Brigitte Bardot’s husband and son have launched a legal war over the fortune left by the famous actress to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals. The two have filed separate court actions challenging the star’s will.
Brigitte Bardot died at the age of 91 on December 28, 2025, leaving behind a fortune estimated at around 69.5 million euros. Most of this was directed to his animal foundation, a decision that sparked the displeasure of the family, according to the Italian portal Quifinanza.it.
The actress’ only son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, and the actress’ husband, Bernard d’Ormale, decided to challenge the will, claiming that they were largely excluded from the inheritance. According to the documents, Bardot would have left her son only 15% of the fortune, and her husband an even smaller share, with the rest of the fortune being directed to the foundation. It is public knowledge that the actress has had a strained relationship with her son over the years.
From a legal point of view, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier seems to have a stronger position. French law states that an only child is entitled to at least half of the deceased parent’s estate. His lawyers claim that a large part of the assets was transferred to the foundation before his death, through donations that “contrary to the laws of succession”.
Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, born on January 11, 1960 from the marriage of the actress to Jacques Charrier, studied economics in Paris and had a short modeling career. His relationship with his mother was distant and fraught with public strife, including defamation lawsuits, but he was present at the actress’ funeral.
In the case of the husband, Bernard d’Ormale, the chances of winning are lower, since French law does not give him automatic succession rights in the absence of clear provisions in the will.
Brigitte Bardot’s fortune included financial investments and valuable real estate. About 20% of the wealth was represented by government bonds in countries such as Italy, Germany, Spain and France, and about 40% came from real estate, including the famous La Madrague villa on the Cote d’Azur. The rights to this villa have been transferred since the 90s to the Bardot Foundation.
Love for animals, a constant in the life of the actress
Founded in 1986, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation reflects the actress’ commitment to the protection of animals, a cause she has actively supported since the 1960s. The organization deals with the conservation of wildlife and the protection of domestic and farm animals, helping thousands of dogs, cats, horses, pigs and other animals over time.
However, the foundation was criticized in 2019 by the French Court of Auditors for a lack of transparency regarding the use of funds, an aspect that could influence inheritance lawsuits.
Brigitte Bardot died following a battle with cancer after being hospitalized in the fall of 2025 for several surgeries.
