Inside Choupette: The $1.5 Million Fortune of Karl Lagerfeld’s Beloved Cat

The only one Karl Lagerfeld adored as much as the Chanel house was Choupette, the Burmese cat that belonged to the creative director until he passed away in 2019 at the age of 85.

Since then, Françoise Caçote, the Kaiser’s former housekeeper, has taken care of Lagerfeld’s beloved pet. In a recent interview with Hello!, Caçote shared insights into Choupette’s opulent lifestyle, which remains lavish for the feline mentioned in Lagerfeld’s will, reportedly inheriting $1.5 million.

Choupette is a star in her own right, having a successful career in the limelight. Her remarkable portfolio includes various modeling assignments, working alongside supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bündchen, beauty collaborations with Shu Uemura, and being the focus of a Rizzoli book featuring photos taken by Lagerfeld himself.

In a 2015 chat with The Cut, a proud Lagerfeld disclosed that Choupette had already made $3 million from her modeling assignments — “Choupette did an excellent job,” he remarked to The Telegraph then. “Just what I expected from a star.” During a conversation with Numéro in 2018, Lagerfeld continued to express his pride: “She has her own little fortune; she is an heiress.” Adding, “She’s a rich girl!”

As highlighted in the latest issue of Hello!, Choupette continues to enjoy an unparalleled lifestyle, showcasing her late owner’s deep affection. Last year, Choupette’s 13th birthday was lavishly celebrated at the Palace of Versailles. According to Caçote, the regal venue was perfectly suited for Choupette’s famously “princess” demeanor.

For the celebration, the pampered feline reigned supreme, receiving numerous gifts, including cat toys, a plush cushion, and decorative porcelain bowls, all accompanied by abundant affection. Treasured keepsakes from her time with Lagerfeld include her original Chinese porcelain bowls, specially selected for their perfect nose-dipping size, and her mini Louis Vuitton travel bag.

A new addition to Choupette’s life is Siana, a rescue cat adopted by Françoise’s daughter. Initially hesitant about introducing a companion, she feels Siana’s youthful energy has positively impacted the elder Choupette, making her more alert.

Otherwise, she still enjoys long, leisurely naps on piles of Chanel clothing, just as she did when daddy Lagerfeld was around. “Her habits haven’t changed,” Françoise joked. When traveling, Choupette is a “delightful” companion. “It’s an advantage that she’s accustomed to moving from hotel to hotel with Mr. Lagerfeld,” Françoise said of the jet-setting pet. After all, Choupette grew up flying (in a private plane) to glamorous destinations like St. Tropez.

Françoise mentioned she’s now cautious about limiting Choupette’s media exposure as she ages. “We’re quite selective about the shoots we participate in,” she stated on set with Hello!.

“What [Lagerfeld] cherished was that people spoke about Choupette. It brought him immense joy,” Françoise reminisced. “Sometimes he would even remark: ‘People discuss Choupette more than me.’ I would respond: ‘You might be exaggerating a bit.’ He loved to claim that when he went out, the first question people asked him was not: ‘How are you?’ but: ‘How’s Choupette?’”

No doubt the Kaiser would be proud that Choupette has inherited his star quality and continues to shine, be it posing in magazines, featured in social media, or beyond.