The Richest Cat in the World
Karl Lagerfeld, the renowned fashion designer, had a deep affection for his blue-cream Birman cat, Choupette, whom he often referred to as the center of his world. Following Lagerfeld's death in 2019, speculation arose regarding the distribution of his estimated $200 million fortune, with Choupette's name frequently mentioned as a potential beneficiary. Despite the rumors, the details of Lagerfeld's will remain private under French law, leaving many questions unanswered.
- ▪Karl Lagerfeld was a prominent fashion designer known for his work with Chanel and Fendi.
- ▪He had a close bond with his cat, Choupette, whom he described as his greatest love.
- ▪Following Lagerfeld's death, speculation about his estate included various potential beneficiaries, including Choupette.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
CultureThe Richest Cat in the WorldDid Karl Lagerfeld really leave millions to his blue-cream Birman, Choupette?By Chris HeathIllustration by Arn0May 18, 2026, 7 AM ET ShareSave Karl Lagerfeld, the great German fashion designer, lived in a surreal kind of grandeur. The creative director of both Chanel and Fendi, he owned apartments in Paris, Rome, and the Côte d’Azur, as well as villas in Biarritz and his native Hamburg; enormous collections of Art Deco furniture, antique jewelry, and couture garments; a personal library of some 300,000 books, by his own estimation; paintings and sculptures by Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and John Baldessari; three Rolls-Royces; a curious assemblage of 509 iPods; and hundreds of pairs of his trademark wraparound sunglasses and fingerless biker gloves.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Atlantic
