The 'Catwoman' Curse: How a Stunning Billionaire Heiress Fell Victim to Plastic Surgery and Then Bankruptcy

Joseline Wildenstein passed away at the age of 85. Western media tirelessly documented the numerous surgeries undergone by the so-called 'Catwoman,' but we decided to delve deeper into the story of this truly mysterious figure, whose life story promises to captivate you as well.

A few years ago, Joseline Wildenstein gave her first interview in a long time, claiming she had never undergone surgery and that her distinctive appearance was due to her Swiss heritage. The socialite emphasized that she naturally had high cheekbones and cat-like eyes, and that rumors of plastic surgery were spread by her late ex-husband Alec Wildenstein out of spite. The 'Catwoman' insists she is happy with her looks and is often mistaken for Brigitte Bardot.

However, another narrative suggests that Joseline, nicknamed the 'Bride of Frankenstein' by the public, became a victim of plastic surgery while trying to keep her unfaithful husband close. Even the most skilled experts find it impossible to count the number of procedures she underwent. Despite their divorce, she continued to pursue rejuvenation and reportedly spent a multi-million dollar fortune inherited from her ex-husband on self-enhancement, designer fashion, and jewelry.

In 2016, Wildenstein declared bankruptcy, unable even to afford groceries, let alone pay for her longtime residence in Trump Tower. To understand how the 'Catwoman' ended up in such dire straits, let's take a closer look at her life.

Paris Opens Its Doors

Joseline Wildenstein (née Perisse) is arguably one of the most famous women born in Switzerland. Little is known about her childhood in her hometown of Lausanne. The daughter of a struggling sporting goods salesman, she rarely speaks about her early years.

What is certain is that at 17, her life changed dramatically when she met Swiss producer Cyril Piguet. Their romance blossomed quickly, and after two years, they moved to Paris—a city Joseline described as glamorous and full of fascinating people, where she was still just a charming young woman.

It’s unclear when the striking blonde parted ways with Cyril, but in France, she found what she longed for—a bohemian lifestyle.

Joseline was rumored to change lovers as frequently as gloves. She once hinted in an interview that these rumors were not far from the truth. Soon, her heart was captured by French director of Italian descent Sergio Gobbi, though their relationship lasted only five years. The young beauty showed little interest in formal education, focusing instead on the life of a socialite.

"I have many talents. I never worried about my career. I'm an excellent decorator. Maybe even too good at it," Joseline once said.

In Paris, she frequented beauty salons and traveled to the countryside to learn hunting and flying planes. During her time with Gobbi, she often visited Africa, developing a deep affection for the continent. These interests helped her integrate into France's elite circles—and beyond.

Meeting Her Future Husband

In 1977, Joseline’s friend, Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, invited her to hunt lions at the Wildenstein family ranch, Ol Jogi, in Kenya. It was there she met her future husband, Alec Wildenstein, an American of French descent. Their passion ignited instantly. They spent two days together—hunting, riding motorcycles, and sharing kisses atop a hill. But when the weekend ended, they parted ways to different countries: she flew back to France, and he returned to the United States.

A few days later, Alec, who was dating model Maria Kimberly at the time, sent Joseline hundreds of white orchids—even though she was also not single.

The couple, both in their thirties, quickly realized they couldn’t live without each other.

Alec flew to Paris soon after, and on their fourth date, he proposed marriage. Joseline accepted.

One year after meeting, the American and Swiss married in Las Vegas, followed by a ceremony in Lausanne. However, Alec’s father, billionaire entrepreneur Daniel Wildenstein, was absent, opposing his son’s marriage altogether. Alec later admitted his father warned him about Joseline’s materialism, but he was blinded by passion.

The couple’s early years were idyllic, with two children—a daughter Diana and a son Alec Jr.—seeming to cement their happiness.

The First Surgery

The Wildenstein family was very conscious of their appearance, especially Alec, who feared aging. Just a year after their wedding, the couple decided to remove bags under their eyes together. For Joseline, this was just the beginning.

The reasons behind her transformation into a lynx-like figure remain known only to her. Some media outlets say she had a special affection for the feline family; others claim Alec’s love for big cats inspired her to please him. Additionally, she was worried about young women around her husband and sought to improve herself.

Wildenstein wanted to reshape her eyes to appear more cat-like, but that was only the start.

According to Alec, Joseline became obsessed with her appearance: she underwent mysterious injections, eyebrow lifts, blepharoplasty, cheek and chin implants, and much more.

"I always found out about her surgeries last. She thought she could remake her face like reupholstering old furniture, but skin doesn’t work that way. She didn’t listen," Alec said.

When not recovering from procedures, Joseline focused on decorating the family’s properties. Alec, however, was unimpressed with her ideas, calling them "crazy." For instance, she built a bulletproof glass cave near the Ol Jogi ranch pool to house two tigers. The family’s New York townhouse even hosted a live lynx, the true 'catwoman' of the family.

Alec grew increasingly unhappy with Joseline’s appearance, which cost her around $4 million in beauty experiments.

Over time, the couple shared less in common beyond their love for Africa. When their children were away at school, they frequently argued. In the early 1990s, Alec suffered depression due to conflicts with his father and business troubles.

The Breakup

Joseline and Alec’s relationship deteriorated sharply in 1997. In March, Joseline’s father died while visiting their ranch. She expected Alec to attend the funeral from New York, but he continually made excuses. After delaying the ceremony for two weeks, she finally buried her father. Upon returning home, she confronted Alec, who confessed to seeing other women, including 20-year-old Russian model Elena Zharikova, whom he helped launch as a model. Joseline was willing to forgive infidelity if it wasn’t serious, but Alec was determined to leave.

Joseline asked him to stay temporarily until their daughter’s school break, and Alec agreed—briefly stabilizing the situation.

Later, Joseline returned to Kenya but received a telegram from Alec stating she could no longer live in their New York townhouse, home to 11 family members. Instead, she rushed back to the U.S., where she caught Alec with model Ines Misan in their bedroom. Alec attempted to start a fight and even threatened her with a gun, but Joseline called the police, and he spent the night in custody.

This marked the beginning of a painful divorce battle: Alec took all her belongings and blocked her credit cards.

Joseline was forced to live in cramped quarters within the townhouse, sleeping on a mattress and using the shared kitchen during designated times. This strained Alec’s relationship with their children. Fortunately, Joseline’s lawyer persuaded Alec to provide her with financial support during their marriage. The divorce finalized in 1999: Joseline received $2.5 billion, and Alec was ordered to pay her $100 million annually for 13 years. Alec later married young model Lyubov Stupakova. He died in 2008, and seven years later, his family ceased payments to Joseline.

A New Chapter

Joseline quickly moved on after her divorce, beginning a romance with her lawyer Kenneth Godt in 1999. In 2000, at a party, she caught the eye of fashion designer Lloyd Klein, who was captivated by her at first sight. Joseline, however, was initially hesitant.

"She literally hypnotized me. Those eyes! They looked right into my soul. I work in fashion and meet young models daily, but none moved me like she did," Lloyd recalled. He was unbothered by their 17-year age difference.

Perhaps their shared love for beauty experiments brought them together, but their relationship was far from peaceful.

Over 15 years, the couple alternated between fierce fights and reconciliations. In December 2016, Joseline was at the center of a scandal. During dinner, displeased that Lloyd was distracted by his laptop instead of paying attention to her, she grabbed a lit candle, splashed wax on him, scratched his face with her nails, and stabbed him twice in the chest with scissors.

Lloyd locked her in a closet until the police arrived. Horrified, he sued Joseline, citing exhaustion from her volatile temper and vowing never to be near her again. New York courts found Joseline guilty of assault and issued a restraining order keeping her at least 900 meters away. Lloyd soon dated transgender model Lauren Foster but realized months later he couldn’t live without Joseline.

Despite reuniting, Lloyd and Joseline live a tumultuous life akin to "cats and dogs." Their fights have led to police visits even at their advanced ages. On one occasion, law enforcement found their Trump Tower apartment’s kitchen destroyed, and both were covered in scratches and bruises. Both faced charges for bodily harm.

Joseline’s Trump Tower residence is not her only property, but all her homes are mortgaged due to debts and cannot be sold despite attempts. The 'Catwoman' survived on a monthly allowance of about $900—meager for New York City. She relied on friends and family to cover expenses. Although Lloyd helped financially, he couldn’t fully support her.

Photos: Getty Images, Rex Features/FOTODOM.RU, Legion-Media.ru

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