Is Karl Lagerfeld’s Cat Broken? 200 million on paper, but her bowls are completely empty

Self-proclaimed as "the richest cat in the world," Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld’s famous blue-cream Birman, reportedly never touched a single cent of her colossal inheritance. Seven years after the Kaiser’s passing, the promised millions have vanished into the labyrinth of a never-ending estate dispute. Inside the financial fiasco of fashion's favorite feline.

Choupette: Karl's Beloved Cat

Upon his death in 2019, Karl Lagerfeld left behind a fashion empire, an inimitable aesthetic, and a massive estate valued at an estimated $200 million. It was a lavish cake to be shared among his inner circle: his personal assistant Sébastien Jondeau, his godson Hudson Kroenig, star models Brad Kroenig and Baptiste Giabiconi, and… his cat, Choupette. "I only have one true love, my cat, Choupette," the couturier used to loudly proclaim.

There was just one major snag: under French civil law, animals cannot legally inherit property. Never mind that; the Kaiser of fashion had planned ahead to bypass the rigidity of French law by appointing a human universal legatee to watch over his feline companion. That is how Françoise Caçote, the designer’s trusted former housekeeper, became the official guardian of the Birman.

"She has her own little fortune, she’s an heiress: if anything happens to me, the person who looks after her will not be left in misery," Lagerfeld told Marc-Olivier Fogiel in 2015. "The money from the ads she appears in has been set aside for her. Choupette is a rich girl."

To secure a princely lifestyle for his four-legged companion, Lagerfeld had earmarked a tidy sum of $1.5 million, seemingly cementing Choupette’s status as "the richest cat in the world."

Phantom Fortune and Empty Bowls

Except the fairy tale quickly turned sour. The Daily Mail dropped a bombshell by revealing that the promised $1.5 million was, in fact, never transferred to the housekeeper. When questioned, Françoise Caçote did not hide her dismay: "We have received absolutely nothing. I am working part-time just to take care of her. I am doing my best to honor his wishes."

Caught between administrative gridlocks, inventory disputes, and the sluggish pace of the Lagerfeld estate succession, the harsh reality is this: the most famous cat in fashion is currently living off her guardian's savings. Choupette isn't out on the street just yet, but the veneer of luxury has definitely taken a nasty claw scratch.

Choupette: Influencer or Precarious Worker?

Having failed to touch her millions, the Birman had to resort to doing what mere mortals do: work to pay for her kibble. Choupette successfully reinvented herself in the influencer business. Backed by an Instagram account boasting nearly 280,000 followers, she feeds her "community" almost daily photos, putting on a theatrical display of a palace life that now only exists on screen.

Her latest business move? The feline just signed an ongoing collaboration with the home decor brand Maisons du Monde. Yes, you read that right: a proper marketing partnership between a major furniture retailer and the Kaiser's cat. While this commercial pivot secures a nice secondary income for the feline, it begs a glaring question: is Choupette chasing brand deals purely for the love of the spotlight, or out of absolute necessity to offset a phantom inheritance?