Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress and global sex symbol who reshaped cinema and pop culture in the mid-20th century, has died at the age of 91. Her passing marks the end of an era for a woman whose influence extended far beyond the screen and into fashion, feminism, and animal rights activism.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, the animal protection organization she founded in 1986, confirmed her death on December 28, 2025. Bardot died peacefully at her legendary La Madrague estate in Saint-Tropez, where she had lived in seclusion for decades. While no official cause of death was disclosed, those close to her said she passed from natural causes related to her age.
Once known simply as “B.B.,” Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s, becoming one of the most photographed and talked-about women in the world. Films like And God Created Woman turned her into a symbol of sensual freedom, helping redefine how women were portrayed in cinema. At the height of her success, she shocked the industry by walking away from acting in 1973, choosing instead a quieter life devoted to animal welfare.
In her later years, Bardot lived largely out of the public eye but remained outspoken and mentally sharp, continuing her advocacy work and correspondence from her Mediterranean home, surrounded by animals she deeply loved.
Her personal life was as headline-grabbing as her career. Bardot married four times, beginning with filmmaker Roger Vadim, who helped launch her to stardom. Their marriage, which lasted from 1952 to 1957, was followed closely by the press and ended amid scandal after her highly publicized affair with co-star Jean-Louis Trintignant.
She later married actor Jacques Charrier, with whom she had her only child, Nicolas-Jacques. The intense media scrutiny during that period took a heavy toll on her well-being. Her third marriage, to German billionaire Gunter Sachs, became legendary for its extravagance, including a helicopter dropping thousands of roses onto her villa ahead of their wedding. That union lasted three years.
Bardot eventually found lasting companionship with her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale. The couple married in 1992 and remained together until her death, living a secluded life away from fame in Saint-Tropez.
Despite retiring from film decades ago, Bardot left behind a substantial fortune. Her estimated net worth at the time of her death was approximately $65 million, amassed through film royalties, book sales, and valuable real estate along the French Riviera. She is survived by her husband and her 65-year-old son.
Brigitte Bardot’s legacy endures as both a cinematic icon and a woman who defied expectations, walking away from superstardom to live life on her own terms.
