Jocelyn Wildenstein, often spelling her name “Jocelyne,” was a fixture of New York’s gossip columns for decades, captivating tabloids with her turbulent love life, dramatically altered appearance, and a jaw-dropping divorce settlement from billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein. Though she once controlled a fortune in the billions, Wildenstein would later claim bankruptcy, her wealth seemingly vanished.

Her metamorphic looks made her infamous, but Wildenstein frequently downplayed the extent of her cosmetic surgeries. She insisted that her signature “cat eyes” were a natural family trait or the result of changing hairstyles rather than surgical enhancement. However, she occasionally teased reporters with cheeky admissions. When questioned about her procedures in 2006, she reportedly told photographer Zed Nelson: “If you feel good with your imperfections, with your aging, then you should do nothing. Otherwise, it’s all about choosing the right doctor.”

From Swiss Lakes to the Lap of Luxury

Born Jocelyn Périsset in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wildenstein spent her youth immersed in outdoor adventures—swimming in lakes and skiing in the nearby mountains. Her fascination with exotic animals was sparked early, inspired by her father’s love for African wildlife.

In her early 20s, she moved to Paris, where she embraced the glamorous nightlife of the disco scene, mingling with wealthy expats. But the call of Africa never left her heart. Her dream of experiencing the wild savannas became reality on a Kenyan safari in 1977, where fate introduced her to billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein. Alec later revealed to Vanity Fair that he met Jocelyn while on a mission to hunt a lion for a neighbor—an encounter that sparked their whirlwind romance.

The couple married the following year, and Jocelyn’s life transformed into one of extravagant luxury. She moved into Ol Jogi, the sprawling Kenyan estate owned by the Wildenstein family, which quickly became her favorite among their many international properties.

Big Cats, Big Spending, and Bigger Drama

Wildenstein’s passion for African wildlife took on a larger-than-life expression once she inherited Ol Jogi through marriage. She reportedly had a bulletproof enclosure built for her pet tigers, blending her obsession with wild beauty and extreme wealth. The lavish estate itself was a spectacle, boasting over 200 buildings and a staff of more than 300.

Her spending habits were equally extravagant. Wildenstein unapologetically indulged in couture fashion, once spending $350,000 on a Chanel gown and confessing to burning through approximately $1 million a month alongside her then-husband.

Yet, beneath the luxury, drama brewed. Her love story with Alec ended in a bitter, headline-dominating divorce in 1999, complete with scandal, courtroom theatrics, and one of the most staggering financial settlements of the time.

Jocelyn Wildenstein’s life was a cocktail of wealth, wild beauty, and personal reinvention—her feline features becoming a symbol of extreme transformation, while her lavish lifestyle captivated a world obsessed with excess.