Following the death of Karl Lagerfeld, his beloved cat Choupette may be the cat that got the cream (and then some) amid reports she’ll ‘inherit’ the Chanel designer’s fortune. The late German designer is said to be worth $200million (£153million), and the Birman, who was arguably 85-year-old Karl’s biggest love, may have a large chunk of her human’s bank balance handed over after Karl admitted he was leaving her an inheritance. If cats can get an inheritance, that is. But if they can have a ‘bodyguard, personal chef and two maids’, as was claimed of Choupette, we guess anything can happen.
When asked if he would leave fortune to Choupette, he told Numero magazine last year: ‘Among others, yes. Don’t worry, there is enough for everyone.’ He’d also said of his love: ‘She has her own little fortune, she’s an heiress.’ German designer Karl welcomed Choupette into his life in August 2011, although she originally belonged to model Baptiste Giabiconi. Lagerfeld was looking after the cat while Giabiconi was travelling, but fell so in love that he refused to hand her back over. But can a cat even receive money from a will, you ask?
According to French newspaper Le Figaro, such a financial arrangement could be feasible under German law if the cat was nominated the ‘heir’ through an association or foundation. It wouldn’t be the hugest surprise, seeing as the designer was totally besotted with Choupette, even telling CNN in 2013 that if it were legal, he would marry the blue-eyed moggy. The style icon said: ‘There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals… I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat.’ He recently told Vanity Fair that he and his pet communicate with ‘the expression of our eyes’. Aside from the cat, though, it’s also been claimed the famed Fendi designer’s male model muse Brad Kroenig and Brad’s son Hudson, who is Karl’s godson, will receive a chunk of Karl’s change. The creative director of Chanel and Fendi passed away in hospital on Tuesday morning after being hospitalised the previous night, according to Paris Match. His death crushed fans of the fashion industry and many have commemorated the icon across social media, including a number of celebrities that worked with Karl over the years. Model Gigi Hadid, who joined her sister Bella and pal Kendall Jenner modelling for Fendi, most recently at Milan Fashion Show back in September, was one of the first to speak out.
‘I’m so heartbroken I almost don’t have words,’ she wrote. ‘There will never be another Karl Lagerfeld. Every second with you was an honor, joy and inspiration. I wish I could give you one last hug. ‘I love you Karl. Thank you for everything. Rest in peace.’
