She Had No Idea
Ursula Andress had fame, money and one of the most iconic moments in movie history. Decades after walking out of the ocean in that white bikini, all she wanted to do was enjoy a quiet retirement. But instead, she uncovered what she described as years of deception that left her awake at night.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
Everyone Remembered The Bikini
In 1962, Andress walked out of the sea in Dr. No and into movie history. Playing Honey Ryder opposite Sean Connery made the Swiss actress internationally famous. More than 60 years later, that white bikini still needed very little introduction. Neither did the woman wearing it.
She Had Already Stepped Away
Andress eventually became much less interested in keeping Hollywood’s attention. Motherhood changed her priorities, and acting became an occasional part of her life. For fans who remembered her glamorous screen appearances, a quiet retirement seemed like a perfectly reasonable ending. Unfortunately, there was another chapter.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
Then Came The Missing Millions
In January 2026, reports revealed that Andress said she had lost approximately 18 million Swiss francs through alleged financial misconduct. That represented a large portion of her fortune. At 89, she was trying to find out what had happened to money she thought she could count on.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
This Was Someone She Knew
At the center of her allegations was Eric Freymond, the Swiss wealth manager entrusted with her finances between 2017 and 2025. Andress was already around 81 when that period began. Her biggest Hollywood years were decades behind her, and this money was supposed to support the life she had now.
Erich Iseli, Wikimedia Commons
Eight Years Looks Different In Hindsight
Andress told the Swiss newspaper Blick that she believed she had been deliberately targeted. Looking back over eight years, she described flattery and attention that she now understood as manipulation. Imagine having to reconsider years of apparently friendly conversations after discovering what might have been happening underneath.
Radiocorriere TV - RAI - RadioTelevisione Italiana., Wikimedia Commons
She Said Her Age Was Part Of It
“They took advantage of my age,” Andress said, according to the Associated Press’s account of her interview. That accusation made the story especially unsettling. She believed the people handling her money had seen her advancing years as something they could use against her.
A Transfer Raised Serious Questions
According to SRF, Freymond allegedly moved money from Andress’s bank account in spring 2024 without her knowledge. It reportedly went to an account belonging to the Vaud Notaries’ Association. From there, investigators had to establish what the money had paid for—and who actually benefited.
Then There Were The Art Purchases
Some of the money allegedly paid for artwork belonging to Freymond’s wife, with a notary handling the purchases. But according to SRF, the artwork stayed with her. Investigators suspected the arrangement provided Freymond with cash. Exactly what the works were worth, and where they belonged, raised further questions.
Some Investments Looked Almost Worthless
Other millions allegedly went into shares whose value was questionable or practically zero. SRF also reported searches of an attorney’s and a notary’s offices. Both came under suspicion, although suspicion is not a conviction. Investigators were looking beyond the decisions of one wealth manager.
Another Famous Fortune Was In Dispute
Freymond was also involved in a separate financial dispute concerning Nicolas Puech, an heir to the Hermès luxury-goods fortune. A Geneva appeals court found insufficient evidence against him in 2024, although the dispute continued in France. It was a separate case, with its own contested allegations.
The Adviser Had Already Passed Away
By the time the allegations became widely public, Freymond was no longer alive. He had passed away in July 2025. Freymond had denied wrongdoing in the separate dispute involving Hermès heir Nicolas Puech. His absence left investigators examining records and transactions without being able to question him further.
Brisbane City Council, Wikimedia Commons
She Had Already Gone To Authorities
Although the story reached a wider audience in January 2026, EFE reported that Andress had filed her complaint in Switzerland in September 2025. She alleged that transactions had been made without her consent. By the time readers learned about the missing millions, the legal process had already begun.
Daniele Venturelli, Getty Images
The Money Had Taken A Complicated Route
Swiss investigators identified transactions they believed were designed to make the money difficult to follow. Funds had allegedly gone into foreign companies, real estate and valuable artwork. Untangling those purchases led to an important discovery: part of the trail pointed toward Florence, Italy.
Petar Milosevic, Wikimedia Commons
The Trail Led To Tuscany
Italian authorities identified a luxury country estate in San Casciano Val di Pesa, outside Florence, among the assets connected to the investigation. The search for Andress’s missing money had reached the Tuscan countryside. Vineyards, olive groves...there was quite a lot to account for.
Vignaccia76, Wikimedia Commons
It Was Bigger Than One House
Authorities identified 11 real estate units and 14 plots of land, as well as artwork and other financial assets. This was a substantial collection of property. Investigators believed these holdings were connected to money laundering involving the fortune Andress had entrusted to others.
Unknown (Mondadori Publishers), Wikimedia Commons
The Paperwork Started Adding Up
Italian financial police checked bank records, examined documents and worked through the companies involved, according to Rai. Piece by piece, they traced where the funds had gone. A judge then approved a preventive seizure of assets linked to the alleged scheme. There was finally something concrete to secure.
Then Authorities Seized The Assets
On March 26, 2026, Italy’s financial police announced the seizure of approximately €20 million in assets, worth about US$23 million at the time. Authorities said they believed the holdings were connected to money laundering involving funds taken from Andress. It was a major development in the case.
Erich Iseli, Wikimedia Commons
She Had Just Turned 90
The announcement came only a week after Andress’s 90th birthday. More than six decades after Dr. No, her name was back in international headlines for a reason nobody would have wished for her. This time, the attention centered on investigators trying to trace her fortune.
Erich Iseli, Wikimedia Commons
Seized Does Not Mean Returned
The seizure was encouraging, but it did not automatically mean Andress had her money back. Authorities had secured assets tied to the alleged wrongdoing. That is an important step, although it is quite different from confirming that millions have been returned to her account.
John Jason Junior at English Wikipedia (Original text: John Jason Junior), Wikimedia Commons
The Personal Cost Was Already Clear
Andress reportedly described anxiety and difficulty sleeping as she dealt with the alleged betrayal. Those details make the enormous financial figures feel much more personal. Behind the headlines was an older woman trying to understand how people she trusted could have left her feeling so helpless.
She Had Saved For These Years
“I’ve worked hard and always saved my money,” she told Blick, in comments reported by People. That was the part easily lost beneath the celebrity headlines. To Andress, the fortune represented years of work and the ability to enjoy the time she had ahead.
Unknown (Mondadori Publishers), Wikimedia Commons
She Just Wanted Some Peace
Andress said she had hoped to spend her later years happily and peacefully. Instead, she was asking for those responsible to face justice. After decades of working and saving, wanting to enjoy her own money without wondering who she could trust hardly seems like too much to ask.
You Might Also Like:
Donna Pescow Went From Saturday Night Fever To One Of TV’s Most Underrated Sitcom Careers
