Jocelyn Wildenstein Explained

Jocelyn Wildenstein
Birth Name:Jocelynnys Dayannys da Silva Bezerra Périsset
Birth Place:Lausanne, Switzerland
Occupation:Socialite
Known For:Extensive facial surgeries
Children:2

Jocelyn Alice Wildenstein[1] (née Jocelyne Périsset; born 1945/1946) is a Swiss socialite known for her extensive cosmetic surgery, resulting in her catlike appearance; her 1999 high-profile divorce from billionaire art dealer and businessman Alec Wildenstein; and her extravagant lifestyle and subsequent bankruptcy filing.

Early life and relationships

Jocelyn Périsset was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1945.[2] Her father Armand Périsset (died 12 March 1997 in Kenya) worked in a sporting goods store and her mother Liliane Périsset was a housewife. She began dating Swiss Cyril Piguet, producer of the 1964 film Un commerce tranquille, at the age of 17. She later lived in Paris with Italian French filmmaker Sergio Gobbi.[3] While there, she became a skilled hunter and pilot.

Périsset was introduced to Alec N. Wildenstein, of the wealthy family of renowned art dealers, by Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi at a shooting weekend at the Wildenstein African ranch "Ol Jogi" in 1977.[4] Périsset and Wildenstein eloped to Las Vegas on 30 April 1978 and had two children together.[5] There were suspicions that she may have been a prostitute before meeting Wildenstein, but it has never been proven.

The Wildensteins' divorce in 1999[6] was not amicable. Jocelyn walked in on her husband and a 21-year-old Russian model in her bedroom at the Wildenstein New York home, and he threatened Jocelyn with a gun.[7] This resulted in a night in jail for Alec Wildenstein. The presiding judge, Marilyn Diamond, received death threats in the mail during the proceedings. During her divorce, the judge stipulated that she could not use any alimony payments for further cosmetic surgery. Jocelyn enlisted the services of Ed Rollins[3] [8] for public relations assistance and at various times both Bernard Clair[3] [9] and Kenneth Godt[10] for legal counsel. Wildenstein began dating fashion designer Lloyd Klein in 2003.[11] The couple split in 2016.[11]

Cosmetic surgery

Wildenstein has had extensive cosmetic surgeries to her face. Her catlike appearance[12] has led media outlets to nickname her "Catwoman", "The Lion Queen", and "The Bride of Wildenstein".[13] She denies having excessive plastic surgery, citing her Swiss heritage, but admitted to a multi-million dollar surgery to make her eyes more cat-like[14] which she did with her husband. According to Alec Wildenstein, "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".

Finances

Wildenstein is known for her extravagant life. She once calculated her yearly telephone bill at $60,000 and food and wine costs at $547,000. Wildenstein received $2.5 billion in her divorce settlement (although this amount has been rumored to be as high as $3.8 billion[15]) and $100 million each year for the following 13 years.[16] The judge stipulated that she could not use any alimony payments for further cosmetic surgery. Following her divorce, Wildenstein sold the marital home in New York to real estate developer Janna Bullock for $13 million.[17]

References

Bibliography – books

Bibliography – periodicals

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Crazy Life of Billionaire Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein. . October 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510070341/http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/indepth/the-crazy-life-of-billionaire-socialite-jocelyn-wildenstein/ar-BBp15tO. May 10, 2017. dead.
  2. 1998-03-09 . Jocelyne's Revenge . 2023-03-08 . Vanity Fair . en-US.
  3. Carlin . Peter Ames . January 26, 1998 . Surgical Strike . . 49 . 3 . 0093-7673 . January 4, 2012.
  4. 1998-03-09 . Jocelyne's Revenge . 2023-03-08 . Vanity Fair . en-US.
  5. News: Heigl. Alex. The Famous Life and Face of Jocelyn Wildenstein. 7 February 2017. People. 9 Dec 2016.
  6. Web site: Faith . Nicholas . February 22, 2008 . Alec Wildenstein: Art dealer and racehorse owner who divorced in a blaze of publicity . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/alec-wildenstein-art-dealer-and-racehorse-owner-who-divorced-in-a-blaze-of-publicity-785555.html . June 9, 2022 . subscription . live . The Independent . February 4, 2012.
  7. News: People & Places: Art dealer admits he pulled gun on wife . September 9, 2000 . Spartanburg Herald-Journal . A2 . February 9, 2012.
  8. News: Grove . Lloyd . June 9, 2000 . The Reliable Source . The Washington Post . February 4, 2012.
  9. Web site: Gupte . Pranay . May 17, 2005 . It's Personal for a Top NYC Divorce Lawyer . New York . The Sun . February 4, 2012.
  10. Web site: November 10, 1999 . Jocelyn gives bankrupt beau the brush-off . https://archive.today/20120717075732/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/68516024.html?dids=68516024:68516024&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+10,+1999&author=Kieran+Crowley&pub=New+York+Post&desc=JOCELYN+GIVES+BANKRUPT+BEAU+THE+BRUSH-OFF&pqatl=google . dead . July 17, 2012 . New York Post . 30 . February 4, 2012. for full content.
  11. Web site: Jocelyn Wildenstein's Boyfriend Lloyd Klein Reveals What Happened the Night of the Attack. PEOPLE.com.
  12. Web site: 'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein denies having any plastic surgery, cites her Swiss heritage. Tyler. McCarthy. February 13, 2018. Fox News.
  13. Web site: The crazy life of billionaire socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein. PressFrom - AU.
  14. Web site: Wet . Nici de . Stop posting fake pictures of me, rants Catwoman who claims she's never had plastic surgery . 2023-03-08 . You . en-US.
  15. News: Corbett . Rachel . 2023-08-23 . The Inheritance Case That Could Unravel an Art Dynasty . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-09-14 . 0362-4331.
  16. Web site: Petridou . Ria . September 29, 2011 . Queens of plastic: Jocelyn Wildenstein . Fashion Love . February 4, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110930051343/http://www.fashionlove.gr/en/people-en/talk-of-the-town-en/queens-of-plastic-jocelyn-wildenstein/ . September 30, 2011 . dead .
  17. Web site: Greene . Penelope . July 26, 2007 . Buy High, Sell Higher . The New York Times . February 4, 2012.