A life spent partly in the spotlight, followed by retirement and a second, more secluded but no less important period, dedicated to the protection of animal rights. Brigitte Bardotwho died on December 28 at the age of 91, leaves behind a complex legacy, which now must find a destination. According to unofficial estimates, his fortune would amount to several tens of millions of dollars. One fact, however, counts more than any figure: the succession had been planned for some time, with a precise and declared direction.
Who is Brigitte Bardot’s estate intended for?
For years, Brigitte Bardot had decided that the largest part of her assets would flow into the Brigitte Bardot Foundationthe organization she founded in 1986 in her villa in Saint-Tropez “with a local lawyer and a friend”, as she said in the past. A choice consistent with the commitment which, after retiring from the scene in 1973, had entirely occupied his public life.
Properties, copyrights, publishing and musical income: everything was progressively traced back to the Foundation. From the country house of Bazoches to the famous one La Madragueof which over the years he had retained only the usufruct and in which he passed away, up to the movable assets and the income deriving from his name. For many jurists this is an emblematic example of “militant” estate planningbuilt around a cause, rather than a traditional family axis.
The difficult relationship with his son Nicolas
Brigitte Bardot has a son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrierborn from her marriage to the actor Jacques Charrier. Their bond has long been marked by distance and conflicts, so much so that the actress’s autobiography contains no shortage of harsh words. But French law provides for the hereditary reservea minimum share of the assets that goes to the children, similar to the legitimate one envisaged in Italy.
Precisely to limit the impact of this rule, Bardot had acted well in advance: a large part of its resources had already been transferred to the Foundation through contributions, auctions of personal objects and real estate transactions. A strategy that, in fact, reduced the inheritance available at the time of death.
According to assessments released in the past by Celebrity Net Worththe total assets would be around 65 million dollars. An important figure, but lower than the expectations linked to global fame, precisely because over time it was almost entirely destined for animal rights activities.
The rights connected to his artistic production – cinema, music, publishing and fashion – continued to generate income even after his retirement, fueling the foundation’s coffers rather than personal assets.
The role of the Foundation
Based in Paris and recognized as a public utility in 1992, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation it is today the center where much of his legacy will converge. Defense of domestic and wild animals, awareness campaigns, interventions in the area and legal actions: the organization has around one hundred employees and over 500 delegates and volunteers. From a financial point of view, it lives largely on donations and bequests, which represent almost 90% of its resources.
A recent report from Court of Auditors analyzed its governance, highlighting the still influential role of the founder, supported however by a stable and structured general management.
Alongside intangible rights, there remain real estate properties: La Madraguepurchased in 1958, a symbol of his life and refuge in his last years; a second property on the heights of Saint-Tropeztransformed into a true animal sanctuary; a villa in Cannesput up for sale in 2020 for around 6 million euros; and several Parisian apartments mentioned by various reconstructions. Pieces of a heritage which, more than describing luxury, reflect a precise and irrevocable lifestyle choice.
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