What was Jocelyn Wildenstein’s net worth? Former billionaire socialite’s fortune explored as she dies at 84

Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss socialite who was known for her cat-like features, passed away recently. Per the Daily Star's report on January 2, Jocelyn suffered a pulmonary embolism on Tuesday, December 31, which led to her death.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Wildenstein's net worth to be $1 million at the time of her death. Per the media outlet, Jocelyn's net worth was rumored to be $500 million for many years. The speculation started in connection with her multi-billion dollar divorce settlement with the billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein in 1999.

Jocelyn and Alec were married for over 20 years and shared two children: a son, Alec Jr., and a daughter, Diane.

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Jocelyn Wildenstein became one of America's wealthiest women following her divorce

Jocelyn Wildenstein first met Alec Wildenstein on a dawn lion hunt. The wealthy heir was so impressed by Jocelyn's hunting skills that he asked to see her again the next day. The two continued to spend quality time together, with Alec proposing to her soon.

The couple shared a fascination with cats, which Jocelyn embraced to an extraordinary extent by getting a series of cosmetic procedures to enhance her resemblance to a cat. These procedures included collagen injections to her lip, cheeks, and chin, facelifts, and an eye reconstruction surgery. Per Daily Star, Jocelyn Wildenstein's treatments reportedly cost over £2 million.

According to the outlet, Jocelyn Wildenstein was convinced that her husband would find her more attractive if she looked more "feline," which led to her treatments. However, Jocelyn's husband was later caught in bed with a Russian girl in 1997, which led to their divorce.

In a 1998 interview with Vanity Fair, Jocelyn claimed that her treatments were an attempt to save her marriage, claiming that Alec "hates to be with old people." Meanwhile, Alec told the outlet that they'd gotten eye-lifts together in the first year of their marriage, on Jocelyn's insistence.

While it seemed like a one-time thing for him, for Jocelyn, it was just the beginning. Alec added:

"I would always find out last. She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture. Skin does not work that way. But she wouldn’t listen."

Jocelyn also claimed in the interview that her feline look was not all surgeries but also hereditary, adding:

"If I show you pictures of my grandmother... what you see is these eyes—cat eyes—and high cheekbones."

After a long court battle, Alec and Jocelyn's divorce was finalized in 1999, in which the socialite reportedly secured a settlement of £2 billion, in addition to £80 million a year in maintenance. Jocelyn also owned three apartments in the Trump Tower at that point, Daily Star reported. Making her one of America's wealthiest women following her divorce

However, despite the settlement, Jocelyn Wildenstein ended up declaring bankruptcy in 2018, with all her luxury apartments in Trump Tower being repossessed. Wildenstein talked to The Sunday Times in 2023, saying:

"I have a huge problem with my settlement... Since eight years, they have completely cut me off."

Jocelyn also told the media outlet about being the subject of an upcoming documentary as well as a reality show; a decision she had taken after running out of money.

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Six years after her divorce from Alec Wildenstein, Jocelyn started seeing a fashion designer named Lloyd Klein, who was 27 years younger than her. The couple had split in 2016 but reconciled in 2017, when they also got engaged.

Prior to her death, the socialite was holidaying in Paris with Klein in December 2024. It was Klein who confirmed the socialite's death to People on January 1, saying that she died in her sleep while taking a nap.