What is Jocelyn Wildenstein’s net worth? Former billionaire ‘Catwoman’ says she now survives on $900 social security

Jocelyn Wildenstein & Lloyd Klein Discuss Their Engagement - Source: Getty
Jocelyn Wildenstein and Lloyd Klein discuss their engagement at Baccarat Hotel, New York City, August 5, 2017. (Image via Getty/Noam Galai)

Jocelyn Wildenstein, once a billionaire socialite known as "Catwoman," revealed that she now lives cheque-to-cheque, as she is dependent on the monthly $900 payouts from Social Security.

Renowned for her striking facial features, during an interview with News 7, the 87-year-old revealed she has been struggling since filing for bankruptcy in 2018. Once a wealthy Swiss-born, she revealed that she still has real estate and other investments, though all of her remaining wealth was squandered away by 2015.

As it stands, Celebrity Net Worth places Jocelyn Wildenstein's net worth at $1 million, a stark contrast from what was once estimated to be billions.


The rise and fall of Jocelyn Wildenstein: Here's all we know

Back in the 1970s, Jocelyn Wildenstein was heir to a prolific art dynasty. She was also married to an art dealer named Alec Wildenstein. However, the two parted ways in 1999, leading to her allegedly receiving a lump sum settlement of $2.5 billion, plus an annual $100 million for the next 13 years.

However, Celebrity Net Worth has noted that she likely received less than $50 million in total. Nonetheless, by 2015, she began having money problems, and by May 2018, she filed for bankruptcy. By June 2023, she declared herself skint. As reported by The New York Post at the time, she claimed her Citibank account had all of $0 in her filing.

“I am not employed and my only income is Social Security,” Wildenstein said in an affidavit. “I often turn to friends and family in order to pay my ongoing expenses.”

However, the New York City socialite owns millions of dollars worth of real estate. In her filing, she listed assets worth $16.39 million and $6.38 million in liabilities. Money has reported that she owns an apartment in the Trump Tower, Manhattan, worth $11.75 million, as well as a 2006 Bentley that is now worth $35,000.

However, her debts are noteworthy. Live Mint has reported that back in 2003, Jocelyn Wildenstein got into a rocky relationship with Lloyd Klein, a fashion designer. The two were steeped in legal troubles at the time, involving domestic assault allegations and more. However, the two still live together.

Per Money, at the time of her filing, Wildenstein revealed she owed over $300,000 to several law firms, as well as $4.6 million on her apartment, as it is in foreclosure. While Douglas Pick, a bankruptcy lawyer who works under Pick & Zabicki, had been Wildenstein's legal counsel, he eventually decided to drop her. “There are many reasons,” he told Money, of his decision to part ways with her.


As reported by Live Mint, back in 2018, Jocelyn Wildenstein told Page Six that she was robbed of her trust fund when she purchased some bogus artwork, including a fake Diego Velázquez painting, and one by Cézanne that she paid much more for than it was worth.

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Edited by Nimisha Bansal