Claudine Longet Net Worth

What was Claudine Longet's net worth?

Claudine Longet was a French singer, dancer, and actress who had a net worth of $100 million at the time of her death. Claudine Longet died on May 14, 2026, at the age of 84. As an artist, Longet was best known for her soft, breathy singing voice, a string of pop and easy-listening recordings in the 1960s, and appearances on television variety programs and in films. She was also widely known for her marriage to singer Andy Williams, to whom she was married from 1961 to 1975.

Unfortunately, Longet's entertainment career was permanently overshadowed by a 1976 legal case involving the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich, at his home in Aspen, Colorado. Longet maintained that the shooting was accidental. She was acquitted of felony reckless manslaughter but convicted of misdemeanor negligent homicide. The case became an international tabloid sensation and effectively ended her public career. In later decades, Longet lived a largely private life in Aspen and Hawaii with her second husband, attorney Ron Austin.

Early Life

Claudine Longet was born in Paris, France, on January 29, 1942. She was the daughter of a doctor and an X-ray manufacturer. From an early age, she showed an interest in singing, dancing, and performance, and she eventually began pursuing entertainment work as a dancer.

Her first major professional break came in 1960, when American impresario Lou Walters, the father of Barbara Walters, saw her dancing on French television. Walters hired Longet to join the Folies Bergère revue at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. She moved from Paris to Nevada as a teenager and began working as a showgirl, a job that soon changed the trajectory of both her personal life and career.

Entertainment Career

Longet first came to public attention as a dancer, but she later found success as a singer and actress. Her soft voice, French accent, and delicate stage presence helped her stand out during the 1960s easy-listening era. Between 1967 and 1972, she released seven studio albums, including records for A&M and Barnaby. Her music was known for its breathy lounge-pop quality, and she recorded songs in both English and French.

Longet also became a familiar face on television. She appeared regularly on "The Andy Williams Show," including Williams' popular family-oriented Christmas specials. She also guest-starred on programs such as "Hogan's Heroes," "Run for Your Life," and "The Name of the Game."

Her most memorable film appearance came in the 1968 Blake Edwards comedy "The Party," starring Peter Sellers. In the film, Longet played an aspiring actress and performed "Nothing to Lose," written by Henry Mancini and Don Black. The scene became one of the defining moments of her screen career.

Andy Williams Marriage

Longet met singer Andy Williams in Las Vegas in 1960 after her car broke down. Williams, who was performing in Las Vegas at the time, stopped to help her. He was in his early 30s, and she was 18. The two began a relationship and married on Christmas Day in 1961.

Their marriage coincided with Williams' rise to even greater fame. In 1962, he released "Moon River," and "The Andy Williams Show" debuted on television. Longet frequently appeared on the show, and the couple became part of a wholesome, family-friendly entertainment image during the 1960s. They had three children together: Noelle, Christian, and Robert, who was named after the couple's friend Robert F. Kennedy.

By 1970, the marriage had begun to fall apart, and the couple separated. They officially divorced in 1975. Despite the end of their marriage, Williams remained supportive of Longet. He later said he believed she was innocent in the Sabich shooting and accompanied her during the trial.

Via Getty Images

Death of Spider Sabich/Arrest and Trial

After her separation from Williams, Longet began a relationship with Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich. The two met in 1972 at a celebrity skiing event in Bear Valley, California. Longet eventually moved to Aspen, Colorado, and lived with Sabich at his chalet in the Starwood area.

On March 21, 1976, Sabich was shot in the abdomen at the Aspen home. Longet told authorities the shooting was accidental. According to accounts from the trial, she said she had found the gun and asked Sabich how to use it, believing the safety was on. A ballistics expert later testified that the safety did not work. Sabich died on the way to the hospital.

Longet was charged with felony reckless manslaughter, a charge that could have carried a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The trial became a media spectacle because of Longet's celebrity, Sabich's fame in the skiing world, and Andy Williams' public support of his ex-wife. In January 1977, after four days of testimony, Longet was acquitted of the felony charge but convicted of misdemeanor negligent homicide. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which she was allowed to serve at a time of her choosing.

Sabich's parents later filed a $1.3 million civil lawsuit against Longet. The case was settled out of court. After the trial, Longet's career in entertainment was essentially over, and she withdrew almost completely from public life.

Pop Culture Fallout

The Sabich shooting became one of the most sensational celebrity legal stories of the 1970s. Longet was portrayed in the press as a tragic and controversial figure, and the case was repeatedly referenced in pop culture.

"Saturday Night Live" aired a sketch called "The Claudine Longet Invitational," which imagined male skiers being accidentally shot as they raced down a slope. The show later issued an on-air apology. The Rolling Stones also recorded a song titled "Claudine," which was withheld from their 1978 album "Some Girls" because of legal concerns. The song later appeared on the 2011 reissue of the album.

Later Life and Aspen Estate

Longet lived a quiet life after the trial. One of her defense attorneys, Ron Austin, left his wife after the case and began a relationship with Longet. Longet and Austin married in June 1985 and remained together for decades. They lived primarily in Aspen and also spent time in Hawaii.

For many years, Longet owned a valuable Aspen property known as Red Mountain Ranch. The estate sat on roughly 5.4 acres and included a large residence with sweeping mountain views. In 2023, the property was listed for sale for $80 million. The price was later reduced to $59.5 million. Here is a video tour of the Aspen estate:

Longet's last widely known public appearance came in connection with a 2003 A&E "Biography" documentary about Andy Williams, though she participated only through voice-over. She otherwise avoided the spotlight in the decades after the Sabich case. Her death on May 14, 2026, brought renewed attention to a life that had included early show-business success, a high-profile Hollywood marriage, a notorious criminal trial, and many years of seclusion.

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