Claire Risoldi dead at age 76: Glamorous criminal socialite defrauded insurers of millions in fraudulent house fire claims

A flamboyant Philadelphian socialite who outsmarted the city’s Republican elite with extravagant fundraisers before becoming infamous for a $20 million insurance fraud has died.

Claire Risoldi, 76, known for her bouffant haircut, mirrored aviators and six-bedroom estate named Clairemont, died July 14 before she could serve any jail time for the massive fraud.

No information on a cause of death has been released.

Risoldi was known for looking younger than her years thanks to a penchant for thick makeup, eye-catching fashion – and a taut but full face that suggested a penchant for cosmetic surgery.

The matriarch of one of Philly’s most well-known families, Risoldi, was convicted in 2019 after masterminding a plot with several family members to claim $20 million in insurance benefits following a fire in their home.

She was charged along with her late husband, Thomas French, a retired sheriff’s deputy who took his own life three weeks before the trial, leaving a note saying the “pressure (had) reached its peak.”

Before she fell from grace, Risoldi was a major player in Philadelphia’s GOP circles, hosting glitzy Clairemont fundraisers for political candidates — complete with Cher impersonators and Mummers.

Claire Risoldi, 71, known for her bouffant haircut, mirrored aviators and six-bedroom estate named Clairemont, died July 14 before she could serve a prison sentence for a massive fraud

Risoldi splashed the money from her fraud plot on luxury vehicles, including at least six Ferraris and two Rolls Royces, and even a gaudy, hand-painted ceiling mural that depicted her in classic Roman dress (pictured)

A photo shows work in progress on the ostentatious ceiling mural that Risoldi financed with fraud money

Notorious Philadelphia socialite Claire Risoldi has passed away at the age of 76. Risoldi was famous for her extravagant looks and the mastermind behind multiple insurance frauds

Risoldi’s Philadelphia mansion is ablaze. She made millions of dollars in fraudulent insurance claims after several fires at the property

Risoldi won over the big and good people of the city with her no-nonsense personality and gregarious nature. She was so well-connected that after her indictment in the fraud case, the entire Bucks County judiciary withdrew from the case and a judge from another county had to be appointed.

She stood trial in March 2015 with her two adult children, her daughter-in-law and two others. An investigation into the family’s claims began after a 2013 fire at the stately home in Doylestown. It was the building’s third fire in five years.

After the fires, the family reportedly lived big on trumped-up insurance claims and tried to intimidate witnesses when they learned investigations into the payouts were underway.

Risoldi also falsely accused firefighters responding to the 2013 blaze of stealing $10 million worth of jewelry.

The family splashed the cash on luxury vehicles, including at least six Ferraris and two Rolls Royces, and even a gaudy, hand-painted ceiling mural that depicted Risoldi in classical Roman dress.

Risoldi was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in prison, but never served time after a series of appeals postponed the sentence. She was still involved in the legal battle when she died.

She was also ordered to pay $10.4 million in restitution. The amount was later reduced to $2.7 million by a judge on appeal.

The roof of the property is being repaired in 2015 after one of the fires that damaged it

Risoldi’s husband Thomas French – a retired sheriff’s deputy – committed suicide three weeks before their trial for fraud was due to begin

The photo shows a mansion the Risoldi’s rented while their house was being repaired

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is now the state’s governor, said after Risoldi was convicted in May 2019, “This defendant masterminded a multi-million dollar insurance fraud scheme to fund her own lavish lifestyle.”

Risoldi was forced to hand over Clairemont to cover part of the restitution order and the property, set on 4 acres, sold at auction in 2019 for $750,000.

The house, with a swimming pool and pool house, was renovated and later sold by a real estate company for $3 million.

Risoldi was twice widowed after her first husband, Carl P. Risoldi, once the patriarch of the family, also died in 2001 at age 58.

She grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, and in the 1970s ran a ticket office that promoted rock concerts.

The source of the family’s wealth is murky, but Risoldi had claimed her first husband collected disability benefits and also said he made “millions” as a stonemason.

She also had a 1990 sentence for two counts of felony mail fraud after she used false medical documents to defraud an insurance company of $13,028.

Risoldi had said she was working on a book about her life after her convictions.