Entertainment15 April, 20261 min read
Parisian Sales Engineer Wins €1 Million Picasso Painting in Charity Raffle
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Ari Hodara, a Parisian sales engineer, won a Picasso valued at about €1 million. Over 120,000 €100 tickets sold globally; draw held at Christie's Paris.
Picasso Raffle Winner
Ari Hodara won an original Picasso painting worth more than €1 million after purchasing a €100 raffle ticket. The raffle sold all 120,000 tickets, raising approximately €12 million. Hodara was stunned and asked how he could be sure it wasn't a prank.
The painting is a 1941 portrait of Picasso's partner Dora Maar. The Opera Gallery will receive €1 million, with the rest going to Alzheimer's research.
Raffle History and Impact
The raffle was founded in 2013 and has held three editions. The first winner was a 25-year-old American from Pennsylvania. The second was an Italian accountant in 2020.
Together, previous raffles raised more than €10 million. The Alzheimer Research Foundation is France's largest private funder of Alzheimer's research.
Public Reaction and Future
Hodara planned to keep the painting. Organizers were pleased the winner was Paris-based. The raffle combines access to art with fundraising.
The Opera Gallery offered a preferential price. The event was livestreamed with global participation.