Legal Challenge to Karl Lagerfeld’s Will Emerges
Relatives excluded from the €200 million estate of the late German-born Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld have reportedly received letters from the estate’s executor indicating that the will could potentially be overturned. This development comes seven years after Lagerfeld’s death from cancer, as an unnamed plaintiff has initiated a challenge to the haute couture icon’s last will and testament.
The executor of the estate, Christian Boisson, has contacted Lagerfeld’s surviving nieces and nephews to inform them that they might inherit his fortune if the legal challenge succeeds, according to German media reports. Importantly, the provisions made for Lagerfeld’s cherished cat will remain unaffected.
Lagerfeld was renowned for his precision, exacting nature, and a reputation for holding grudges. Despite his public persona behind dark glasses, he left no spouse, children, or surviving siblings at the time of his death at age 85.
Details of the Will and Beneficiaries
The will, dated 29 April 2016, excluded the children of his deceased siblings from inheriting his wealth, which is estimated at approximately €200 million. Instead, the fortune was left to a close circle of confidants believed to include his assistant and bodyguard Sébastien Jondeau, his teenage godson Hudson Kroenig, and models Brad Kroenig and Baptiste Giabiconi. Giabiconi has claimed to be "at the top" of Lagerfeld’s list of inheritors and revealed that Lagerfeld once attempted, unsuccessfully, to adopt him as a son.
German magazine Bunte reported that descendants of Lagerfeld’s late sisters, Christiane Johnson (who died in 2015) and Thea von der Schulenburg (who married into the aristocratic Schulenburg family and died in 1997), have received letters from the executor. According to these letters,
“The interpretation of the will is being contested. At present, the rights of the heirs are therefore uncertain.”
Legal Context and Potential Grounds for Challenge
Lagerfeld, born in Hamburg in 1933, resided primarily in Paris and passed away on its outskirts, but maintained his primary residence in Monaco. This means that both French and Monegasque laws, which generally prioritize next of kin as rightful heirs, apply to his estate.
The plaintiff challenging the will would need to argue that Lagerfeld was not of sound mind when he signed the will. Despite the ongoing dispute, the lifestyle and care arrangements for Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette, remain secure.
Choupette’s Life and Legacy
Lagerfeld’s 14-year-old white Birman cat, Choupette, acquired from Giabiconi, was provided for in advance of Lagerfeld’s death. The designer bequeathed a home and garden in France, along with a substantial bank account, to his housekeeper Françoise Caçote to ensure Choupette’s care after his passing.
Because this gift was made prior to Lagerfeld’s death, it is considered legally protected and not subject to challenge in the dispute over the will.
Choupette’s luxurious lifestyle is well-known, including dining from porcelain dishes, sleeping on Chanel fabrics, and traveling in Louis Vuitton monogrammed cat carriers. She has her own social media presence with 278,000 followers and has earned income as an advertising mascot for companies such as German luxury car manufacturer Audi. Speculation had circulated that she might have been named a beneficiary in Lagerfeld’s will.
Assets and Family Estrangement
Beyond his couture fortune, Lagerfeld owned several luxury properties, including a large Parisian apartment and a villa in Biarritz. His assets also included a significant stock portfolio, as well as collections of art and rare books.
Details about Lagerfeld’s estrangement from his blood relatives remain limited, but it is understood that he was distant from them in the final decades of his life. A 2023 documentary noted that he had not seen one of his nieces for fifty years.
However, another niece, an American, described Lagerfeld as "generous," recounting how he designed her wedding dress free of charge and ensured it arrived in time for the ceremony by flying it on Concorde. She expressed no expectation of inheritance, stating,
“There is no need.”
Lagerfeld’s Work and Estate Challenges
Lagerfeld continued working until his death, producing multiple collections annually for Chanel, Fendi, and his own label. He had remarked during his lifetime that he frequently revised his will, saying,
“Even one funny look from someone and they’re out.”
This is not the first instance where beneficiaries of Lagerfeld’s estate have faced uncertainty. French tax authorities have reportedly claimed up to €40 million in back taxes from the estate, arguing that Lagerfeld’s primary residence was not in Monaco, which would affect tax liabilities.
Christian Boisson was not immediately available for comment. However, his associate Frédéric Heurté told Bild,
“We are bound by confidentiality. Therefore, I am not permitted to comment on anything concerning Karl Lagerfeld’s estate.”
Additionally, when approached by Bild, Thoma von der Schulenburg, daughter of Thea von der Schulenburg, declined to comment on the matter.
