Karl Lagerfeld's Will Challenged: Nieces and Nephews Eye Fortune

Karl Lagerfeld's vast estate, valued at approximately €200 million, is now the subject of a legal challenge seven years after his passing in 2019. The fashion designer's will, finalized in April 2016, is being contested by an unknown claimant, creating an opportunity for Lagerfeld's nieces and nephews to potentially inherit assets they were initially excluded from.

Under the terms of the existing will, Lagerfeld designated the majority of his wealth to individuals he considered his 'real family,' including his long-time assistant Sébastien Jondeau and godson Hudson Kroenig. Notably, his Birman cat, Choupette, was also a significant beneficiary, earmarked to receive around $1.5 million and a house with a garden under the care of his former housekeeper, Françoise Caçote, ensuring her continued lavish lifestyle.

Lagerfeld, who had no children, had seen his sisters predecease him. The potential beneficiaries among his blood relatives include the children of his late sister Christiane, who emigrated to the US, and the daughter of his other late sister, Thea. However, family ties were reportedly strained, with some relatives having had no meaningful relationship with the designer for decades.

This will challenge is not the sole inquiry surrounding Lagerfeld's affairs. Tax authorities are also investigating claims that his primary residence was Monaco rather than Paris, potentially leading to an unpaid tax bill estimated between €20 million and €40 million. The legal contestation and tax investigation underscore the complex aftermath of the iconic designer's expansive legacy.