monthly social security. Wildenstein once made headlines in 2000 for receiving a record $2.5 billion in divorce settlement.

According to News 7, Jocelyn Wildenstein, 84, survives on the $900 she receives every month from Social Security despite once being the owner of immense wealth. In 2000, Wildenstein's marriage to art dealer Alec Wildenstein ended with her receiving $2.5 billion in divorce settlement. She was also set to receive $100 million from her husband annually for the next 13 years.

However, her payments reportedly stopped in 2015, and she had to file for bankruptcy in 2018, as per the New York Post. Wildenstein also revealed that she still has real estate and some other investments, but she had squandered away all her remaining wealth by 2015.

Fans took to X to react to Jocelyn Wildenstein's statements about her current financial condition. One X user cracked a pun over her nickname Catwoman and wrote:

"A "cat"-astrophe!"

Netizens also questioned whether Jocelyn was scammed or whether she spent the entire amount extravagantly.

"How can you possibly burn thru that much money?! You can live as part of the top 1% off the interest alone," a fan wondered.

"How? How is that possible? Was she scammed or really spent it?," another user enquired.

"Impossible to blow $2.5 billion," an X user remarked.

Fans continued to question the situation, with many claiming it was impossible to squander so much money.

"I don't even think I could blow through the interest if it sat in a savings account," a netizen wrote.

"Wow part of me feels sorry for these people but the other part of me doesn’t," another user added.

"How the Hell can you blow that much money 💰 I mean it costs a lot to look hideous but come on," a fan commented.

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Jocelyn Wildenstein, aka Catwoman, filed for bankruptcy in 2018

Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein was married to Alec Wildenstein (Image via Getty)

Once a wealthy Swiss socialite, Jocelyn Wildenstein married Alec Wildenstein, an art dealer and heir to a massive business fortune, in 1978 in Las Vegas. The couple remained together for 20 years and shared two children: a son, Alec Jr., and a daughter, Diane.

However, Alec Wildenstein filed for divorce in April 1997. In September of the same year, his socialite wife claimed that she had found her husband with the Russian model Yelena Jarikova at one of their New York City homes. She also accused her husband of waving a gun at her, leading to him getting arrested, per The New York Times.

Although Wildenstein was released, he was instructed to stay away from his wife and was not allowed to enter their shared home in Manhattan. Jocelyn Wildenstein also made headlines for her multiple cosmetic surgeries, which she allegedly underwent to have more feline features.

In a 1998 interview with Vanity Fair, the former billionaire spoke about her surgeries and claimed that some of her feline features were natural. However, her surgeries led her to acquire the nickname Catwoman.

"The lynx has perfect eyes. If I show you pictures of my grandmother, what you see is these eyes — cat eyes — and high cheekbones," Wildenstein said.

The Wildensteins' divorce proceedings lasted for around two years before they reached an agreement in 2000. According to numbers reported by Reuters in June 2013, Jocelyn received $2.5 billion and $100 million payable per year for the next 13 years from her husband. However, a judge reportedly instructed her not to spend the money on cosmetic surgeries.

As per Celebrity Net Worth, Jocelyn Wildenstein has reportedly spent $4 million on cosmetic surgeries.

According to Page Six, Jocelyn Wildenstein officially filed for bankruptcy in May 2018 after nearly being evicted from one of her apartments. In her filing, the once-billionaire socialite reportedly mentioned $16.4 million worth of assets and $6.4 million owed in debt. She added that her only income was $900 from Social Security payments, and she was behind her $4.5 million mortgage.

Wildenstein's filing also detailed several debts on her part. This included $38,000 on a car loan for a 2006 Bentley, $25,000 in property taxes, $70,000 to American Express, $175,000 to her contractor, $273,000 in law firm payments, and $165,000 in failed rent payments for a Beverly Hills home. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Wildenstein, aka Catwoman, currently has a reported net worth of $1 million.

In a June 2023 interview with The Telegraph, Wildenstein claimed that her bankruptcy was due to her being cut off from her divorce settlement. The socialite alleged that she had been "completely cut off" from the money for the past eight years.

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Jocelyn Wildenstein currently lives in Miami, Florida, with her partner, fashion designer Lloyd Klein. The couple reportedly began dating in 2003 and continue to remain together despite both charging each other with multiple counts of assault and violence over their allegedly tumultuous relationship of years.