In a recent Court case Five medical experts asked Mrs Bettencourt who is 89 years old, to repeat "tulip, armchair, duck" as part of a test on her mental health. She was able to do so straight away, but forgot them immediately after. They also found out she was incapable of telling them where she was, what day it was and her age.
The experts concluded that the cosmetics billionaire suffers from "mixed dementia" and "moderately severe" Alzheimer's disease, and was in the midst of a "slow and progressive process of cerebral degeneration".
The Court then ruled that her estranged daughter Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, together with grandsons Jean-Victor and Nicolas, are to look after her wealth and property worth 25 Billion US Dollars.
Her greatest beneficiary is Mr Banier who Ms Bettencourt became friends with in 1987 ever since then she had given him gifts and benefits estimated to be worth as much as €1.3 billion. They include, a life insurance policy worth €253 million in 2003, another life insurance policy worth €262 million in 2006, 11 works of art in 2001 valued at €20 million, including paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Delaunay and Léger and a photograph by surrealist Man Rayand cash.
The life insurance policies were allegedly signed over to Mr Banier after Ms Bettencourt was recovering from two hospital stays in 2003 and 2006.
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