Parisian Engineer Wins €1M Picasso in Charity Raffle

By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter

April 14, 2026

In a story that blends the glamour of the art world with the power of collective giving, a 58-year-old Parisian software engineer has become the unlikely owner of a Pablo Picasso masterpiece valued at approximately €1 million. Ari Hodara purchased a single €100 ticket for the third edition of the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” raffle and emerged victorious after the live draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris on April 14, 2026.

The prize is “Tête de Femme” (Head of a Woman), a striking 1941 gouache-on-paper portrait depicting Dora Maar, Picasso’s longtime muse and partner during a turbulent period in the artist’s life. Created amid the Nazi occupation of Paris, the work captures Maar’s intense gaze through bold, expressive lines and Cubist influences that defined much of Picasso’s wartime output.

Hodara, who describes himself as an amateur art enthusiast and admirer of Picasso, learned of his win via a video call from Christie’s while organizers broadcast the event live. Initially skeptical, he asked how he could verify it was not a hoax. “First, I will tell the news to my wife, who has yet to return from work,” he said. “And at first, I think I’ll take advantage of it and keep it.”

The raffle sold all 120,000 available tickets, raising €12 million. Proceeds primarily support the Fondation Recherche Alzheimer, France’s leading private funder of research into the disease, based at a major Paris public hospital. Approximately €1 million went to the previous owner, Opera Gallery, with the balance advancing vital scientific work on Alzheimer’s and related conditions.

Co-founder Peri Cochin, who has spearheaded the initiative since its first edition, expressed delight that the winner lives in Paris, easing logistics for delivery of the delicate work. “It’s a great thing,” she noted, highlighting the global reach of the campaign across dozens of countries while keeping the spirit local to the city where Picasso lived and worked for much of his life.

This marks the third successful “1 Picasso for 100 euros” raffle, following earlier editions that also paired high-value artworks with charitable causes. The format democratizes access to blue-chip art: for the price of a modest dinner in Paris, participants worldwide gain a chance at ownership while contributing meaningfully to research. Previous winners have included individuals from outside France, but Hodara’s Parisian roots add a poetic symmetry.

Art historians note the significance of “Head of a Woman.” Painted in 1941, it reflects Picasso’s personal life and the broader historical moment. Dora Maar, a photographer and artist herself, played a key role in documenting Picasso’s creation of “Guernica” years earlier. The gouache, measuring about 38.9 x 25.4 cm, showcases the artist’s mastery of expressive distortion and emotional intensity even under wartime constraints.

The draw, supervised by a bailiff and held under Christie’s prestigious roof, drew international attention. Organizers capped ticket sales to ensure transparency and controlled fundraising. All participants, whether winners or not, directly supported a cause that affects millions: Alzheimer’s disease, which continues to challenge researchers seeking treatments and cures.

Hodara bought his ticket impulsively after overhearing discussions during a restaurant meal just days before the draw. His winning number—reported as 94,715—turned a spontaneous decision into life-changing news. While many dream of owning a Picasso, few imagine acquiring one through such an accessible mechanism.

The initiative has sparked broader conversations about innovative philanthropy in the arts. By partnering with established institutions like Christie’s and respected galleries, the raffle bridges elite art markets with public participation. It also underscores growing awareness of Alzheimer’s as a global health priority, with funds enabling clinical research across Europe.

For Hodara, the immediate future involves sharing the joy with family and deciding the painting’s long-term home. He plans to keep it, at least initially, allowing a rare masterpiece to enter a private collection through an act of chance and charity.

This feel-good tale reminds us that art can transcend markets and museums. In an era of high auction records and exclusive collections, the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” project offers a refreshing model: one ticket, one dream, and tangible support for medical research that benefits humanity.

As the painting finds its new custodian in Paris—the same city that shaped Picasso’s vision—its story continues. From Dora Maar’s gaze captured in 1941 to a modern engineer’s astonishment in 2026, the work carries layers of history, emotion, and now, hope for Alzheimer’s patients and their families worldwide.

Darren Smith is an Arts Reporter at Art Chain News covering contemporary art, digital art and NFTs, body art, and the intersections between these fields.

This article is based on exhibition statements, auction and market reports