A Paris-based engineer has won a rare Pablo Picasso painting valued at over €1 million through a charity raffle, organizers announced Tuesday.
Ari Hodara, 58, was selected during a livestreamed ceremony at the Christie's auction house in Paris. The draw concluded a global fundraising effort that sold 120,000 tickets to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research, according to reports from France 24.
Hodara, who purchased his ticket just over the weekend, expressed disbelief when notified of his win. "How do I know this isn't a prank?" the engineer asked via video call during the event, France 24 reported.
A massive boost for Alzheimer's research
The raffle prize, a 1941 gouache work titled 'Tête de femme' (Woman's head), features inky grey and blue tones. The piece was sourced from the private art dealership Opera Gallery.
Organizers sold the 120,000 tickets at €100 each, generating a total of €12 million. These funds will be donated directly to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation.
Olivier de Ladoucette, head of the foundation, emphasized the importance of the windfall. "The funding for research is ridiculous," de Ladoucette said on Tuesday, adding that developed societies must recognize Alzheimer's as a major public health issue.
He expressed hope that the initiative serves as a foundation for future progress. "This Picasso initiative is one more building block so that one day Alzheimer’s will be nothing more than a bad memory," de Ladoucette stated.
This event marks the third such raffle organized by a team led by journalist Peri Cochin. Previous winners include a 25-year-old from Pennsylvania in 2013 and an accountant from Italy in 2020.
