A bitter fight over control of Karl Lagerfeld’s Legacy

Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy is causing major controversy, as per an investigation published by French newspaper “Le Parisien”, highlighting a rivalry between two heirs and a mysteriouslymissing accountant.

What will happen to Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy? More than a year after his death, the heritage, whichwas left by the designer, is not moving forward,according to an investigation by “Le Parisien”. A series of unforeseen events would indeed have slowed down Karl Lagerfeld’s will, such as the inventory of assets which is still not finished and of the accountant who closed his office in September 2019 and disappeared. “Le Parisien” investigation also highlighted the tensions going on between the two of his alleged heirs: Baptiste Giabiconi and Sébastien Jondeau.

In his list of heirs, Karl Lagerfeld has “a family of heart” which is today divided into two camps; one led by model and bodyguard Sébastien Jondeau and the other by model Baptiste Giabiconi. Karl Lagerfeld’s heirs “competed for who was his favorite or sought to push an ally there”, said a model who was close to Karl Lagerfeld.

Sébastien Jondeau

Baptiste Giabiconi

Giabiconi vs Jondeau

In this rivalry, Sébastien Jondeau and Baptiste Giabiconi didn’t hesitate to use the media to make their voice heard. For one, he showed up on “Quotidien” program on TMC Channel, as for the other, he testified in a book about his relationship with Karl Lagerfeld and onthe set of “Sept à huit“ show on TF1 Channel. Each one describes the privileged moments shared with the designerwithout missing the chance to give hints on the other.

However, one would have been better endowed than the other, mentions Le Parisien. Karl Lagerfeld wanted indeed “to reward Baptiste with a larger share,” said a source close to the Karl. This testimony comes in line with statement made by Baptiste Giabiconi who claims to be the first on the list of Kaiser’s heirs, and it dismisses the rumors which implied that he was not invited to the notary. “Baptiste was not excluded from the first appointment with the notary … since there was no appointment with the notary in the first place,” concluded the same source. This is because the designer’s inventory of goods is far from being complete. Estimation is on the way, including his apartment in Paris, his library which would include between 40,000 and 300,000 books and a collection of the designer’s furniture. There was an element which is also slowing down the case.

New scandal in sight?

Another element in Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy remains: the disappearance of his former accountant, Lucien Frydlender, who hasn’t showed up since September 2019, following his office’s closure. According to a source cited by Le Parisien, he refused to speak to legatees and administrators. His wife defends him and explains that her 87-year-old husband is sick and he’s livingsecluded in Paris. “Karl would have hated it all,” says Baptiste Giabiconi. The fashion genius, who died in February 2019, would have preferred to keep his personal matters private. The designer would have hated all this mediatic controversy which risks becoming a long-term saga.