Man Wins €1m Picasso Painting in €100 Charity Raffle

About the Raffle

The “1 Picasso for 100 euros” charity draw, now in its third iteration since 2013, has once again captured global attention. Over 120,000 entries were sold at €100 each, generating approximately €11m for Alzheimer’s research initiatives. This year’s winning artwork, a gouache-on-paper portrait titled *Tête de Femme*, was created in 1941 and showcases Picasso’s distinctive artistic style.

The Winning Piece

Ari Hodara, a 58-year-old engineer and art enthusiast, emerged as the victor after a video call from Christie’s auction house in Paris. During the call, he questioned whether the win was genuine, asking,

“How do I know this isn’t a prank?”

The piece, *Head of a Woman*, portrays Dora Maar, Picasso’s French surrealist muse and partner.

Reaction and Details

Having purchased his ticket over the weekend by chance, Hodara expressed astonishment upon learning of his victory.

“I was surprised, that’s it,”

he said, reflecting on the unexpected outcome. The artwork’s number, 94,715, was confirmed during the phone conversation with auctioneers. Organiser Peri Cochin highlighted the convenience of delivering the painting to Paris, noting,

“It’s going to be very easy for us to deliver the painting, so we’re happy.”

The city holds significant ties to Picasso’s legacy, with numerous works displayed in its museums.

Funds Allocation

Of the total proceeds, €1m will be given to Opera Gallery, the painting’s current owner, while the remainder supports France’s Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Olivier de Ladoucette, head of the foundation, remarked,

“This Picasso initiative is one more building block so that one day Alzheimer’s will be nothing more than a bad memory.”

Past Winners

The first edition of the raffle in 2013 was claimed by a 25-year-old American from Pennsylvania, with funds aiding the preservation of the UNESCO-listed Lebanese city of Tyre. In 2020, a 58-year-old Italian accountant won the second draw, thanks to a Christmas gift from her son. Previous donations supported sanitation projects in Cameroon, Madagascar, and Morocco.