Will Karl Lagerfeld Make his Pet Choupette the World’s Richest Cat?

Chanel icon Karl Lagerfeld passed away yesterday at the age of 85 in a Paris hospital, and the entire fashion world mourned and continues to mourn his death. Many people are curious as to whom his fortune will go to. Though two heirs may are surely to be his male muse Brad Kroenig and his son Hudson, who is also Lagerfeld’s godson, the beneficiary that could get the bulk of the estate may be his beloved cat, Choupette.

The feline has over 128,000 Instagram followers and is already worth a surprising 2.5 million pounds, but with Lagerfeld’s passing it may increase to over 100 million pounds or more. Under German law such an arrangement could be feasible if the cat were to be named an “heir” under association or foundation. Originally belonging to Baptiste Giabiconi, after two weeks of house sitting for the French model in 2011, Lagerfeld told him, “I’m sorry but Choupette is mine.” He would later joke that he abducted her before turning her into an international model.

Choupette has been living the luxurious life ever since her “abduction.” She has two maids that took care of her whenever Lagerfeld was gone, a chef, a hairdresser for her long white coat, her own bedroom suite, and even an array of diamond necklaces, aka collars.

Last April Lagerfeld mentioned that he wanted to be cremated, have no funeral, and for his ashes to be scattered – with Choupette’s, if she dies before he de does. Giving rise to the current debate, the fashion designer had said that he would be giving his riches to Choupette and “others.”

See Peter Allen, Sara Malm, & Ross Ibbetson, Will Karl Lagerfeld Make his Pet Choupette the World’s Richest Cat?, Daily Mail, February 20, 2019.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.) and Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.