Paris Art Enthusiast Wins €1 Million Picasso in Charity Raffle
In a stunning stroke of luck, a Paris-based engineer and art enthusiast has turn into the owner of a masterpiece by Pablo Picasso for the price of a single raffle ticket. Ari Hodara won the high-stakes draw on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, claiming a painting valued at 1 million euros after purchasing a ticket for just 100 euros.
The Winning Artwork: Tête de Femme
The prize is Tête de Femme (Head of a Woman), a gouache on paper painted by Picasso in 1941. Measuring 38.9 x 25.4 cm (15.3 x 10 in), the artwork is valued at 1 million euros. The piece was provided through a partnership with the Opera Gallery, an international network of galleries established by Gilles Dyan in 1994.
A Mission to Fight Alzheimer’s
The “1 Picasso 100 Euros” raffle is a non-profit initiative designed to fund critical medical research. All proceeds from the ticket sales are dedicated to the Fondation Recherche Alzheimer, the leading organization in France focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.
The foundation is recognized by the French government as an organization of public benefit. To date, it has spent 29 million euros on research and supported 195 researchers worldwide. A significant portion of the funds from this raffle will support the IPCAR-2030 (International Collaborative Project for Alzheimer Research), which allocates budgets of 1 million euros or more over three years to eight separate projects linking French teams with partners in North America and Europe.
Key Raffle Details
- Ticket Price: 100 euros
- Winning Ticket: #94715
- Winner: Ari Hodara (Paris, France)
- Draw Location: Christie’s France, Paris
- Ticket Cap: 120,000 tickets
A Legacy of Democratic Art Ownership
This event marks the third edition of the Picasso raffle. Previous iterations have successfully democratized art ownership whereas raising millions for global causes. In 2013, the inaugural raffle saw a fire-sprinkler worker from Pennsylvania win the 1914 Cubist piece Man in the Opera Hat. In 2020, an Italian accountant won the 1921 oil-on-canvas Nature Morte.
Billionaire art collector David Nahmad, who provided the 2020 painting, has previously noted that Picasso’s own generosity—often giving works to his driver or tailor—suggests the artist would have approved of his work being accessible to people beyond the “super-rich.”
Key Takeaways
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Winning Painting | Tête de Femme (1941) |
| Market Value | €1 Million |
| Charity Beneficiary | Fondation Recherche Alzheimer |
| Total Potential Raise | Up to €12 million (based on 120,000 ticket cap) |
As the art world celebrates this unique blend of philanthropy and fine art, the funds raised continue to push the boundaries of Alzheimer’s research, turning a passion for art into a lifeline for millions affected by the disease.