Jocelyn Wildenstein, Dubbed ‘Catwoman’ for Her Bold Plastic Surgery Transformation, Dies at 79

Jocelyn Wildenstein, also known as “Catwoman,” reportedly passed away on December 31 at the age of 79 due to a pulmonary embolism while staying at a luxury hotel in Paris. The news was first reported by AFP and Paris Match and later confirmed by her partner of over two decades, Lloyd Klein.

“Her partner Lloyd Klein is pained to announce the death of Jocelyne Wildenstein in Paris aged 79,” Klein told AFP, adding, “An icon has left us.”

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The Swiss-born, New York-based socialite rose to fame in the ’90s during her high-profile divorce from billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein. Her nickname, however, stemmed from her feline-like features—a look that tabloids speculated was the result of extensive plastic surgery.

Jocelyn, who received $2.5 billion settlement and an additional $100 million annually in the divorce, previously explained her cosmetic treatments by saying her ex-husband “hates to be with old people.” Yet, in a 1998 Vanity Fair interview, she suggested her signature look wasn’t entirely surgical. “The lynx has perfect eyes,” she shared, noting that she kept one as a pet. “If I show you pictures of my grandmother, what you see is these eyes—cat eyes—and high cheekbones.”

Wildenstein, however, had a different perspective on her transformations. “I would always find out last,” he told Vanity Fair. “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.” While Alec publicly shared his frustration with her choices, it’s worth noting that he too was no stranger to a bit of fine-tuning. Reports suggest her passion for cosmetic enhancements began when the couple got facelifts together early in their marriage.

All of this to say: Wildenstein remained unapologetic about her decisions and lived life on her terms. As reported by CNN, she once cheekily told a photographer, “If you feel good with your imperfections, with your aging, then you should do nothing. Otherwise, it’s all about choosing the right doctor.”