Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, Known for Distinctive Appearance, Dies at 79 in Paris

Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss-born socialite who became a fixture of New York high society and gained widespread recognition for her distinctive appearance, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79 in Paris, according to her partner Lloyd Klein.

Cause of Death and Final Days

Klein announced that Wildenstein died of a pulmonary embolism at a luxury hotel in Paris. Her last public appearance was captured in a social media post on December 23, where she was seen with Klein outside the Ritz Paris, set to the soundtrack of Wham’s “Last Christmas.”

Early Life and Marriage

Born Jocelyn Perisset in Switzerland in 1945, she rose to prominence in New York social circles following her marriage to wealthy art dealer Alec Wildenstein. The union, which produced two children, ended in a highly publicized divorce in the late 1990s, though she retained the Wildenstein name afterward.

Legacy and Public Presence

At the time of her passing, Wildenstein had cultivated a significant social media following, with over one million Instagram followers. She split her time between residences in New York and Miami in her later years. Despite media attention surrounding her appearance, she maintained her own perspective on cosmetic procedures, stating in her final months during an interview with French television news channel C8, “I never wanted to change my face,” though she acknowledged considering minor alterations such as lip enhancement.

In sharing the news of her passing, Klein remarked simply, “An icon has left us.”

Wildenstein’s legacy encompasses her roles as a socialite, public figure, and notably influential presence in New York’s high society circles spanning several decades.