Jocelyn Wildenstein’s Net Worth: How Much Money She Had Before She Died

Jocelyn Wildenstein was famous for her dramatic plastic surgery, flamboyant lifestyle, and contentious divorce from billionaire Alec Wildenstein. Her unexpected death on New Year’s Eve came as a shock to her partner, Lloyd Klein, who opened up about her death to PEOPLE in a January 1 interview. He recalled that she died in her sleep during a nap, and mourned the loss of the woman he’d been with for over two decades. “It’s very sad. It’s extremely sad,” he told the outlet. “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.”

Amid news of the socialite’s death, here’s what to know Jocelyn Wildenstein’s net worth.

Who Was Jocelyn Wildenstein?

Jocelyn Wildenstein in 2005.
(Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Jocelyn Wildenstein was a socialite known for her bitter 1999 divorce from the late billionaire Alec Wildenstein, the plastic surgeries that gave her an arresting “Catwoman” appearance, and a flamboyant lifestyle the tabloids loved to report on. Jocelyn was 84 at the time of her death, according to The Times, and was engaged to fashion designer Klein since 2017.

What Was Jocelyn Wildenstein’s Net Worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, despite her previous marriage to Alec Wildenstein, Jocelyn was only worth $1 million. Per the site, her former marriage gave rise to false rumors of a $500 million net worth after an exaggerated divorce settlement supposedly worth billions. In reality, according to the site, she more likely ended up with about $50 million, which she spent attempting to keep up a lavish lifestyle.

Was Jocelyn Wildenstein Bankrupt?

Jocelyn filed for bankruptcy in May of 2018 and by 2023, she had reportedly openly admitted she was broke. Per CNW, her filing listed $16.4 million in assets and $6.4 million in debt. Her expenditures included three outlandish apartments in Trump World Tower, untold amounts of cosmetic surgery, legal bills, and a 2006 Bentley.

How Did Jocelyn Wildenstein Die?

Per The Times, Jocelyn died of a pulmonary embolism in Paris during a nap. Klein told PEOPLE magazine that she had phlebitis. “Because of her phlebitis, the legs were very, very swollen, and the blood was blocked, and there was no oxygen in the brain,” he told the outlet. “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.”