Imagine a fortune of over €200 million, a beloved cat living the high life, and a will that’s now being fiercely contested—this is the dramatic saga surrounding the legacy of fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. But here’s where it gets controversial: an unknown plaintiff is challenging the late designer’s will, which left the bulk of his wealth to his inner circle and his pampered feline, Choupette. Could this mean a dramatic shift in who inherits his vast estate? Let’s dive in.
Karl Lagerfeld, the visionary behind Chanel’s modern resurgence after joining the iconic French fashion house in 1983, passed away at 85 on February 19, 2019. His will, finalized in April 2016, bequeathed most of his €200 million fortune to his long-time assistant Sébastien Jondeau, his godson Hudson Kroenig, models Brad Kroenig and Baptiste Giabiconi, and—most famously—his Birman cat, Choupette. And this is the part most people miss: Lagerfeld’s will completely bypassed his surviving relatives, including nieces and nephews, who are now at the center of a legal dispute.
Lagerfeld once told The New York Times Magazine in 2015 that he had “no family at all,” revealing he hadn’t seen his sister Christiane in 40 years and that her children never even sent him a Christmas card. Yet, his will reflects a different kind of family—one built on loyalty, companionship, and, yes, even feline adoration. Choupette, the cat who traveled in a Louis Vuitton carrier, dined on gourmet meals, and had her own bodyguard, was left a reported $1.5 million and a house with a garden. Her Instagram account, chronicling her lavish lifestyle, boasts over 270,000 followers. Lagerfeld once quipped to The Guardian, “She is a kept woman,” highlighting her princess-like status.
But here’s the twist: under French inheritance law, where Lagerfeld lived and died, if the will is annulled, his wealth could be redistributed among his next of kin—his nieces and nephews. This week, German media reported that Christian Boisson, the executor of Lagerfeld’s will, has notified surviving relatives of the legal challenge. While Choupette’s extravagant life is unlikely to change, the fate of the fortune hangs in the balance.
Lagerfeld’s relationship with his blood relatives was strained. He last saw Christiane in 1974 and, despite designing his niece’s wedding dress in 1992, his family was largely excluded from his glittering fashion world. Nephew Roger Johnson, a truck driver from Connecticut, told the New York Post he barely knew his uncle and wouldn’t even accept an inheritance if offered. “Money doesn’t mean anything to me,” he said. “I’m just a regular guy.”
Now, the big question: Is it fair for Lagerfeld’s fortune to go to his chosen ‘family’ rather than his blood relatives? Does loyalty and companionship outweigh biological ties? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
