Seven years after Karl Lagerfeld died in 2019, his estate worth about €200 million is still stuck in legal fights. There are ongoing tax problems and a new challenge to his 2016 will, raising questions about who he chose to inherit his fortune.
The Ongoing Estate Problems
Karl Lagerfeld built his wealth through amazing work at Chanel, Fendi, and his own brand. Now, French tax officials are saying he owed money, so they froze the assets. This meant the heirs had to sell some properties to pay part of the debts.
As reported by Glitz.paris, the nine people named in the will finally gave up their long legal fight against the taxes after more than four years. They paid some of the money through property sales. This could mean the estate is getting closer to being settled, but the new challenge is keeping things delayed into 2026.
A New Legal Fight
In late 2025, someone who was not named came forward to challenge the will, according to The Times and Daily Mail. This person might be acting for family members—like nieces or nephews—who were left out.
The executor, Christian Boisson, has now told surviving relatives about the challenge. This brings back attention to Karl Lagerfeld’s choice to leave his family out and give everything to close friends, models, and his cat Choupette. It shows the tension between blood family and the people he chose as family.
Early Life and Family in Germany
Karl Lagerfeld was born Karl Otto Lagerfeld on September 10, 1933, in Hamburg, Germany. His family was well-off during a difficult time in history.
His father, Otto, made money importing goods like condensed milk. His mother, Elisabeth Bahlmann, came from a family involved in local politics and loved culture and learning. Later, it was revealed that both parents joined the Nazi Party in the 1930s, and their business used forced labor—something Karl Lagerfeld almost never talked about.
Growing Up and Becoming Independent
Karl Lagerfeld had an older full sister, Martha Christiane, and a half-sister, Theodora, from his father’s first marriage. Family life was proper but not very warm. His mother, who played violin, focused on discipline and school more than hugs and closeness.
He never married or had kids. Instead, he built his own circle of trusted friends, models, and helpers. This choice to focus on chosen people instead of blood relatives shaped how he planned his will.
Starting His Amazing Career
Karl Lagerfeld’s love for fashion started young. At 14, he moved to Paris with his parents’ okay, diving into the exciting art scene and chasing his dream.
In 1954, he won a big coat design contest from the International Wool Secretariat. That got him an apprenticeship at Pierre Balmain, where he learned the basics of high fashion.
Working at Many Famous Houses
By 1957, Karl Lagerfeld was in charge of design at Jean Patou. In the 1960s, he worked freely for brands like Valentino and Krizia. But his biggest long-term job began in 1965 with Fendi.
At Fendi, he changed fur fashion by using fun, unusual materials and lighter styles. He stayed with them for more than 50 years, making bold collections.
Saving Chanel and Creating More
In 1983, Karl Lagerfeld took over Chanel, which had lost its spark since Coco Chanel died in 1971. He brought it back to life with fresh takes on classic looks like tweed suits and pearls, plus big, exciting runway shows.
He started his own brand in 1984 and added photography, books, and other projects. He worked on many collections every year and built a huge library and photo collection. Until he died of pancreatic cancer at 85 on February 19, 2019, Karl Lagerfeld kept creating non-stop.
Personal Life and Close Relationships
Karl Lagerfeld preferred deep, unusual relationships over normal romance. His longest one was with Jacques de Bascher, a stylish French man he met in Paris in 1972.
Their bond lasted 18 years. It was full of love and support—Karl Lagerfeld even helped him financially—but they never had a physical relationship.
Standing by Each Other Through Trouble
In 1974, Jacques de Bascher had a short affair with Karl Lagerfeld’s rival, Yves Saint Laurent. This caused big drama and arguments with Saint Laurent’s partner, Pierre Bergé.
Karl Lagerfeld stayed loyal. He helped Jacques through hard times, addiction, and illness until Jacques died from AIDS in 1989.
“He made me laugh more than anyone”
Karl Lagerfeld said later in a biography, showing how much the friendship meant to him.
Choupette: His Famous Cat
After Jacques, Karl Lagerfeld stayed mostly alone and said no to marriage or kids. In 2011, he got a Birman cat named Choupette, who quickly became his favorite.
Choupette appeared in ads, traveled by private jet, and even made her own money. Karl Lagerfeld called her a rich girl and said she was an heiress.
The Will and Who Gets What
Karl Lagerfeld wrote his will in 2016 and filed it in Monaco. It named about nine people: his godson Hudson Kroenig, models Baptiste Giabiconi and Jake Davies, assistant Sébastien Jondeau, and housekeeper Françoise Caçote, who takes care of Choupette.
Money set aside for Choupette’s fancy life goes through trusts because French law doesn’t let pets inherit directly.
More Legal and Tax Issues
At first, tax problems stopped everything, so heirs sold things to pay debts. The new challenge in 2025 makes it even harder and could drag on because the estate includes properties in different countries.
These problems are common in big celebrity estates with assets around the world, missing helpers, and unusual gifts.
His Lasting Influence
Karl Lagerfeld’s ideas still shape Chanel and inspire designers everywhere. His way of including his pet in planning might change how people write wills in the future.
As 2026 goes on, the legal fights continue. Karl Lagerfeld’s carefully planned life now has a messy ending, showing that even the biggest legends can leave behind surprises.
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