Brigitte Bardot left behind an estate battle alongside an unpublished letter detailing decades of emotional distress caused by Bernard d’Ormale. Bardot died on December 28, 2025, at the age of 91, setting off a legal clash over her Saint-Tropez property, La Madrague.
The dispute centers on a notarized will directing that the entire estate, including the seaside residence, go to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals. The foundation’s leadership ordered d’Ormale to vacate the property within six months of the actor’s death, prompting sharp public friction between the widower and the organization.
The Unpublished Letter From La Madrague
Public awareness of tension behind closed doors at La Madrague emerged when Le Figaro published a private letter dated November 17, 2022. Bardot was 88 years old at the time and living far from the public eye.
In the text, attributed to her own hand, Bardot expressed profound isolation after 30 years with d’Ormale, whom she wed in Norway in 1992 following previous marriages to Roger Vadim, Jacques Charrier, and Gunter Sachs. “Bernard, it is a failure,” the letter begins, adding, “Today I am at the height of my despair. You have patiently destroyed me day after day for 30 years.”
The writing makes no mention of money or inheritance. Instead, it describes an emotional vacuum and a longing for basic human affection from a companion. “I so needed a shoulder, support, tenderness, a presence,” the actor wrote, wishing for a partner happy to share a coffee or take a car ride to clear her head.
Foundation defends eviction of property occupant amid dispute
The revelation of the 2022 letter coincided with an escalating war over the property. Max Guazzini currently leads the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which moved to enforce the terms of the will requiring all occupants to leave La Madrague.
Following his forced departure, d’Ormale spoke to AFP to criticize the foundation’s approach. “All of this is inhumane,” he said. “The image of the foundation is suffering. I just cannot understand this behavior. I even tried to resolve the matter amicably, but there was no way.”
The foundation countered with a formal statement defending its actions. “By notarial deed, Brigitte Bardot had expressed and put in writing a clear will: that La Madrague, owned by the foundation, be cleared of all occupants six months after her death,” the organization stated. “Such will therefore primarily concerns Bernard d’Ormale.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Brigitte Bardot Estate
When did Brigitte Bardot pass away?
Brigitte Bardot died on December 28, 2025, at the age of 91.
Who owns the La Madrague property now?
The property belongs to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals, as designated by the actor’s last will and testament.
When was the newly surfaced letter written?
The unpublished letter attributed to Bardot is dated November 17, 2022, when she was 88 years old.
Who was Bernard d’Ormale to Brigitte Bardot?
Bernard d’Ormale was her fourth husband, whom she married in Norway in 1992 after previous marriages to Roger Vadim, Jacques Charrier, and Gunter Sachs.