The estate of French actress Brigitte Bardot, who at the age of 91, is currently subject to legal proceedings involving her son and the animal welfare foundation she established. At the time of her death, Bardot’s net worth was estimated between $65 million and $100 million USD, largely comprised of real estate holdings, intellectual property, and cash assets.
A Legacy Built on Film and Philanthropy
Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s, starring in films such as And God Created Woman, The Truth, and Viva Maria!, the latter earning her a BAFTA nomination. During the peak of her career, she was among the highest-paid actresses globally, earning $350,000 for Viva Maria! – equivalent to approximately $3.66 million today. However, in , she stepped away from acting to dedicate herself to animal rights, a commitment that would define the latter part of her life.
This shift in focus led to the creation of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which became the primary beneficiary of her wealth. In , Bardot sold personal possessions, including jewelry and memorabilia, and ceded ownership of valuable assets to the foundation to establish a capital base of €3 million. The foundation continues to focus on animal protection and welfare in France and internationally.
Real Estate Holdings and Estate Value
Bardot’s wealth was significantly tied to her real estate portfolio. Key properties included La Madrague, her Saint-Tropez home purchased in , valued at approximately $23 million USD. She also owned La Garrigue, a 10-hectare animal sanctuary, a villa in Cannes valued around €6 million, and several apartments in Paris. The total value of her real estate holdings was estimated at €16 million in , according to a report by the French Court of Accounts, and is likely higher today.
More recently, the foundation benefited from several significant legacies. Within the last three years prior to her death, the foundation received a property in Saint-Tropez valued at €14 million, and a duplex apartment with views of the port. These gifts demonstrate a growing trend of donors bequeathing assets to the foundation, specifically to ensure the continued care of their animals after their passing.
The Current Estate Battle
As of , a legal dispute is unfolding between Bardot’s son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation regarding the distribution of her €65 million fortune. While Bardot had expressed a desire to reconcile with her son in her later years, the specifics of her will and the intended allocation of her assets remain unclear.
Bardot also owned a property known as La Garrigue, which includes three houses on 10 hectares of land. She also held an apartment in Oslo, gifted to her son, Nicolas. She possessed an apartment with a garden in Paris’s 16th arrondissement.
The outcome of this legal battle will determine the future ownership of these properties and the overall direction of Bardot’s substantial estate. The foundation’s continued operation and its animal welfare initiatives are heavily reliant on the successful preservation of these assets. The legal proceedings are expected to shed light on the full extent of Bardot’s wealth and the final wishes regarding its distribution.
Bardot paid over $59,000 in legal fines during her lifetime, but this did not significantly diminish her overall net worth, which was largely protected by her strategic investments in real estate and her foundation.
