BRIGITTE BARDOT's ex, German playboy photog GUNTHER SACHS has killed himself at age 78.
His family released a statement saying that Sachs chose to end his life after concluding that he was suffering from an incurable degenerative disease affecting his memory and ability to communicate.
"I have always stood up to big challenges," the statement said.
The statement offered no further deets, but Deutsch weekly Focus reported Sachs shot himself Saturday at his home in the exclusive Swiss Alpine resort of Gstaad.
Sachs, who was born into a wealthy German industrialist family pre-World War 2 in 1932, used to his vast wealth to fund a lavish lifestyle that was covered regularly by Euro tabs.
Sachs found fame as a photographer, documentary filmmaker and art collector snaring canvases from his BFF Andy Warhol. His fortune was estimated at $340-$455 million.
Sachs is survived by the french sex kitten Bardot, to whom he was married from 1966-1969 at the height of her fame. BB has issued no statement regarding her loss as of yet.
