Karl Lagerfeld left $1.5million to his cat Choupette – so why is she now broke and living with the legendary fashion designer’s former housekeeper?

It is known as the richest cat in the world.

Accustomed to private jets and a personal chef, Choupette stepped into a life of luxury.

The purebred Birman was the beloved pet of German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, and it was reported that he inherited at least $1.5 million (£1.1 million) upon his death in 2019.

But today he is broke and gets by on the kindness of Lagerfeld’s former maid.

“We received absolutely nothing,” said Lagerfeld’s loyal French maid, Francoise Cacote.

‘I work part time to support him,’ he told Atlantic Magazine.

Lagerfeld, Chanel’s long-time creative director, made it clear that he wanted Choupette to be well cared for after her death.

“I’m doing my best to comply with his wishes,” Ms. Cacote said.

The late designer’s beloved pet was entrusted to his former governess, Francoise Cacote (left).

Choupette moved into a life of luxury before her owner passed away in 2019

Choupette, now 14, lives with Lagerfeld at his £10million home on the River Seine in Paris, where he eats from designer Maison Goyard bowls.

Today, Ms. Cacote shares an apartment with her husband, children and the cat they rescued.

This marks a dramatic fall from grace for the somber man whom Lagerfeld admires.

‘I have one great love: my cat Choupette,’ she said. ‘He is the center of the world.’

Choupette has become one of the most lucrative cat models in the world, earning $3 million in 2014 from advertising alone. But without Lagerfeld to manage the campaigns, his career slowed down.

Now Lagerfeld’s will is being challenged in court and it is claimed that he was mentally unstable when he bequeathed his $150 million estate. However, French law does not allow animals to inherit money or property.

“I had to hire expensive lawyers to claim the inheritance in my name,” Ms. Cacote said.