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Lloyd Klein, the devoted fiancé of renowned New York socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, has come forward to defend her legacy and refute claims about her financial situation at the time of her passing.

Speaking passionately about his partner of 21 years, Klein, 57, emphasized that reports of her being destitute were inaccurate. “She was certainly not broke, that’s not the case,” he told Page Six, describing her as “fabulous” and “the love of my life.”

Klein revealed that Wildenstein, who passed away from a pulmonary embolism on New Year’s Eve in Paris, was 79 years old, contrary to reports stating she was 84. Despite her infamous nickname “Catwoman,” given due to her distinctive appearance following cosmetic procedures, Klein maintains she deserves to be remembered with dignity.

The socialite’s financial journey had been tumultuous since her high-profile divorce from billionaire Alec Wildenstein in 1999, which initially granted her $2.5 billion and annual payments of $100 million. However, these payments ceased in 2015 when her former husband’s family cut her off, leading to a bankruptcy filing in 2018.

“I have a huge problem with my settlement,” she had told the Sunday Times. “Since eight years, [Alex’s family] have completely cut me off.”

Her financial difficulties were exacerbated by complications with her divorce settlement, including a fraudulent Velázquez painting and a Cézanne that sold well below expectations. At the time of her death, she faced legal challenges in Miami regarding an unpaid debt of $344,000.

Klein, a successful fashion designer whose clientele includes celebrities like Jane Fonda and Kim Kardashian, emphasized that their relationship was founded on love, not money. He spoke of their shared life, noting, “I was taking care of her as much as I could. I gave her everything I could to please her. We kept life beautiful, happy. If this is not love, I don’t know what you can call it.”

The couple’s relationship began in 2003 at one of Klein’s fashion shows. He describes their final months together in Paris, including attending a nighttime mass where she received a priest’s blessing. Klein discovered her unresponsive during a nap, a moment he recalls with profound sadness.

Addressing the public ridicule she faced, Klein defended Wildenstein’s appearance, countering her ex-husband’s claims about her surgical motivations. “Alec said Jocelyn wanted to look like a cat. She never wanted to look like a cat, she already had that look … she had beautiful cheekbones and almond-shaped cat eyes.”

Klein shared moments of Wildenstein’s humor, including an amusing incident at Cipriani Downtown where she eventually secured a reservation by identifying herself as “Catwoman.” He noted that while the nickname was initially hurtful, they learned to find humor in it.

As plans for her memorial proceed, Klein hopes to honor her by dressing her in her favorite black Chanel dress and scattering her ashes at her Kenyan ranch alongside her parents’ remains. He concluded with a poignant observation: “All my happiness is gone, but she did not suffer, and she died in full glamour.”