'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein left partner huge fortune days after tragic death
Jocelyn Wildenstein left her partner, Lloyd Klein, a huge fortune after her death on New Year's Eve, despite declaring herself bankrupt and having three apartments repossessed
Despite declaring bankruptcy, socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, famously known as Catwoman, left a substantial fortune to her partner after her death.
The Swiss-born icon passed away on New Year's Eve at 84 years old.
Shortly after her demise, her partner Lloyd Klein disclosed that Jocelyn had been battling phlebitis and died peacefully in her sleep. Phlebitis is an inflammation that triggers blood clot formation, often in the leg.
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Known for her penchant for cosmetic surgery, Jocelyn declared bankruptcy in 2018, asserting she had no funds in her accounts.
By 2021, her three Trump Tower apartments were seized, and by 2023, she was still grappling with financial difficulties.
However, Lloyd recently revealed that Jocelyn left him a staggering $100 million in her will. He recounted receiving a phone call on the day of Jocelyn's funeral, informing him that he was the beneficiary of a life policy she had taken out.
He told The Sun: "It's over $100 million dollars, my heart was beating. I was like, I'm not surprised, I sent her [Jocelyne] a big blessing."
He added: "She did it right, she's a lady. Jocelyne was secretive, she was mysterious."
But Lloyd's lawyers advised him that his newfound wealth would necessitate significant changes in his life.
"My life has changed. I have one or two people walking behind me now," he remarked, before alleging that Jocelyn did not leave any inheritance to her two children, Alec Jr and Diane, from her previous marriage to Alec Wildenstein. Following her divorce in 1999, it was reported she received a staggering $2.5 billion along with an annual $100 million settlement.
In the wake of Jocelyn's passing, Lloyd reflected, "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. Because of her phlebitis, the legs were very, very swollen, and the blood was blocked, and there was no oxygen in the brain."
Sharing the tragic moment, he continued, "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. It's extremely sad to lay down with your other half that I known for 21 years and waiting to celebrate New Year's Eve and to find her cold."
Jocelyn and her grandmother shared a history of phlebitis battles, but Lloyd attested to Jocelyn's "perfect" health shortly before she unexpectedly passed away during a romantic getaway in Paris.
Caught off guard by her sudden demise, Lloyd reminisced that she seemed "at the top of her game" and they were "very happy."
The last images captured of the celebrity show her with her fiancé outside The Ritz in Paris, just two weeks prior to her death. Bundled up, Jocelyn wore a snug black zip-up turtleneck paired with an elegant brown fur coat.
Famous for a heavily sculpted visage through allegedly numerous facelifts, credited for her 'cat-eye' appearance and prominent cheekbones, Jocelyn frequently dismissed such speculation
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